Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Hebrews 1-6
Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
The entire book of Hebrews provokes its readers to consider Jesus Christ. This is the overall purpose. At the time of its authorship there were many Jewish converts to Christ and their world was about to be crushed. Written around AD 61-62 this book preceded the complete, demoralizing, and devastating destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans. Someone wrote that the ransack of Jerusalem was so thorough that there was not one stone left upon another, just as Jesus prophesied in three of the gospel accounts (Matthew 24:2, Mark 13:2, and Luke 21:6). This ended temple worship. The rites, sacrifices, fellowship, and commerce that was a centerpiece of Jewish life was abruptly ruined.
The Lord warned them. To Him, the Lord God of Heaven, the continual sacrifices for sin must have been a reproach. After all, Jesus, God’s Son, offered the real and eternal sacrifice for sin, the animal sacrifices were no longer needed. As God always does, He gave warning before this catastrophe took place. The book of Hebrews being given about eight or nine years before Jerusalem’s destruction was the Lord’s loving gesture to help them understand a central truth which was, and is, that animal sacrifice no longer had any efficacy, for these could never take away sin. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was, can be, and is, the sacrifice, offered through faith, for forgiveness of sin.
Hebrews proves this over and over. Notice Hebrews 3:1 again, see how the writer identifies the audience; “holy brethren,” “partakers of the heavenly calling,” and “of our profession.” These are not mere words to take up space, they indicate that the readers were believers in Jesus Christ, but solely believing in Him does not complete one’s understanding of Him. This they needed, a greater, deeper, and more personal knowledge of Christ. He is the balm that would soothe the wounds of the collapse of their world.
Let’s make this practical. In every life of every person who reads this short devotion at some time, someplace, and somewhere, an event will take place that will strike at the very core of all they believe. When this takes place, consider Jesus. Consider His manner of life, interactions with others, teachings, love, mercy, and grace. Just go back to Him, think of Him, talk to Him, read of Him, try to gain His perspective, for this is why we have the book of Hebrews.
The promises found in this book are numerous. Here is one: Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
In your time of need, even before your time of need, Jesus is there. Through Him there is mercy to find grace in your hour of need. To obtain such help just consider Him. Instead of the horribleness of the situation, consider the wonderfulness of Him. This is the purpose of the book of Hebrews.
Dr. William T. Howe
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