Because of the cross

According to Matthew, when Jesus was baptized,

The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.

And a voice from heaven said: ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.’ (Matthew 3:16-17)

Three years later, Jesus underwent a different kind of baptism. Jesus compared his death on the cross to baptism. (Luke 12:50, Mark 10:38)

Unlike how it was at Jesus’ first baptism, however, heaven was shut to him as he hung on that cross, and all of God’s wrath toward us for our sin was poured out on him.

But three days later, Jesus rose again. What was the result of all this?

Heaven was opened up to us. That is, we who are Christians now have free access to God.

The Holy Spirit has descended upon us like a dove, and now when the Father looks at us, he says, “This is my beloved child with whom I am well-pleased.”

Recently, at my church, we’ve been hearing a series of messages from Hebrews 10:19-23.

I memorized it when I was in high school or university, and it’s always meant a lot to me. If you haven’t already, I recommend that you do so too.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 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 in pure water.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23)