The type of rescue determines the rescuer. Therefore we need a human rescuer. Therefore he lowered himself. Thus the humanity of Jesus is not a prob, but just another dimension of how cool Jesus is.
V9: Through Christ’s death humanity is brought to glory.
V17: atonement for our sin – paid price/repairs damage. Free from fear of death is glory. Harmony with God and with each other…. Joy.
The implications of Jesus being human.
If not for Jesus, all we have for our glory is this world – the fads and fashions of the here and now.
Jesus death – atone, release from fear of death – puts this life in perspective.. we are forgiven, our future is secure, we can control this life instead of being controlled by it.
So what are you looking to now for security, identity, focus, honour? Career, sport, relationships, appearance? All this is fickle, transient. This life is fleeting compared to life ahead.
To achieve the potential that God intended – ie Psalm 8 – is when we trust Christ in order to destroy he who holds power of death.
Talk 3: Faithfulness of Jesus. Hebrews 3:1-4:13.
Apparently every we all lie/stretch truth every 8 minutes.
3:1-6 – Jesus can be trusted. “He is faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.” (v2) Jesus is heaps better than Moses. “Jesus has been found worthy of greater hoour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house iteself.” (v3) (Go ask a strand 1er for more info)
3:7-4:13 Here our faithfulness is compared to Israel’s.
3:7-19 – Look at Israel’s silly lack of faithfulness. Don’t you be like Israel, who has seen what God has done and yet fall away (v12). Learn from their mistake. Don’t harden your heart. Don’t mess up like Israel.
4:1-11 – There’s still a rest we all strive for. The physical promised land is not the final resting place cos King Dave said TODAY don’t harden your heart. V6, 8… the real sabbath is heaven.
4:12-13 – We need to be authentically faithful
How’s your heart?
Who are you when noone is watching? How loyal to Jesus are you then?
Is it all an act, a façade?
YOU CAN’T FOOL GOD.
Does your public life = your private life?
You think you’re strong? So easily you can be pulled away in the shallowness of your loyalty.
Following Jesus is not a game. Need – focus, purpose, effort.
Temptations will come. WAKE UP TO THIS DANGER.
Weeds that can choke us.
What is your weakness? Most likely why you might fall away?
Flee from it!
“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.” Heb 4:12-13.
Talk 4: Jesus our Great High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 -.
What’s the big deal about priests?
- Priest: middleman between people (Israel) and God.
What’s the big deal about Jesus being a priest?
- We can walk with confidence in the presonce of God (v16).
Why? 4 reasons here:
1. He has gone through the heavens (4:14) – Jesus is a priest who is also the Son of God, is priest of not a man made temple but a heavenly one.
2. Jesus is earthly minded (4:15) – is able to sympathise with our weaknesses, cos he was tempted in every way.
3. He was divinely appointed (5:1-6)
4. He was made perfect by obedience (5:7-10 ) – submitting himself to father.
Jesus –perfectly mediates, perfectly relates, and perfectly reconciles.
Therefore we can have confidence before God.
How “all” is Jesus to you?
