When Angels Cried

A friend of mine, Esha Christie, shared these words at a recent Christmas dinner for international students.

Have you ever been to a party where the Birthday boy is not present? Go to a Christmas party. Christmas has become one of the celebrations in the world where Christ is omitted. Today, I am going to tell you what Christmas mean to Christians. Especially what it means to me.

Moving from St. Louis to Texas has been one of the hardest things that I have done. In fact, it has been a year and it still leaves me in tears sometimes. That has made me think what made Jesus move from heaven to earth? Talk about a move!!!! It’s a pretty big move if you think about it, leaving all the comfort of heaven, angels waiting on you and everything… leaving all these glory and coming to earth, to a broken earth… Has it has ever caught you wondering why Jesus had to do that? It has made me wonder.

One of my favorite things to do during Christmas is to sing carols. These are songs that tell the story of Christmas. I won’t go into detail about the story because you just saw it in Charlie brown video. But let me share one specific Christmas carol that has been one of my favorites for past few years. It’s titled “The Angels cried”. Now, this may catch you by surprise because when we  think of Christmas, we think Cakes and Christmas trees and Carols and everything fun. But this song really captures the story of Jesus in the most powerful way. Let me share a few lines:

The angels knew what was to come
The reason God has sent his son 
And knowing of his destiny
And the creatures gathered 'round
And didn't make a sound
And the Angels cried.

     And wondered if they realized      Was sent to tell all of the land     Would soon become the son of man.

from up above
It filled their hearts with joy to see
Came tears of love.

I've often thought about that night
that star so bright
that the son of god 

        And the angels cried.

The song is a powerful reminder to me why Jesus came to this earth. The reason Angels cried looking at the baby Jesus is because they could look into the future and see what was to come. They knew Jesus’ life was going to be full of pain, shame and dishonor from people. And to top that all, He will die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. This is the meaning of Christmas to me. It means to me that God is Love, such powerful love that he would come down to earth in the form of a baby and eventually die on the cross for me. Thankfully, the story does not stop there. He will rise again on the Easter day and live forevermore so that I can live forevermore with Him. This is Christmas to me. This is Christ to me. 

(Pericopes of Peter) Mark 1:1-8, Opening act for the Good News

The gospel of Mark is one of the earliest New Testament writings, probably the earliest gospel.  It is brief, energetic, dynamic.  It starts right in....

Mark 1:1-8  The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- John the baptizer
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" -- "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The quote in verse 2 is from the Old Testament prophet, Malachi (Mal. 3:1) and the quote in verse 3 is from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3.)  What do these quotes say about the expected recipients of this letter by Mark?

Judea was the center of the ancient homeland of the Jews, the descendants of Israel.  In this time, the region was under the control of the Roman empire, with considerable autonomy left to the local peoples.  The phrase, "make straight paths for him", implies a need to get ready for significant change is coming!

How is John the Baptist described?  What type of individual is he?  And why does the story seem to begin with him?  (Even to the ancient reader, John is a strange character.  The reader is expected to be a little shocked by him!)

Mark skips any significant prologue.  The others gospels tell us a little about Jesus's life before his ministry began.  Mark is simpler, more direct.  All that matters here is the short three years of Jesus's ministry!

Hebrews 13, Final Exhortations

At the end of the letter to the Hebrews, like the end of many New Testament letters, we have a collection of final words -- a series of commands or exhortations.  Given the Jewish background, it is not surprising that these come off as a series of proverbs.

13:1-3
Keep on loving each other as brothers.  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.  Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Amidst the persecution, we have a reminder to care for those who are in prison.  Although always appropriate advice, this is probably especially poignant here since some of the believers (or their family members) are probably in prison for their faith.

Old Testament examples of people entertaining angels occur in Genesis 18 and Genesis 19 where first Abraham and then Lot entertain a small group of angels.

13:4
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Sex is always a place where we get to demonstrate our view of life and our relationship with God.  We keep the marriage bed "pure" by being consistently committed to our spouse and faithful to a (joyful and affirming) sexual relationship with him/her.

13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."   So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" 

One piece of evidence that we belong to another country instead of a modern (capitalistic) country: "Be content with what you have".

The quote in verse 5 ("Never will I leave you...") is from  Deuteronomy 31:6; the quote in verse 6 is from  Psalm 118:6,7.

13:7-8
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Verse 8, in my experience, has been abused: I heard one church leader quote it in opposition to any change!  It is Jesus who is eternal.

13:9a
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

13:9b
It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.

Let our hearts be shaped by grace!

13:10-16
We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.  The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.  Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.  

For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.  Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.   And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

The statement about the tabernacle is written in present tense, as if the tabernacle still stands.  Indeed, the whole paragraph implies that, despite the reality of the temple in Jerusalem, the Hebrews should be ready to join Jesus "outside the city gate", as castouts, not part of the popular flow of society.  For this reason, many believe this letter was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 C.E.

Regardless of the date of the letter, the viewpoint of this letter -- with Christians as members of a "better country", not one on earth -- is a viewpoint Christians should always have, in every time and every place.

13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Harmony with church leaders is a concept that runs throughout a number of New Testament letters. The human tendency for each of us to seek control is destructive to the church.

13:18-19
Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.  I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

The author longs to rejoin the readers.  Note that the pronoun here is singular, so the writer is probably not the couple Priscilla and Aquila?

13:20-21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Amen!

13:22-25
Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.  I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.  Greet all your leaders and all God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.  Grace be with you all.

Finally, here, we have evidence that this letter, although surely written by someone associated with Paul, is not written by Timothy!  Could it be Barnabas who writes this?

This is only a short letter.  What did the long letters look like?

Hebrews 12, Our Time in the Spotlight

The previous chapter has a long list of Old Testament heroes who followed God, looking for God's Country, aware that they were only aliens on this planet.  Now it is our turn....

12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  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.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The metaphor is a race; those who ran before are envisioned as watching us from the stands.  We are to strip down to the essentials and get ready to run, to run with pace, consistency and seriousness.  In this race, like any athlete, it helps to have a single focus. In this case, our focus is to be the Messiah who completed the Jewish sacrificial system in our place.

12:4-7

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,  because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."  Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

From verse 4: apparently elsewhere (?) persecution had led to genuine bloodshed, even death.(Certainly first century Christians were martyred for their faith, even in Rome.) Here the readers are chastised for their weakness and for their willingness to give in to pressure, even when the persecution has not been as severe.  They are being reminded that any true growth will involve some pain and hardship.

The quote in verse 6 is from Proverbs 3:11-12.

12:8-10

If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!  Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

A larger perspective is being placed on "discipline" and suffering.  The message of Hebrews is that God's plan is a longterm one, through millennia and eons and that the Hebrews should seek to have God's view.

How does God's "discipline" show in our lives?  What is it like?  What is really meant here?  I'm afraid we may confuse this too much with the "discipline" (punishment) meted out by angry broken fathers or step-fathers?

12:11-13

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

I equate discipline here with work, growth, drill, self-control?  The athlete metaphor may be appropriate.  The instruction to "make level paths" gives an image of smoothing out a difficult route for the one who is struggling.  The modern metaphor would be building a wheelchair ramp.

The quote in verse 13 is from Proverbs 4:26.

12:14-17

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.  See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.  Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

We are to encourage others (in our believing community) to live righteously.  Esau is given as an example of one thinking only in the short term, thinking only of his hunger.  Sexual immorality is another (easy) example of short term thinking with often long term consequences.

12:18-21

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."  The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

The image here is of Mt. Sinai, in the Exodus account of God bringing the laws to Moses.  (The quote in verse 20 is from Exodus 19:12-13; the quote in verse 21 is from Deuteronomy 9:19.)  In this passage, the terrified Jews begged that they not have to hear the voice of God.  Even Moses was terrified.

12:22-24

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Why the change of direction in verse 18?  What is the message here about God?  Although there is terrifying imagery in verse 18, the message here (again) is that "you are past that", you are instead "come to Mount Zion", to the "joyful assembly"!

12:25-29

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

Who is "him who speaks"?  Verse 19 points out that the Jewish people were terrified by the Voice from Mount Sinai.  Now that the voice comes from Mount Zion (verse 22), the writer pleads for his readers to listen to that voice and not turn away.  The warning is couched in encouragement; I see an image of a frightened person (or animal) being coaxed into safety.

The quote in verse 26 is from Haggai 2:6; the quote in verse 29 is from Deuteronomy 4:24.

Hebrews 11:17-40, Examples of God's Fellow Citizens

The chapter of Hebrews, concentrating on faith, now continues with many more examples.

Hebrews 11:17-22
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, heroes of ancient Israel -- each is described as an example of faith in action.  We are given here a motive for Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac -- that Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead.  This motive does not appear in the Genesis account (in Genesis 22.)

In verse 18 the Greek word translated here "offspring" is literally "seed".  The quote in verse 18 is from Genesis 21:12.

Hebrews 11:23-31
By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.  By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

The faith of Moses begins with his parents, who has some type of desperate hope when they attempt to save him from the Egyptian king's command to kill the Jewish children.  At each stage, Moses acts "in faith" although, to read Exodus we see also that he was not confident, but at times somewhat confused and desperate.  (Very reassuring to me!)

The "Red Sea" in verse 29 is literally "Sea of Reeds." (NIV footnote.)

The faith of the Israelites under Joshua, and then that of Rahab, also play an important part in the Old Testament (and in the lineage of David.)  The description of Rahab as a prostitute is a common one, emphasizing God's work among  broken people as He builds David's lineage and eventually that of Jesus.

Hebrews 11:32-38, "And many many more!"
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.  Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.  Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.  They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

It is not clear who are described in this passage.  We have a list of six names plus "the prophets" and then a list of actions, some identifiable, some not.  Are they all from Old Testament passages? from Jewish folklore or history?

NIV footnote on verse 37: "Some early manuscripts [say] stoned; [others say] they were put to the test."

Hebrews 11:39-40, They all wait God's better plan
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

The summary for the readers of this letter -- God has something better, but it may not be in this world; you are part of an eternal, more important kingdom!

Hebrews 11:1-16, Faith and the Divine Eternal Kingdom

Here we are given an essay on the importance of faith, with some historical models to imitate. And this is a major point of this letter, for the Hebrew Christians have been facing persecution and wondering where God is in all of this.  The response, here, is helpful and discouraging, all in one, for it points out a longterm view that the readers may not have....

Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

We open with a description of faith and why it matters.  Note that this is not intended as an axiomatic definition (following Euclid) but a statement about the importance of faith for believers.  Furthermore, this is not "blind faith".  It has reasons, support, arguments.  To make that clear, we follow with some examples.

Hebrews 11:4-5
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

Apparently Abel's dispute with Cain had to do with faith?  (This is not clear from Genesis.) Similarly, another ancient hero, predating Abraham, is recommended to us as walking in faith.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

A commonly quoted verse.  But does faith here mean the same as the popular definition?

Why is faith a requirement for engagement with God?

Hebrews 11:7`12
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.  And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

More examples.  An honor roll.

Verse 11 is unclear.  Who had faith, so that Abraham became a father?  An alternate translation (NIV Footnote) is "By faith even Sarah, who was past age, was enabled to bear children because..."

If we read back in Genesis on this account, we don't really see much evidence of faith -- Sarah even laughed at God!

Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Here is why faith is important.  Because we are aliens and strangers here; this is not our "natural" home anymore.

There is a much more important citizenship than anything a country on Earth can offer.

We continue on Hebrews 11 in the next post.

Hebrews 10, Entering the Holy of Holies

We continue examining Jesus's sacrifice

Hebrews 10:1-4, The Law, a Shadow

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.  If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.  But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,  because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Once again, this sounds like Plato!  C. S. Lewis notes this with the psalms....

Hebrews 10:5-7, Jesus comes to fulfill the Law
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.  Then I said, `Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.'" [40]

The quote in verse 7 is from Psalm 40:6-8 (the Septuagint.)
Quoting from Psalm 40, claiming that Jesus had one goal, to complete the mission of God.

Hebrews 10:8-9
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).  Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.

And in so doing, Jesus sets aside the old covenant, the Law and its sacrifices.

Hebrews 10:10-14, The Final Sacrifice
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  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.  But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.  Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

So it is Jesus who is the Lamb of God, the very final Lamb.  And so He will eventually defeat every nation, every enemy, every pain and evil.

Hebrews 10:15-18, The Covenant written on hearts
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:  "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

The quote in verses 16 and 17 is from Jer. 31:33-34.

And so we are done with sacrifices and, in a sense, done with sin and forgiveness!

Hebrews 10:19-22, Enter the Holy Place with confidence!
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

This passage is the height, the climax, of the book of Hebrews.
This should then change how we think for we, just like the ancient high priest, can go right into the Throne Room!

Hebrews 10:23-25, and then go out to change the world!
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Now that that mission has been accomplished, it is time to move on, as Kingdom citizens.

Hebrews 10:26-31, One more warning about the danger of disobeying God
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The quotes in verse 30 are from Deut. 32:35-36 and Psalm 135:14.

And so a caution, a warning, about the need to leave the old ways behind.

Hebrews 10:32-35, Remember your early enthusiasm ...
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.  Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.  You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.  So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Remember how excited you were!  Remember your earlier enthusiasm!  Kindle it again!  (A message for all ages, for indeed we can lose that old enthusiasm!)

Hebrews 10:36-39, ... and so persist.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.  But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

"But my righteous one" or  (NIV footnote) one early manuscript had "But the righteous one".

The quote in verse 38 is from Hab. 2:3,4.

Hebrews 9, A Sacrifice Once and For All

We now enter an in-depth look at how Jesus completes the old covenant, created by the Mosaic law.

9:1-5

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.  A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.  Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,  which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.  Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

The earthly tabernacle was described and constructed in the book of Exodus as the Israelites fled into the desert of the Sinai peninsula. It represented God present, living among this young nation-tribe.   In this passage the details of the inner sanctuary are described, based on the temple (present tense?!) and the past tabernacle.

9:6-7

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.  But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

But the high priest went into an even more holy sanctuary, a dangerous and scary place!  The Holy of Holies was where God was physically manifested and could only be entered once a year.  The was a very serious thing.  Leviticus 16 gives specific details to Aaron, after two of his sons died for entering the Holy of Holies.  There is a legend, probably fictitious (see here) that claims that the high priest would have a rope tied around one ankle, for if God struck the high priest down, the worshipers would need a way to pull out his body!  This legend persists because it summarizes the fear created by the idea of entering into such a supernatural, holy, special place.

9:8-10
The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.  This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.  They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

The Old Covenant was all outward actions without necessarily changing the inward heart.  It was a metaphor, a symbol of things to come.

9:11-13
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.  He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.  The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.

So Christ is our new high priest.  Which holy sanctuary did Christ enter?  The inner one, and that in heaven, not here in the Shadowlands.

9:14-15
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!   For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

The phrase "from acts that lead to death" could also be "from useless rituals".

The Lamb of the New Covenant replaces all the sacrifices of the old!  The writer's tone rises with excitement and enthusiasm, as we are members of the right kingdom!

9:16-18
In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.  This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

In verses 16 and 17, the same Greek word is used, one meaning both covenant (contract) and testament (will.)  But here we have that strange use of covenant as "testament", as in "last will and testament."   Here the concept of a "will" or "last testament" is more meaningful since a person's will is not put into effect until after their death.

9:19-22
When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.  He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."  In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies.  In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The quote in verse 20 is from Exodus 24:8.  In the Old Testament sacrificial system, there was no forgiveness without the replacement death of an animal.  (The Old Testament sacrificial system was quite gruesome!)

9:23-26
It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.  Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.  Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The heavenly tabernacle is the real one....

"Once for all".  A simple and deep concept.  We resist it, as it is not human....

9:27-28
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

And then this Messiah will come again!

Hebrews 8, High Priest of a New Covenant

In the previous chapter we digressed to discuss an ancient high priest, Melchizedek, who (at least according to Jewish tradition) was an individual superior to Abraham.  Some traditions even equated him with the archangel, Michael.

8:1-2
The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

There is a Platonic view here -- there is a real sanctuary in heaven; the one on earth was just a shadow.  Our high priest, Jesus, is even better than Melchizedek since he is the priest of the heavenly sanctuary.

8:3-5
Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.  If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.  They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

The tabernacle of Moses is merely a shadow of the heavenly tabernacle.  This is very reminiscent of Plato's shadows and forms, described in Plato's allegory of the cave, in his Republic.  In that allegory, things we see on earth might be described as shadows cast on a cave wall; we see only the shadows, not the real, true objects.

The quote in verse 5 is from Exodus 25:40.

8:6-7
But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.  For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

The covenant offered by Jesus is a superior covenant.  The word "covenant" here was translated "testament" in the King James Version and is the source of the terms "Old Testament, New Testament" for the two portions of the Bible.

8:8-9
But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.

The new covenant (New Testament) is deeper, more profound, final.

In verse 8, an alternate translation to "God found fault with the people and said," is "God found fault and said to the people".

8:10-12
This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, `Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.  For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

The quote in verses 9-12 is from Jer. 31:31-34.  Read that ancient passage for a beautiful Old Testament description of the new covenant.   This New Covenant has the Holy Spirit teaching us, from within our hearts.

8:13
By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

And so, the author argues to the Jewish readers, move on to the final, new covenant!  It is silly to stay behind!

A short 13 verses, serving as a hinge between Melchizedek and a detailed description in chapters 9 and 10, of the role Jesus plays as high priest.

Hebrews 7, That Hero, Melchizedek!?

We continue the"Jesus is high priest" theme by examining the ancient and mysterious figure of Melchizedek.  You might never think to notice him if you were just reading along in Genesis 14:18-20.

7:1-10
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.  Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!

The crux of the matter with Melchizedek: he is higher than Abraham!  The lack of information about Melchizedek is used to suggest (probably as a metaphor) that he was ageless, eternal, a "type" for the Messiah.

Salem was most likely the town that would, one day, become JeruSalem.

Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.  And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.  In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.  One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

A strange argument meant to show that Mel is above the Levites and their priesthood.  The author is confronting an apparent contradiction -- that the final High Priest came out of Judah's line, not Levi's!

7:11-17
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?  For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.  He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.  For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

So Judah and Levi are reconciled.  The High Priest line is one of faith, not Law.  (See Paul's teaching in Galatians.)

And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

Jesus, model for both Judah and Levi.  The Old Testament quotation is from Psalm 110:4, the only passage, outside of Genesis 14, that mentions Melchizedek.

7:18-22
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

A Pauline idea; the Law was a tutor....  It was weak and useless, waiting to be strengthened by the Messiah and the accompanying Holy Spirit.

And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: `You are a priest forever.'" Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The concept of "Covenant" appears.  The King James Version used "testament" in 22 and from there we get our Old and New "Testaments".

7:23-28
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

23-28 Jesus provides a better, complete and permanent covenant.   The phrase "save completely" could also mean "save forever".

Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.  For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

"Once for all" -- this will become a theme in the next few chapters.  The old sacrificial system is over; the Final Lamb has made his sacrifice.

Hebrews 6, A Scolding

In this chapter the writer digresses to scold his readers for slowing down in their spiritual life; they may even be turning around, backtracking, in their walk with God and their Messiah.

6:1-3
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

This is a clear call to stepping up to more serious growth as a Christian and not hanging out at the "Jesus Saves" introductory level of spiritual understanding.  The readers are called to move on to maturity in (1) faith in God, (2) instruction about baptisms (?!), (3) laying on of hands, (4) resurrection of the dead, (5) Eternal judgment.

Although the writer hopes to eventually move on, he/she has to digress too far, apparently, to cover some of this.  How I would like to know what was going to be said about "the laying on of hands" or "instructions on baptisms"!  Was the writer prevented by immature Christians from continuing in these instructions?  Or did God have a better plan and not intend for these more esoteric discussions to appear here?

Instructions on baptisms could also be "cleansing rites".

Footnote on "acts that lead to death" in verse 1: could be translated "from useless rituals".

6:4-8
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

A strange instruction about turning back.  (I need a C. S. Lewis quote, a time in which, for just a moment, an evil individual had a moment of enlightenment, an perception that his or her view was wrong and that God was waiting, yet turned back to evil....)

This is a problem passage.  Some say it teaches one can lose their salvation.  If so, it then teaches that the salvation is lost forever.  I think it warns a group of people of the dangers of faking it.

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

An agricultural metaphor, similar to the parable about the fig tree (Luke 13:6-9.)

6:9-12
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Now upbeat and encouraging, as if the writer knows his readers, at some deeper level, have been, are serious and need to be merely reminded.

6:13-20
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

The quote is from Gen. 22:17.

An apparent tangent? A strange argument... the God needs to swear by Himself?!

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

What are the two unchangeable things?

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

We are encouraged to follow Jesus into the inner sanctuary, "behind the curtain."

In the next post we go on to a serious conversation about Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5, The Role of the High Priest

We continue the discussion of the Jewish high priest, one sympathetic with our human frailties, yet divinely appointed to stand for us.

5:1-3

Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.  He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.  This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

The high priest is human, sympathetic to humans.  Like us, he is Frail (by Jars of Clay).

5:4-10
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.  So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."  And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

The position of high priest, given to a frail human being, required a divine appointment.  This, too, Jesus had.

The Bible passages are from Psalm 2, verse 7, and Psalm 110, verse 4.  Both psalms are messianic passage about the coronation of David and David's line.

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.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

So Jesus is both the Son and a human high priest, both savior and sympathetic brother.  The author is apparently alluding to events in Jesus's life when he prayed with "loud cries and tears".  It is not clear to which events the author is thinking, but the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane comes to mind.  If so, the author provides that as evidence of Jesus's submission and process of being "made perfect."

Once again, Melchizedek is mentioned.  But the discussion of Melchizedek must wait, for the writer of this letter has a serous concern.

5:11-14
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

The author of Hebrews digresses to chide his readers for their lack of maturity. They have been Christians for some time....

This passage ends with a note of frustration.  The frustration builds throughout the next chapter, to become a serious scolding.

Hebrews 4, Entering God's Rest

The picture from Exodus, begun in the previous chapter, is of an Israelite nation on the verge of the promised land, stalling for 40 years across the Jordan River, unable to enter their promise because of their (deliberate) "unbelief".  The writer of Hebrews continues this metaphor, with a warning.

4:1-2
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.  For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 

What is the rest?  In this metaphor, it is the "promised land".  Is it Heaven?  Eternal salvation? Confidence with God?  Commentators differ.  I think it is overly simplistic to call it "(eternal) salvation."  It is most likely a stable place of steady confidence in God.

4:3-5
Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, `They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.  For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."  And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."

The author quotes from Psalm 95:11, continuing the study of the last half of that psalm.  In that psalm, David (or another psalmist) praises God for all of creation, ending with a warning about the importance of moving forward in trust and obedience, not turning back like the nation of Israel did in events named Meribah ("quarreling") and Massah ("testing".)

The author then reminds his/her listeners of the creation story, where "somewhere" it was written that God rested on the seventh day.  Clearly the author and the readers know where that was written!  The phrase "somewhere" is not one of ignorance but one of intimacy, an expression along the lines of "as we all know..."

A reading of Psalm 95 would make one naturally turn to the opening chapters of Genesis, as the psalm emphasizes God's creation.

4:6-10

It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.  Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.  There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;  for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

The quote in verse 7 ("Today") is again from Psalm 95, verses 7 and 8. The word "Today" is being used here as a way to emphasize the urgency of this message.  The readers need to respond to this message now.

The Greek word Yeshua appears 14 times in the book of Hebrews.  It is the Greek name for Jesus, but here, in verse 8, it is surely meant to mean Joshua, the Old Testament hero.  The names Jesus and Joshua are the same!

A basic interpretative question here is, "What is God's rest?  What is this 'Sabbath-rest' for the people of God?"

4:11-13
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

In Christian cultural circles (in the US) it seems common to use "word of God" as a phrase for the Bible.  But the Bible has a number of different, related meanings for this phrase occurring in verse 12.  In Genesis 1, Jeremiah 23:29, Isaiah 55:11 (& 1 Thess 2:13) and other Old Testament places, the "word of God" is simply God-in-action.  When God acts, God's Word acts.

In John 1:1, we see Jesus identified as "The Word [Logos] of God".  This is not especially surprising.  If God's "Word" is God-in-action, and if Jesus is the "exact representation" of God in human form then, yes, Jesus represents God in action.

Occasionally, the "word of God" means the scriptures, as described throughout Psalm 119:9-11.  So there are three meanings of "word" in the Bible:  (1) God's commands, (2) Jesus, the embodiments of God's action, (3) Scripture.

Which is meant here?  Surely some combinations of meanings 1 & 2.

How is "the word" living and active?

4:14-16

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

What does it mean to have "gone through the heavens"?

How is Jesus described here?  Why are we to have confidence?

The high priest both comforts us and stands for us.   This repeats the theme of 2:18: our high priest is sympathetic to us.