A Disciple Moment: Intricately woven

We are rapidly approaching the end of this study. In the very beginning 34 weeks seemed like forever but now as we approach the final closing it seem like it was just a few weeks ago.

The amazing thing about spending such a long time devoted to a comprehensive look at the whole bible, aside from just the awesomeness of God’s word, is the sense you get of how intentional God is in laying all things out for us to find. The only thing we have to do is have a diligent obedient spirit to make all the connections.

It’s all right there!

I was telling my fellow classmates that there are times when I get this amazing sense of just how awesome God really is. How intricately woven his plan is for me and for all of us. It reminds me of a very delicate yet very compelling conspiracy theory. Did you ever see the movie Conspiracy Theory with Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. It’s an interesting movie about this slightly off kilter taxi driver who spends most of his off hours trying to prove this intricate conspiracy theory that in the end wind up to be completely true.

After I finished reading the book of Hebrews I closed my bible with this feeling that God has this wonderful circular conspiracy going on and all we have to do is be willing to put all the piece together to find the amazing end result that is waiting for us in heaven.

Now I have read Hebrews many times but but in all honesty it has probably been quite some time since I read it with the intention of in-depth study and read it in it’s entirety from start to finish.

The book of Hebrews makes a very clear and concise argument for the authority if Christ.

Christ is greater than the angels, Christ is greater than Moses, Christ is greater that the High Priest and that the New Covenant is greater than the Old!

In only 13 short chapters it sums up Christ's’ authority in very clear language.

Hebrews 1:3-4 spells out very clearly that Jesus us superior to the angles….

³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.  

Hebrews 3:3-6 tells us that Jesus is superior to even Moses

³ Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ⁵ Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

I love the analogy that the builder is superior to the house,

Hebrews 5:7-10 point out that Jesus was fully human, her cried with real tears, he looked to his heavenly father in prayer and he submitted to his ultimate authority even if that meant a painful death on the cross.

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

In chapter seven we learn about Melchizedek. The amazing thing about this was that Melchizedek was a high priest of God Most High. He was a High priest even before the levitical line came into being and God connected Jesus to this role of High Priest long before the actual levitical line of priest were even thought of.

Hebrews points out to us that when the High priest made there sacrificed it was a daily/weekly and yearly sacrifice. Hebrews 10:4 tells us that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. It was the perfection of Christ’s sacrifice once and for all that finally made the difference.

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. ¹³ Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, ¹⁴ because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Y’all Hebrews lays out this wonderful road map to the superiority of Christ, It gives us the assurance that God;s plan is at work and it has been at work since the very beginning. When God gave the Israelites the very specific and detail instruction on how to build the tabernacle and how to offer the sacrifice he was intentional in making the separation between Himself and those who worshiped him. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place and then it was only once a year. He established the first covenant with them know ing that it was just the beginning of his plan.

He knew that one day Jesus would enter into the world and become the ultimate high priest, He would tear that temple curtain allowing us all access and offer the ultimate sacrifice once and for all and establishing the new covenant making the old one obsolite.

It is just awesome. The intricacies, the detail that God puts into place….

If you have not given Hebrews a read in a while it will be well worth the time.

To quote one of my classmates “It was a plate full!”

But it was good y’all!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever

Blessings

R