BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Have you ever experienced peace so restful that you exhale, unclench your jaw, and say to yourself, “Ah, this is Heaven on Earth?” Those moments hint at a deep longing to be with God in the Heaven that we can all share. We may not state, “I want to be with God in Heaven,” but the desires for lasting peace are, according to the Scriptures, the same desires to share sacred space with God while also feeling no shame or fear—fully relaxed and permanently at peace.

God’s space is all about true peace. The author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus’ self-sacrifice makes it possible for everyone to enter that space. He refers to the clear conscience Jesus creates in us through his all-encompassing, once-and-for-all sacrifice, which not only purifies us but removes sin completely (Heb. 9:14).

This removal of sin makes it possible for every person to stand before God without guilt, anxiety, or feelings of unworthiness. The supremacy of Jesus’ sacrifice enables every human being to draw near to God confidently. For anyone in this letter’s original audience, Jewish and Gentile alike, it’s a wild claim.

For faithful Jewish worshipers, drawing near to God depended on the Levitical sacrifice system. Nearness required bloodshed over, and over, and over again. The animal’s blood brought enough purification to enter God’s space. However, God did not design the animal sacrifices to permanently cleanse them for ongoing, peaceful rest with him. Jesus’ blood provides that.

Jesus was good news for Gentiles as well. The Bible is full of stories about non-Israelites with their own temples, sacrifices, and systems built to honor gods that they trusted for prosperity, justice, and ultimately the same peace everyone longs for. These systems likewise could not bring lasting peace.

The supremacy of Jesus’ sacrifice means that there is no place God dwells that we are unworthy to be. So then, the author encourages his audience to boldly draw near to God “with a sincere heart,” free from shame and fear, and able to spur one another on toward love and good works (Heb. 10:22-24). Because of Jesus, we are already one with God.

Reflection Questions

• Reflect on what kinds of actions or substances made a person ritually unclean in the Hebrew Bible. (For a refresher, read Leviticus 13-15.) How do these previously required purification rituals inform your understanding of Jesus’ all-encompassing sacrifice and purifying work?
• God wants to be with his people. Reflect upon the whole story of Scripture. What are a few other ways that you have seen God draw near to his people? What does this suggest about God’s character or affection?