I’ve been writing. Though you couldn’t prove it by
my blog postings of the past month. The blogs that aren’t. I had the brainstorm
that I’d write each week following our Bible study in the book of Hebrews on Thursday
nights. Though I’ve been studying the book along with our group for the past
several weeks, a few verses at a time, chunks of thought we chewed over in our
discussions—which have been good—I never sat down afterwards and wrote about
them. Now weeks later I will not recap to fill white space on the page. You’ll
have to do your own study. But that is not a bad idea.
I’ve read the book of Hebrews many times over the
years but when I began digging into the sections of verses, paying closer
attention to details, I’ve had some enlightening moments. Or would that be
enlightened moments? Moments of enlightenment. When you start using words, you
start to pay closer attention to their meanings, not just what you think they
mean. The dictionary becomes your friend.
So it is with studying the Bible. Reading and
rereading a book of the Bible allows one to get the feel of the book, where it
comes from and where it is going. Then, digging into the words using scholarly
tools left for us by those who did the greater part of study into the original languages,
brings enlightenment. Truths there all the time, not appreciated except by
closer scrutiny, come to light, and make themselves known to our conscious
minds. This is the value of Bible study. That is, if we act on it.
I’ve had a few of those moments in our study of
Hebrews. Personal insights which I had not seen before. And, of course, powerful
verses that stand out continue to resonate with me, even though I know I haven’t
plumbed their depths, verses such as:
For this reason we must pay closer attention to what
we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken
through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received
a just penalty, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
(Hebrews 2: 1-3a, NASB)
“For this reason” is like “therefore”, you have to
look back and find out what in the world it is there for. In this case, it is
because we need to listen to Jesus with rapt attention since God has spoken through
him in these last days and it wasn’t for the sake of the angels he spoke. No
indeed. What Jesus said and did was for us, not them. Angels, of whom Jesus is
their creator and not one of them, are “ministering spirits, sent out to render
service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation”, according to the
verse just before Hebrews chapter 2 opens with the quoted verses above.
We must listen attentively to what was spoken, this
good news of God through Jesus Christ, for in Jesus God has spoken finally and forcibly.
He has spoken once for all in a lived out drama of flesh and blood. Of death.
Of power through suffering and humiliation … and resurrection. Of Exaltation
and the promise of all knees bowing in acknowledgment of His living “speech”,
one day yet to come.
Not yet. One day. We live in this between day, in
the echo of Jesus’s life speech. His voice, his gospel, resounds and will not
be stilled. Listen!
Since therefore the children share in flesh and
blood, he himself likewise partook of the same
things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death,
that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were
subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he
helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers
in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest
in the service of God, to make propitiation [appeasement,
atonement] for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when
tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2: 14-18, ESV)
In this Today of Jesus’s echoing Voice, resonating
within the hearts of those who come to him in faith, we have not only salvation—the
forgiveness of sins and freedom from slavery to the devil and to fear of death—we
have One who understands us and can speak on our behalf before the Holy and
Righteous God! Jesus Christ, our great high priest. We can trust in him. We can
come to him.
Listen to what he says.
(How’s that for non-recap?)
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