SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025

The Unveiled Throne: Approaching God with Confidence through Our Great High Priest

MESSAGE: ACCESS THROUGH CHRIST

In the world of privilege and power, access is everything. Whether it’s a “press pass” granting entrance to an exclusive event or a security badge opening a restricted area, these credentials define where you can go and who you can speak to. The feeling of losing such a pass, as the writer recounts, can leave one feeling disconnected and powerless.

Yet, for the Christian, the entire concept of access has been fundamentally and eternally redefined. When we received Jesus Christ as our Savior, we traded every earthly, temporary credential for the ultimate spiritual pass: direct, confident access to the heavenly throne room of God.

The book of Hebrews is the grand proclamation of this truth. Our KEY VERSE summarizes the astounding privilege we possess: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). This access is not a temporary visa; it is a permanent right secured by the death and resurrection of Jesus, our great and perfect High Priest.

1. The Flawed System of Temporary Access

To appreciate the perfection of Christ’s work, we must first understand the limitations of the old system described in Hebrews 5:1-6 and the context of the Old Covenant.

The Role of the Earthly High Priest

The ancient Jewish system required a mediator—a high priest—who was selected from among the Israelites, specifically from the descendants of Aaron. This man served as the go-between, representing the people before a Holy God.

Human Limitation: The earthly high priest, though divinely appointed, was deeply flawed. He was a mortal man who struggled with his own sin and weakness. He was chosen to “deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness” (Hebrews 5:2).

Restricted Access and Function: He alone could enter the Most Holy Place in the temple, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), specifically “to offer gifts and sacrifice” to atone for his own sins and then for the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:1). The enormous curtain, or veil, separated humanity from God’s sacred presence, symbolizing the barrier that sin had erected. The access was indirect, rare, and required repeated, perishable sacrifices.

This system was necessary, but it was temporary. It served to point to the need for a perfect, final High Priest.

2. Jesus: The Great and Perfect High Priest

The writer of Hebrews unveils Jesus Christ as the absolute fulfillment and superior replacement for the Levitical priesthood.

Perfection Through Divine Appointment

Jesus did not appoint Himself; like the priests of old, His calling was divine. Hebrews 5:5 states, “So also Christ did not glorify himself to become a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.'” His priesthood is sealed by God’s eternal oath, putting Him in the order of Melchizedek, a royal and eternal order superior to that of Aaron.

Compassion Through Shared Experience (Hebrews 4:14-15)

What makes Jesus’s high priesthood so powerful is the combination of His divinity and His humanity. He is our “great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14) who has passed through the heavens—meaning He is seated in the very presence of God. Yet, He remains intimately connected to our struggle.

The text assures us that He is able to sympathize with us because He’s lived as a man, although without sin.

True Humanity: Christ willingly took on “flesh and blood” (Hebrews 2:14). He experienced hunger, exhaustion, temptation, sorrow, and pain. He knows what it feels like to be ignored, betrayed, and physically weak.

Sinless Victory: Crucially, He endured all temptation without sin (Hebrews 4:15). This means He understands the intensity of our struggle but was never compromised by it. He can intervene not only with compassion but with unblemished authority.

Because He walked our path, He can truly sympathize and offer perfect mediation.

3. The Moment of Unhindered Access

The decisive moment that revolutionized our access to God occurred when Jesus died on the cross.

The Barrier Removed (Matthew 27:51)

When Christ died, the veil in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). The barrier that existed between God and humanity was symbolically and spiritually removed. The Most Holy Place, once the restricted dwelling of God, was thrown open to all who come through Christ.

The Final Sacrifice: Christ’s death was not merely one more sacrifice; it was the perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice that took away the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17). Only by dying as a human could He break the power of the devil (Hebrews 2:14). His resurrection confirmed the acceptance of this sacrifice.

The Confidence We Now Possess

Because our loving Redeemer has reconciled us to His Father, we no longer need an earthly priest, a special pass, or a time slot for access. “Because of what Christ has done for us” (Ephesians 2:18 NLT), we can freely and instantly pray to God.

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT) confirms this privilege: “we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” What was once impossible under the Law is now a constant reality under Grace.

4. The Privilege and Purpose of the Throne of Grace

This open door leads directly to God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). This is the focal point of the believer’s life.

What the Throne of Grace Offers

It is a profound privilege to offer prayers before this throne, for He is both our King (the ultimate authority) and our Father (the source of unconditional love). When we approach this throne with confidence, we are guaranteed to receive two vital provisions:

Mercy: This is the divine act of withholding the punishment we deserve. When we fail, we receive mercy to cover our shortcomings.
Grace: This is the divine act of giving us the strength we don’t deserve. We find grace to help us in our time of need, providing the power to overcome temptation, endure suffering, and accomplish God’s will.

This is not a throne of judgment for the believer; it is a throne of immediate help. Our access is constant, and the supply is unlimited.

Reflection and Prayer

What a privilege to have access to God’s throne room as we talk to Him in prayer! This access is not limited by location, time, or perceived worthiness. It is secured by the blood of Jesus.

REFLECT: How can you make time to pray more often, utilizing this amazing access? What stops you from praying—is it guilt, doubt, busyness, or simply forgetting the magnitude of this privilege?
PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank You for tearing the veil and giving me unhindered access to the Father. I approach Your throne today with confidence, knowing I will find mercy and grace in my time of need. Amen.