Woven

James is an important figure in our Christian history. I’m glad we were able to spend a day looking at his life and his book.

Today, I want to spend our time looking at a book that we can’t even pinpoint who to credit with writing, Hebrews. Regardless of the author, the purpose of the book of Hebrews is to share this simple truth (Angie’s words from page 265),

Jesus and His new covenant with the people of God are superior to everything

that came before.

This post will likely be long, but it will be filled with scripture. You can camp right here and with only your journal today if you’d like, because I am going to include large portions of scripture for you to read.

The reason I feel so led to write it all out is because this book is a book written for the Hebrews. That seems obvious, I know. I just need to be repetitive, because we’ve been studying the history of God’s people from the very beginning of the Bible. “Hebrews” was the name for God’s people before they were Israelites or Jews. In Genesis, Abraham’s people were Hebrew people. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew. There’s no better way to weave the start of our study with the end of our study than to focus on the specific words written to this group of believers.

So, let’s go…..

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

My NASB Study Bible points out in the introduction that Hebrews was written in order to reassure Jewish believers that their faith in Jesus as Messiah was secure and reasonable. He wanted them to know that His system is vastly superior to the abolished Jewish system. And, he wanted them to know this before the impending disaster that was coming…. The Temple, including its attendants and sacrifices, would soon be destroyed by the Romans. The author of Hebrews wanted to remind God’s people of the Gospel story. They’d heard it forever. It was documented in history. They’d lived with people giving first-hand testimony. But, a time was coming when they’d have to trust what they couldn’t see anymore.

How could they do this? How can WE do this?

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

It seems the author is saying that times of persecution require that we put aside the elementary teachings that have to do with religion and routine. These were foundational teachings, and they were meant to be our tutor. These elementary teachings were established to expose us to the reality that WE NEED A SAVIOR. But elementary teachings (religion and tradition) will not hold up in times of struggle. They simply aren't enough! We have to press on to maturity and trust the work Christ completed during His short earthly life. In other words, the author is pleading with the Hebrews to remember what God promised and then remember that Jesus fulfilled the promise.

If you read Hebrews from start to finish, you’ll see this theme on repeat, “Jesus is better….”

He’s better than the angels. (chapters 1-2)

He’s better than Moses. (chapter 3)

He’s better than the priests. (chapters 5-7)

His new covenant is better than the old covenant. (chapter 8)

For if the first covenant had been faultless there would have been no occasion sought for the second….. When He said, “A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.” Hebrews 8:7,13)

I have such sympathy for these early believers. It’s SO HARD to give up tradition. When something works for so long, it’s beyond difficult to look to a new way. Jesus challenged them while He was on earth. The apostles challenged once Jesus was gone. But, a time was coming when all will have passed away, and it would be up to these Believers to cling to the new covenant, to Jesus, as the better High Priest even though they couldn’t see Him, feel Him, or talk to Him face to face.

And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered once sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF God, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws upon their heart, and upon their mind I will write them,” he then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Hebrews 10:13-18

I mean, I pray we are all shouting, “Hallelujah!” together. What a message! And also, how precious of our God to offer His children this message before The Temple was destroyed. Remember, The Temple was the place to visit the High Priest to confess sin and receive forgiveness. The Temple was where they took their sacrifice. They needed to be reminded that Jesus is better because soon The Temple wouldn't be an option.

Of course, you know that Hebrews 11 is considered the “Hall of Faith,” and you can visit that chapter and work through page 14 in Woven again if you’d like. What a treasure to think about the actual people mentioned in Hebrews 11 and to know they were people just like you and just like me. Every day, I’m sure they woke up, lived their lives, and wondered if anything they were doing was making a difference.

Maybe they never knew the degree to which their faith was making a difference. But, we do now. Let’s allow that reality to spur us on to love and good deeds. Who knows what God is accomplishing through our very lives!

But, how do we end this day? And, really this study, because today will be the last day we are actually in the scripture of the New Testament. I’m going to let Angie’s wrap-up of Revelation be ours too. Since we know that life for the Christians of the 1st century will only get harder from this point, how do we close out this book in an encouraging way for each of us.

Honestly, I can’t think of a better way than straight from the author of Hebrews. I want you to read these words (with your journal close by) like you are receiving them for yourself. Read them as if you and your family are heading into more persecution, more uncertainty, and more seeming darkness.

And, hopefully, you picked up on my poorly placed sarcasm. The Word is clear, ladies. This IS what we are heading into as we march towards the end of our time here on Earth. We aren’t called to fear, though. We have a High Priest who has already won the battle and the war. So, what would the author of Hebrews want us to hear?

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. ….. Grace be with you all. Hebrews 13:20-21, 25

Heavenly Father, what a treasure You’ve given us in the Word. It is our sword and shield in times of trouble. It is our encouragement in times of hurt and doubt. It is our freedom in times of shame and bondage. But, the true Word, the living Word, is sitting with You in Heaven, praying for us, fighting for us, interceding for us. He sits because the war has been won, and He is the Victor. We need to experience more and more of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit to stand up too and fight all the way to the end. Give us that strength. Remind us where it comes from. Send us encouragement every time we need it. Cause us to BE the encouragement when someone around us needs it. Do it, LORD! In Your Name we pray, because it’s the ONLY name that can save, AMEN!