Jesus Is Our Worship

Love, as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, is found in the context of relationship. Worship, as described by many passages in the Bible, is a relationship found only through Jesus.

Sunday morning I presented an analogy: the progression of themes in our songs is like entering the tabernacle or temple of the Old Testament. In the worship system of the Israelites, the tabernacle and the temple represented the dwelling place of God. Both the mobile tabernacle and the permanent temple had a similar layout, so let's talk about the tabernacle. It was portable, so God's presence travelled with God's people. Its walls were fabric, and it had several ceremonial furnishings. Anyone ceremonially clean could enter through the one set of gates into the outer court, an open air space about 150' by 75'. Priests alone could enter the holy place, which was draped on top and on sides by thick curtains. Within this space was another curtain which separated the holy place from the most holy place. Only the high priest (and only on certain occasions) could enter the most holy place, which housed the ark of the covenant and other items important to Israelite history and worship, and was where the Spirit of God would dwell. The reason for the separation was mankind was sinful, and God was holy. Mankind could not bear to be in God's presence.

Through ceremony and sacrifice, God was giving them a chance to be holy, to draw near to his Presence. Still, one can see a difficulty right away: only the ceremonially clean could get to the outer court; only priest could enter the holy place; only the high priest could enter the most holy place. And even in this, Israel repeatedly fell into sin and fell short.

What does this have to do with our worship today? The answer, any child in Sunday school would venture to guess, is Jesus. If we jump to the New Testament, we see a number of interesting passages that tell us Jesus is the cornerstone of worship and relationship with God. He stands in place of the tabernacle and temple, so relationship with the most holy God is possible. Consider these passages...

• Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45 - When Jesus died, the temple curtain (which separated the most holy place from the holy place) ripped in two from top to bottom. That which separated mankind from the holiness of God is literally removed.
• Hebrews 2:17 - Jesus was fully human to become our high priest, who enters the most holy place—and the presence of God—on our behalf.
• Hebrews 4:14-15 - Jesus still intercedes for us in heaven. He's able to do this because he was completely without sin. He is perfect where previous high priests failed.
• Hebrews 6:19-20 - Not only does Jesus enter God's presence for us, he makes a way for us to enter God's presence. In Christ we are holy. We put on his righteousness.

Jesus is why we are able to gather and sing. We no longer have to wait in the outer courts because we are marred by sin. Through Jesus, we can enter the most holy place: we can be face to face with the God who loves us. When we sing on Sundays, remember our freedom from sin. Remember the privilege it is to commune with the Creator of us all. Remember the sacrifice of Jesus, God's Son, who lived, and died, and rose again to live in us. Approach God's throne daily, knowing that Jesus has made the way, and Jesus is the way.