Hebrews uses the image of the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies through the separating veil to speak of Jesus opening up for us a new and living path which leads us into the presence of God. Paul teaches this doctrine in different words in Romans 5:1-2. Through Jesus we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand. Ephesians 2:18 teaches us that, through Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles have access to God and enter into God’s presence. Jesus declared that he is the Way and that he is indeed the only way for “no one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

The path is new and living. The path is living because it is Jesus himself. The path is new because it is part of the grace of redemption which Jesus won for us on the cross. It is new because it belongs to the New Covenant. It is new because it brings us to new life, that is, to experience the resurrection. As Paul says, even now in this life we can ‘stand in grace’ because of God’s kindly love. And John teaches us that the life we have here and now is being raised up for eternity on the last day,([John 6:54)