The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (NTA)

Hebrews 10:19-31

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. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

²⁶ For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

Every Sunday morning I make a long walk up to the chancel area of our little church.  I bow before going any further.  (Sometimes it is just ritual, other times it is an act of humility.)  Then as we begin service, I make the sign of the cross over my flesh, remembering that God once poured water upon my head.  In that baptism he cleansed me from all unrighteousness.

I do not know how often people would think about verse 22 when they enter a Church.  But many people do come to church on Sunday mornings to draw near with a true heart.  Their heart is true because it has been cleaned of evil.  Their flesh is clean because it has been washed with holy water. These people come before the Lord God because they have been Baptized into his Name and claimed as a member of his family.

Jesus is the curtain we get to pass through and enter into the presence of God.  It is through the blood of his sacrifice, we have been cleansed.  This is the knowledge of the truth, that you have been redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ and made clean.  This is why we continue to come to Church.  This is why we come to that curtain.  God has even sent forth his vengeance against you, by placing it upon this bloody sacrifice.