Hebrews 2 - The Cross of Our High Priest
It’s easy to want Chapter Two's second half and ignore the first half. We want the helper, the merciful, forgiving High Priest. But God says we will not be immune from consequences if we ignore the Great Cross of Christ (2:3).
Let’s talk about it for a second, for I believe it is a critical issue for the church's health and growth, and revival.
Jesus is our perfect leader. By God’s grace, he tasted death for everyone. And what a poisonous taste. Thank God for His grace. Thank God that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. Every child of God defeats this evil world. We achieve this victory through faith in Jesus (1 John 5:4). Jesus makes us holy. The Son of God (fully man, fully God) brings us salvation.
Jesus broke the power of the devil - He broke the power of death. He sets us free from the fear of dying. It doesn’t mean that we don’t suffer and that we don’t face death in this broken world. We will and we do. But we are to live paying close attention to the message of God - the perfect law that sets us free (James 1:25).
The law of Christ is for you and me - all who trust in Jesus. God loves all human beings. In this chapter we hear of God’s eternal plan - a way for us to be forgiven and to have eternity with God (2:5). It is not a boring future; to the contrary, it will be the grandest adventure.
Jesus, our perfect leader, sets us free and makes us holy. He is King, our High Priest - and our friend, our loving brother. With this Good News of God’s great salvation through Christ, it is good for us to be thankful and humbly confident.
The emphasis is on humility. In the modern church, we see a lot of pride, arrogance, and worship at the feet of power and money. We see church leaders abuse people with no accountability. We see coverups and despicable people put in charge of ministries. You can tell a tree by its fruit. God is not mocked. If you want to know a man's character, look at the character of his family and those discipled in Christ by his service to God. If there is dysfunction and sin and scandal you have a pretty good idea of the fruit.
When talking to those who turned their back on God and went back to Egypt after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem we hear God speak to their adulterous hearts. They were so brazen in their worship of the “Queen of Heaven.” They wanted an easy street. And they were prepared to do what it took to get it.
And God said this, “To this very hour you have shown no remorse or reverence. No one has chosen to follow my word and the decrees I gave to you and your ancestors before you” (Jeremiah 44:10).
What about us? What about today’s Church? Do we boast only in the Cross of Christ? It seems we boast a lot - but you’ll be hard-pressed to hear about the Power of the Cross. Do we trust God and care for His ways and priorities or the Almighty Dollar?
Maybe it doesn’t matter. We shall see. But I suggest it does. I suggest men and women of God need to revere God in all we do. And for where we have failed let us mourn and plead with God in deep sorrow. Yes, forgive. Yes, receive back the sinner with glad arms. But also require accountability and honor God’s standards by never letting a man with a bad reputation lead. May God be merciful to us, our families, communities, and nations.
God never changes. He is love. God is also eternally powerful and just. He has every means available to Him to bless and to curse. He will grow His kingdom despite the worst. God carries on. We can have a first world war or a second or a third. God’s way will prevail. His Kingdom will grow.
Let us be kind and gentle today. Encouraging and respectful. But take a stand for something good. Refuse to buy into the lies of acquiescence. God’s people are expected to follow His instructions. We cannot ignore His great message of salvation. We are a holy people.
As surely as the Sovereign LORD lives, Jesus is King and He will return to judge the living and the dead.
Lord Jesus, please do not bring disaster on America - or on any people of this earth. Instead please bring good. Please bring growth and faith in the Cross of Christ and revival. Amen.
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