We've been reading of the supremacy of Christ. He is the radiance of
God's glory, the exact image of God's being. It was through him that
the universe was created, and everything is sustained by his command.
He sits at the Father's right hand of power, crowned with glory and
honor. Jesus came to earth to be much more than a wise teacher or good
example. He came to be the perfect sacrifice – to take away our sins
and set us free from the fear of death. In every way, he is worthy of
our praise and devotion.
This letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians, urging
them to remain strong in their commitment to Christ in spite of
persecution. So we find (1) teaching that proclaims Jesus to be greater
than all that has gone before, as well as fulfillment of Old Testament
scripture; and (2) encouragement to remain faithful to Christ and not
ignore this great salvation.
In chapter 3 we are shown how Jesus is greater than Moses. Through the
centuries, Jews looking back at their spiritual history usually focused
on the Exodus event. Here, we are told that Moses served God faithfully
as he led those whom God had entrusted to him. But Moses was a servant.
Jesus is God's Son. Let's not focus on men more than we focus on Jesus!
We are also told that Moses illustrates truths that God would reveal
later. What might those be? I think of Jesus in the wilderness, where
he was tested for 40 days – not unlike the children of Israel who were
tested for 40 years. In each case it was a question of trust and
obedience. I think Jesus was struggling with the form His ministry
would take. "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become
bread." Prove yourself – focus on wonders that will force people to bow
before you. Jesus met this challenge with words from Moses, "Man does
not live on bread alone." (Suggested homework: read Deuteronomy 8.)
Before the Israelites entered the promised land, Moses reminded them of
the Lord's love for them, and how He kept his promise to their
forefathers when He brought them out from Egypt with a mighty hand,
redeeming them from the land of slavery (Deuteronomy 7:8). This exodus
is often seen as a picture of Jesus delivering us from slavery to sin
and death.
To show how great Jesus is, compared to Moses, the writer of Hebrews
presents the illustration of a house. The Son is in charge of –
entrusted with – the entire house; we who belong to Christ are a part
of it... And now, it seems, the writer is reminded of how Israel
hardened their hearts against the voice of God. He takes a detour from
the overarching theme of Christ's supremacy to issue a warning.
Warnings are, in fact, scattered throughout this letter. Watch for
them. In chapter 2, we saw a warning against drifting away from the
truth concerning salvation in Christ.
Now, we find a warning against unbelief. Unbelief leads to
unfaithfulness, disobedience and rebellion. We are admonished to warn
each other every day, so that we not be deceived by sin and hardened
against God. Such hardening has severe consequences, as we see at the
end of this chapter and continue on into chapter 4.
An Easter hymn from the 8th century -
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought his Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke Jacob's sons and daughters;
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.
'Tis the spring of souls today; Christ hath burst his prison,
And from three days' sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From his light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.
"Alleluia!" now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb's dark portal;
"Alleluia!" with the Son, God the Father praising;
"Alleluia!" yet again to the Spirit raising.
Deetje Wildes
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