… consider Jesus … who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Hebrews 3:2-6, ESV.
Now and then you come across a product in the grocery store or an item on a restaurant menu that claims it is “just like mom used to make, only better!” This is quite a sales hook. It praises mom’s cooking by making it the standard of excellence (always a good idea). It appeals to nostalgia, implying that your mom is not still cooking this for you. Then, it offers you something new and “better.” Who can resist? Writing to a church made up of converts from Judaism, the author of Hebrews uses a similar approach. He compares Jesus to their great old hero, Moses. The main problem this author is dealing with is that some of them long for the “good old days” of Moses. To them, he declares, “Jesus is better!” Moses is the Old Testament deliverer and lawgiver. He led God’s people from slavery in Egypt to the border of the Promised Land. He received and delivered God’s law, telling Israel how they could live and worship and find joy in the land God gave them. Jesus is like Moses in one way. They were both faithful to God the Father. They were both given something to do and did it. Yet, there is something greater about Jesus. Like the builder deserves more praise than the house he built, Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses. In this illustration, “God’s house” is the people of God. Moses dwelt with God’s people as a faithful servant, telling them what God gave him to say. Jesus reigns over God’s people as the faithful Son who built the house and cares for it as the owner. Therefore, it only makes sense to look to Jesus for assurance that you belong in the house; not to Moses. We need this word about Jesus and Moses today. There is something in us, even as Christians, that makes us want to believe that we need a law-giving servant more than a housebuilding Son. As we search for confidence in our standing as God’s people, we start doubting the grace relationship we have with the Son and turn to the servant for a list of rules to make us feel at home. We need to be reminded daily that Jesus is better than Moses. The law will never bring us confidence and comfort because we will repeatedly fail to keep it. A broken law only brings condemnation. In fact, even keeping a law does not bring true confidence or comfort, because there is no time to celebrate before another law confronts us. Jesus is better because Jesus does not demand that the house build itself. He is the grace-builder. I pray that you will have confidence and comfort as you trust in Him and enjoy life as God’s house today. Pastor Don Comments are closed.
|
From Pastor DonWriting about the Bible and praying that it will be of some good for someone. Archives
June 2021
|