“Through the Curtain: Living the New and Living Way”

On one Sunday morning in 391 AD, Saint Augustine looked at his half-empty church and said something that might make us smile:

‘An ordinary day it may be on the church calendar, but it’s also right in the middle of the December gladiatorial schedule. It’s no wonder, then, that the church is only half full. The rest of you must be in the amphitheater, looking more for entertainment than salvation.’

Does this sound familiar? Today we might not have gladiator shows, but how many of us have felt that pull between Sunday sports, weekend brunches, or just a sleep-in, and coming to worship? Some things haven’t changed much in 1600 years, have they?

But if we look back even further, to the first century, we find an even more profound story of faith and sacrifice. Those early believers, especially those from Jewish backgrounds, weren’t just facing simple daily choices – they were wrestling with the very cost of following Jesus. These Hebrew Christians had accepted Jesus as their Messiah and began following the Christian faith, yet they still held deep attachments to their Jewish traditions and laws. They were persecuted by Romans for following Jesus, rejected and isolated from their Jewish society, and occasionally even lost their families.

As they suffered these losses, they may have asked what they had gained by following Jesus. The Jerusalem Temple still stood magnificently in the city’s centre, with sacrificial smoke rising daily from its altar. Looking at this, they may have questioned, ‘How has my life improved since followed Jesus? What have I gained that I didn’t have before? Should I return to Judaism?’

To these believers suffering under such circumstances, the author of Hebrews pens to strengthen their determination to persevere and keep their faith unshakable. So, let’s look at Hebrews chapter 10, verse 19:

“Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God….”

In this sentence, the Hebrew writer tells us two things about what we have and three things about how we should do with it. First, we have the confidence to enter the holy places.

Picture this: In the Temple, there was this massive curtain – think of the biggest, thickest curtain you’ve ever seen, then make it bigger. This curtain was like a giant ‘Keep Out’ sign between people and God’s presence. Only one person, the high priest, could go behind it, and only once a year.

But here’s the incredible thing – through the blood of Jesus, that ‘Keep Out’ sign has been changed to a ‘Welcome’ sign. The VIP section is now open to anybody who comes via Jesus. There will be no more distance, no more boundaries, no more waiting for someone else to talk to God for us.

Second, we have a great high priest in God’s house – and this is extraordinary. In the old system, people couldn’t approach God directly. They needed a priest – a middle-man if you will – to represent them before God. These priests would stand between God and the people, offering sacrifices and prayers on their behalf.

But now, through Jesus, we have something far better. We have Jesus himself as our great high priest. Think about this: He’s not just another priest in a long line of priests – He’s the Son of God who became human to represent us. He doesn’t just offer sacrifices for us; He gave His own life for us.

So, then what does this mean for us, right here, right now? Let’s look at three things our response.

“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.”

First, ‘draw near with a true heart.’ This isn’t about physical distance – it’s about bringing our real selves to God. Not our ‘Sunday best’ version, but our actual, everyday selves. The good, the bad, the messy – all of it.

The second thing he encourages us to do is “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering.”  ‘Hold fast without wavering.’ In other words, don’t let go when things get tough. When work is stressful, when family is complicated, when life doesn’t make sense – hold onto your faith like it’s a lifeline, because it is. He is faithful and will not abandon us and he will not break His promises.

And the third point is to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”

‘Motivate one another to love and good actions.’ This is more than just going to church; it is about investing in one another’s lives. For example, it might look like sending a quick text to say, “You’ve been on my mind. How are you doing?” Or inviting someone over for dinner when she/ he seems overwhelmed. It could also mean offering to pick up groceries for an elderly member or sitting with someone who seems lonely after the service. It’s about noticing each other, stepping out of our routines, and showing Christ’s love through small, tangible acts. This is a call to make sure that every person in our community feels seen, supported, and valued.

Remember what Augustine saw? People choose entertainment over worship. Well, every Sunday when we gather here, we’re doing something radical and we are declaring something different. In a world full of endless options and busy schedules.

Dorothee Sölle, the German feminist theologian who passed away in 2003, once said, ‘Sunday is a rebellion against everyday.’  Every time we gather together like this, we are participating in a kind of holy tradition that goes beyond our daily routines.

Not because Sunday services make us holier, but because we’re declaring that there’s something – someone – more important than all those other things calling for our attention. We’re saying that this new and living way that Jesus opened up for us. It’s worth everything.

Because, unlike those ancient priests who had to keep offering sacrifices, Jesus has done it once and for all. We don’t just have a new way to worship – we have a new way to live.

So, brothers and sisters, let’s embrace this holy rebellion. Let’s come near with confidence through Jesus, hold on without wavering, and stir up one another in love and good works. For we have what generations before us longed to have – direct access to God through Christ, who is our perfect high priest forever. This is our privilege, call, and delight.