DRAW NEAR SERIES

Week 4: Worship

Entering the Holy of Holies

Supporting Scriptures

Matthew 27:50–51

Hebrews 9:11–15

Leviticus 16

Main Scripture Hebrews 10:19–22

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Introduction

Over the past three weeks we have been making a journey toward God’s presence. We began in the Outer Court, where everyone was invited to gather. We ascended through the Inner Courts, taking intentional steps toward God. Last week we entered the Holy Place, where Nicodemus discovered there is more than religion, there is a life changing encounter with Jesus.

Today we arrive at the destination.

The Holy of Holies.

It was the most sacred place in all of Israel. Hidden behind a massive veil, it represented the very presence of God. Only one person could enter, the High Priest, and only once each year on the Day of Atonement after extensive preparation and sacrifice. The holy of holies was accessible only to the Israelite high priest, who once a year on Yom Kippur was permitted to enter the small, measuring thirty feet in each dimension, windowless enclosure to burn incense and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the mercy seat.

Everything about the temple communicated one truth:

Sin separates us from a holy God.

Then everything changed.

When Jesus gave His life on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. God Himself removed the barrier that had separated sinful people from His holy presence.

The journey through the temple has been leading to this moment.

Not simply entering a room.

Entering the presence of God.

TAKEAWAY 1

Jesus Removed the Barrier

Scripture

Matthew 27:50–51

Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.

Bible Notes

For centuries the veil stood as a constant reminder that sinful people could not casually enter the presence of a holy God. It separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies and could only be crossed by the High Priest once each year on the Day of Atonement with the blood of a sacrifice. When Jesus died, the veil was torn from the top down, demonstrating that this was God’s work, not man’s. The barrier created by sin had been removed through Christ’s sacrifice. What generations could never accomplish through ritual, Jesus accomplished once and for all through the cross.

Application

Many people still live as though the veil remains in place. They believe they must earn God’s acceptance through good works, religious activity, or personal effort. The cross reminds us that access to God is not something we achieve; it is something Jesus secured for us. Because the barrier has been removed, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that our acceptance is based on Christ’s finished work rather than our own performance.

TAKEAWAY 2

Jesus Became Our Great High Priest

Scripture

Hebrews 9:11–12

But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. He entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

Bible Notes

Every year the High Priest entered the earthly Holy of Holies carrying the blood of sacrificed animals to temporarily cover the sins of the people. Those sacrifices had to be repeated because they could never permanently remove sin. Jesus fulfilled everything the High Priest represented. He entered not an earthly sanctuary but the heavenly one, presenting His own blood as the perfect sacrifice. His offering was complete, final, and sufficient for all who believe. Because of Him, there is no longer a need for repeated sacrifices or another mediator between God and humanity.

Application

Many believers continue trying to earn forgiveness that Christ has already purchased. Jesus is not continually offering Himself again because His work is complete. We can stop striving to prove ourselves worthy and instead rest in the confidence that our Great High Priest has already secured our redemption. Our worship becomes an expression of gratitude rather than an attempt to gain God’s approval.

TAKEAWAY 3

Jesus Invites Us Into Worship

Scripture

John 4:23–24

“But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Bible Notes

The tearing of the veil did more than give us permission to enter God’s presence; it extended an invitation to live in His presence. Under the Old Covenant, worship centered around sacrifices, rituals, and sacred places. Jesus fulfilled all of those shadows and opened a new and living way into fellowship with God. Because of Christ, worship is no longer confined to a room in the temple or limited to one day each year. Every believer now has continual access to the Father through Jesus Christ.

The Psalms beautifully illustrate what life in God’s presence looks like. Many psalms begin by declaring truths about God, celebrating His greatness, His holiness, His faithfulness, and His mighty works. Yet as you continue reading, those same psalmists often shift from speaking about God to speaking directly to Him in praise, thanksgiving, confession, and prayer. Their worship became deeply personal because they understood that God desired relationship, not merely ritual. Worship was never intended to be information about God alone; it was always meant to become communion with God Himself.

Application

Many of us grew up singing hymns that proclaimed wonderful truths about God. Those songs taught us sound doctrine and helped us understand His character. In more recent years, many worship songs have expressed our hearts directly to God through prayers of surrender, gratitude, and love. Scripture makes room for both. Healthy worship proclaims truth about God while also responding personally to God.

The real question is not whether we prefer hymns or choruses. The real question is whether our worship is leading us into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Now that the veil has been torn and Christ has opened the way, are we simply singing about Him, or are we genuinely worshipping Him? Worship is more than the songs we sing on Sunday morning. It is the daily response of a heart that has been welcomed into the very presence of God through Jesus Christ.

Closing Challenge

Jesus has given us access.
What will you do with it?