“And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him…Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out!” Hebrews 10:21,22 (The Passion Translation)

(This second week of devotionals from the book of Hebrews was originally published in March 2021 and aligned with the sermon series “Jesus, the Radiance of God’s Glory.”)

As I write this, I’m in a procedure room with our youngest child while he has two root canals. The procedures have been a long time coming: we knew he would probably need them after he fell and chipped both front teeth a couple of years ago. We’ve had multiple appointments for monitoring, and the last set of x-rays determined the time had come for root canals...so here we are. (Mom assumed she’d be waiting in the waiting room, but here SHE is with a mildly traumatizing front row seat.) 

If you’ve been a parent for any length of time, you know the feelings that come when your children experience pain. (Parenthood isn’t a prerequisite for this: love for parents, siblings, best friends, etc. all count!) Life happens, kids fall, teeth are chipped, and uncomfortable dental procedures are necessary. It is 100% in my power to stop this discomfort: I could ask the dentist to stop the procedure and take my son home right this second. But I won’t. This temporary discomfort is necessary to prevent long term pain and the inevitable loss of the teeth. 

So there’s a minor barrier between my son and me in this moment, even though I’m close enough to reach out and touch him.

Only the priests of the Old Testament were allowed to enter the temple to atone for sins. The priests performed rituals the “regular” folk were unqualified to take part in to be deemed ceremonially clean, so a literal barrier stood between God and His followers. Enter Jesus, who gave the ultimate sacrifice and now acts as High Priest. He welcomes us into God’s house like the beloved children we are, and we are able to approach the God who created the universe with the confidence of knowing we are presentable inside and out.

Jesus could have ended the torment He faced on earth at any second, but He didn’t. Our sin was the barrier between us and God, and Jesus’ death and resurrection meant our sins were forever forgiven and forgotten. Every discomfort of life hasn’t been abolished; we live in a broken world where root canals exist. But after Jesus’ sacrifice, the barrier between us and God is no more. 

Have you ever been in a situation where you wished you could take away another person’s pain? Perhaps you’re there right now. Take a minute to pray peace over the loved one you’re thinking of.

I like to think that every time I come to God in prayer, He’s waiting for me with open arms. Close your eyes (if it’s safe to do so!) and picture God standing with open arms, waiting for you to come near enough to embrace. Take this minute to lean into His embrace.

Now let’s pray a prayer of gratitude. Thank Him for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, for no more animal sacrifices, for the ability to communicate directly with God.