Hebrews 9:11-15

¹¹But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[an] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹²He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[ao] eternal redemption. ¹³The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

¹⁵For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

One gloomy Monday afternoon on a train to Utrecht, I overheard a conversation between a couple of teenage boys talking about religion – in my mind nothing trumps this form of entertainment on long train rides. It soon became evident that one of the boys identified as a Christian and that the others were asking questions about what he was forbidden from doing. I admired this young man’s desire to defend his religion. However, the one sentence he kept repeating, evoked a deep sadness within me: “My religion is strictly against it.”

Apart from its illogical meaning (a religion is not an individual that can have an opinion), this statement revealed that the boy believed the cunning lie of the tempter that we must do things in order to remain pure, and that this alone is what allows us to be with God. This passage shows us that our faith is fundamentally different.

Separated by a veil, the Most Holy Place was where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat were located, God’s dwelling place. Once a year, covered by a cloud of smoke, so that no one could sneak a peek, and after he had performed a blood sacrifice, the high priest was allowed to lift the veil and enter. The curtain then fell closed again behind him. A seemingly innocuous textile, and yet it represents such a harsh truth: Your sin separates you from God. The barrier remains.

When Jesus Christ performed his sacrifice – one that involved not the blood of an imperfect animal but his own unblemished blood (v 12) – the very thing that human striving could never accomplish was fulfilled in the blink of an eye. The veil was torn, the hurdles on the path to God were removed. But the simple task of tearing this flimsy piece of cloth came at an immeasurable cost to God himself. What it took was a Holy God taking the sins of the world upon himself, being mocked, beaten, spit on, pierced, and hung on a cross until death.

When you catch yourself taking Jesus’ sacrifice for granted. What makes you realize this and how does God change your heart? Is there a specific area in your life where you are tempted to do this?

We no longer have to watch the high priest vanish behind a cloud of smoke, speculating what it is like to be in the presence of God, wondering who this God is. The barrier no longer remains. Jesus went into the Most Holy Place and is now inviting you to follow him. So now go out and serve the living God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that it is not my level of holiness that allows me to now speak with you, but that you have granted me free access to you at any given time. Please show me the areas in my life where I try to win your favor, instead of placing my trust in the sacrifice of Jesus. It’s in his name that I pray. Amen.