A Better Access

Hebrews 10:15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: ¹⁶ "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." ¹⁷ Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." ¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. ¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

When my sister was the associate head coach at the University of Michigan, we gained access to various parts of the campus that were off limits to regular fans. For example, regular fans are able to watch games in the Crisler Center, but we were able to walk on the court and shoot baskets. Regular fans might be able to watch a game in the Big House, but we were able to walk onto the field and throw a football to each other. Regular fans might be able to see the basketball, football and soccer players from the stands, but we were able to meet and greet all the players. I’ll let you in on a little secret … the basketball players are kind of tall (even the women), the football players are wide, but the soccer players, they were normal human size.

But a regular fan cannot play on the beautiful U-M Golf Course. But because of my sister’s access, I was able to lose all kinds of golf balls in the water and trees of that scenic setting.

As we continue in our Lenten series of A Better Savior, the writer to the Hebrews compares access to the Lord in the Most Holy Place to the Better Access we now have to the Lord through Jesus. Just like my family had access to areas that were off limits to normal people, the apostle to the Hebrews announces that we have access to the Lord that was previously off-limits to the Old Testament Israelites.

Throughout the Old Testament, the Jews worshiped first in the tabernacle, a tent while they were wandering in the wilderness, and then later in the temple in Jerusalem. The tabernacle was divided into two parts – the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The worshipers could gather to worship in the Holy Place, but the Most Holy Place was off limits to them. They could not look past the curtain that separated the two portions of the tabernacle. The curtain was 15 feet wide and 15 feet high and 2 inches thick. It was elaborately woven with blue, purple and scarlet wool and then decorated with woven linen in the figures of cherubim.

Under the old covenant, sinners dared not come through the curtain to enter into God’s presence in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and he could only enter once a year, and he entered with fear and trembling to come before the holy presence of God. Access to God was limited to only one person who was the representative of the whole Israelite community, and he was granted that access only once a year.

The writer to the Hebrews was exhorting the people not to go back to that old way of thinking. They were now granted a different access, a better access through Jesus Christ. Now we can come anytime, without timidity and trembling, to our Father in heaven. “By the blood of Jesus,” the author reminds us. There is no other way. His blood in payment for our sins has opened a freeway to heaven which no barricade can ever block and where no toll booth need ever be built.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

The way to heaven was “opened” by Jesus with His death on the cross. It is a “new and living way.” The word used for “new” originally meant “freshly slain,” a picture quite fitting for Christ our sacrifice. Then “new” came to mean “recent,” again quite fitting for, as Luther said, “It seems but yesterday that Jesus died on the cross.” And it is a “living” way. The way is alive and carries those who walk on it to life. That way is Jesus, as He Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

The writer to the Hebrew Christians was asking them why they would want to return to old way of restricting themselves to a man-made tabernacle, curtain and Most Holy Place? Why would we ever want to go back to an inferior access? Why would we ever want to close ourselves off from Christ who is a new and living way?

But we do this all the time. We forsake the Son of God, the living way to heaven, for lifeless and ineffective sacrifices – we consider Jesus’ sacrifice as nice, but feel that God must certainly enjoy the sacrifices we make as something that earns a little extra blessing from God.  We close the curtain to God’s presence when we refuse to speak to God in prayer, either because of false humility or genuine pride. We also stand on the opposite side of the curtain when we refuse to listen to God speak to us in His Word, either because of laziness or boredom or misplaced priorities. We limit our access to God’s almighty power by considering worship as an optional part of our week, just something else to add to our busy schedule.

How quickly we forget our Better Savior. So much happens to us in the course of our daily life. So many changes within. So many alterations without. And somewhere, back there, perhaps without even noticing, we leave Christ. Perhaps we don’t turn away from Him … we just don’t take Him with us. Assignments are piled on. Promotions come. Kids are born, and Christ …. well, Christ is forgotten.

Has it been a while since you’ve realized God’s divinity and your carnality? Has it been a while since you’ve focused on your Savior hanging on the cross, perhaps because subconsciously you don’t think you need Him? Has it been a while since you’ve really applied the message of forgiveness to your life because you don’t remember what it’s like to be guilty?

Let’s be honest. If your sins do not convict you, then you have no need for a Better Savior. Keep doing whatever you’re doing. If there is no weight on your shoulders, then you are not seeking relief. Don’t change your life at all. If you are feeling healthy, then you have no need for a doctor. Then the Great Physician of your soul is of no use to you.

However, if your sin is very real to you, then it is good for you to be here this evening. If the skeletons of past sins are rattling around in the closet of your conscience, then it is good that you are seeking forgiveness from your past and present sins. If you have trouble sleeping at night because your mind keeps reliving the sordid details of your day, then it is necessary for you find solace in your Savior.

If you have limited your access, if have tried earning God’s blessings, if you are tired of carrying your sins by yourself, then you need a better access. Jesus grants you that access. Jesus has torn that curtain of tabernacle in two at His crucifixion, thus giving us sinners access into God’s holy presence. We no longer have to come through a high priest or with bloody sacrifices or in a tabernacle. This access comes not by blood sprinkled on a door - like the blood of the Passover lamb sprinkled on the doorframes – but by Christ, the perfect Passover Lamb, sprinkling His blood on our hearts and sprinkling His baptismal waters on our bodies. All the barriers have been removed so that we may approach the God of the Covenant in the full confidence of forgiveness.

Access to God the Father is no longer restricted. Through Christ, you now have complete freedom to approach your Lord. Jesus is the Better High Priest who intercedes on our behalf and grants us unrestricted access to the altar of God in our prayers. Jesus is the Better Sacrifice who shed His blood for you so that God does not treat us as our sins deserve. Jesus is the tabernacle curtain who brings us into the Most Holy Place of His body and blood. In the Sacrament of the Altar that Jesus instituted on this holy Thursday evening, we have access to heaven right now as we live on the earth.

I know some of you are not University of Michigan fans. Neither am I. I teased my sister that the free U of M clothing she gave me caused skin irritation. However, I didn’t mind the special access that her coaching gave us.

The writer to the Hebrews mentions the special access we have now through Christ: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Through Christ we have a better access in living a new life in Baptism. We have a better access to forgiveness and strength in the Lord’s Supper. We have a better access to the white robe of Christ’s righteousness to cover our sinful filth. We have a better access to spurring one another on to love and good deeds as a part of a congregation of believers. Christ demonstrates His love to you and offers His help to you through each other. As you gather together as members of Christ’s Church, you build each other up in love as you patiently wait for the Last Day when final, total access is granted to you.

Until then, you are to encourage and build each other up as the communion of saints. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” You become active and energized by being in contact with the fellowship of believers. And they become active and energized by being in contact with you. All through Christ.

Better access. Hearts and bodies purified by your baptismal sprinkled on you. A clean conscience so you can sleep at night. Fed and nourished with Christ’s Holy Supper. Hearing God speak to you in His Word and responding to Him with prayer and praise. That is what this better access grants you. Then, after you have entered the Most Holy Place through Christ and His Word and Sacraments, you go out into the world to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. All in the name of Christ, the Better Savior. Amen.