Last updated on December 22, 2024
Today’s reading is from Hebrews 1-5.
There’s a lot that we don’t know about Hebrews. We don’t know who wrote it and we don’t know when it was written. What we do know is that it’s written to Jewish Christians. And it seems that the writer’s chief objective is to show how Jesus connects, and fulfills, the story of God that has been passed down for centuries.
He starts with Jesus, and throughout the letter he will connect Jesus with all of the aspects of their story. He reminds them that God’s original intent was that humanity would work alongside him to redeem and restore all that was lost and broken. He says that God “put them (men and women) in charge of his entire handcrafted world.” And just to make sure he’s clear…”when God put them in charge of everything, nothing was excluded (Hebrews 2:8).
What a calling! We’ve looked previously at what happened when we rejected our calling and turned instead to idols. Now we were the ones who needed rescuing because we were lost and broken. And that’s when he weaves Jesus into the story. He came to rescue. He came to help.
By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself – all the pain, all the testing – and would be able to help where help was needed.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (The Message)
Even after all that Jesus did for us, it is easy for us to miss what God is doing. It’s easy for us to listen to other voices instead of God’s. It’s easy for us to believe the lie that following another path will lead to happiness and fulfillment. So he says…
So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as God’s still calling it Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.
Hebrews 3:12-14 (The Message)
The reader is reminded of Israel’s 40 years wandering in the wilderness. It shouldn’t have taken them 40 years to get from Egypt to the Promised Land. It shouldn’t have taken 40 years to change their identity from slave to new nation. So why did it? It was simply because they thought they knew better than God. They listened to other voices. They chose different paths. And God allowed it. It was less about punishment and more about freedom and autonomy. That’s how good parenting works.
The Israelites never entered their rest because they fought God the entire way. But God is faithful and full of mercy. The offer of rest continues today, as “today” continues to be renewed. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7).
Because of this, we should boldly move towards Jesus…
Now that we know what we have – Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God – let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (The Message).