An Advent Message From Hebrews
Intro:
I must confess; I have little bit of reputation of being a Christmas humbug.
1. Family dynamics ignoring the Incarnation and Cross
2. Historically, both as a Chaplain and Minister I’m usually very burdened and heavy hearted around the holidays.
3. When I get home from Sunday mornings I’m spent (and I should be) that is magnified by 200% on Christmas Eve.
1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;
5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.”
6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
Recap of the major points the author of Hebrews has covered so far:
- Jesus, the Great (Final) High Priest, has taken his seat in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. (He is worthy of the majesty of that position, it is RIGHT for us to think on Jesus in his glory in his present reigning position)
- Jesus’s “place of work” is the TRUE tabernacle, the one the Lord established, not the placeholder set up by man. (What the Hebrews did was create a fore-runner, a reminder of what was to come…but they unfortunately saw the tabernacle/temple as THE gift, and worshiped it as such. They made the classic mistake of worshiping the created and not the creator…what are other ways in which this still plagues the Church today?)
- Every High Priest brings a gift; but Jesus IS the gift! (Is there a better Christmas message than this?) (Q: What is the best gift you’ve ever GIVEN? Story of Ben and Mary surprising Mama-with pictures)
- Jesus does NOT serve the Law; rather He is the fulfillment of the Law. (Q: What’s the difference between those two things, and why is it so important?)
- Jesus has made everything BETTER. A more excellent ministry. Mediating a better covenant. Enacted on better promises. (Considering the original audience and author, what is the subtle question that the author is actually asking the audience? Answer: Why would you ever go BACK to the LAW?)
Closing: Slide of the “Ultimate Christmas Card That Says It All”