Sacrifice and Worship

Worship is about drawing near to God. Being in the presence of God drives people to spontaneous worship. In the days of Moses, people were so frightened to be in the presence of God that they asked Moses to speak with God on their behalf. Moses became the first Israelite prophet. His brother Aaron would go into the presence of God to bring sacrifices and offerings. Aaron became the first High Priest.

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. (Hebrews 9:1-9 NIV)

Being in the presence of a Holy God not only drives us to worship. It also drives us to repentance. Whenever someone approaches God, they immediately recognize their own sin. They know that God is Holy and Righteous. In comparison, we are not. Old Testament sacrifices were a way of offering a sacrifice as a payment for that sin. Even back then, they understood that the wages of sin is death. The death of bulls and goats, though, were not really enough payment for what we have done. It never really cleared our consciences.

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, my God.'" (Hebrews 10:1-7 NIV)
When Jesus came, he laid down his life as the perfect sacrifice. He was the pure spotless lamb. His blood causes the angel of death to pass over us and allow us to live. Jesus paid the price once for all time. Because of his sacrifice, we can once again worship. We can enter into the very presence of God.

So how about you? Is Jesus the perfect sacrifice for you? Did he pay the price you deserve for your sin? Is your conscience cleared by Christ so that you may worship God again? Does his sacrifice pave the way for your worship?