Prayer

Read Luke 1:10:

While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

Zechariah was in the Temple burning incense before God. As Zechariah performed his duty as a priest, a great crowd stood outside the temple praying. The people could not enter the holy place. Only the priests from the tribe of Levi could minister to the Lord there. The most holy place was called the holy of holies, where the Ark of God was kept. Only the High Priest could enter the holy of holies in the Temple—once a year. This area was separated from the holy place by a tall, thick curtain. If a priest other than the high priest entered the holy of holies, he would die. And if a high priest was not properly cleansed and pure before God when he entered through the curtain to the holy of holies, he would die!

Thanks to what Jesus did on the cross, we can enter God’s presence with no fear of dying.

Read Hebrews 10:19–22:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Isn’t that amazing? Jesus created a new way for us to come to God. When Jesus died, the curtain split in two from top to bottom. See Matthew 27:51. That curtain was very high and thick: no human could tear it. God tore the curtain to show that we can enter His presence because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, once and for all paying the price for our sins. We can enter His presence not only once a year, but every moment of every day!

Let’s all stand and pray as the Israelites did while Zechariah ministered to the Lord. We will go around the circle and each thank Jesus for making it possible for us to enter God’s presence. You may say something like, “Thank You, Jesus,” “Praise You, Jesus,” “Thank You,” or thank Him in your own words. Go around the circle and allow children to thank Jesus.

Close in prayer: Jesus, we praise You for becoming the perfect sacrifice and making us pure and holy before God. Because of You, we can come boldly into His presence and talk with Him. Thank You for loving us so much that You died for us, then rose again to give us new life! In Your powerful name we pray, Amen.