The problem is not usually the problem.
The problem is often our lack of information or our failure to focus on the information.
We're in the series, "Does God Care?" and we're considering the letter of Hebrews written to Christ followers of the First Century who were discouraged. They entertained thoughts of giving up and turning back.
In this very encouraging correspondence God lets them know that there is nothing "better" than following Christ. In the 7th chapter one of the most mysterious characters in the Bible is used to show how much God cares for us.
Hebrews 7:1 - This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. 2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means "king of justice," and king of Salem means "king of peace." 3 There is no recordof his father or mother or any of his ancestors - no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews goes on to recount how this applied to his readers. The Levites, who received tithes from the Jewish people, hadn't been born yet when this interaction between Melchizedek and Abraham transpired. The point is, Melchizedek typifies Jesus, who is not a priest like the Levitical priesthood, or even the high priesthood from the family of Aaron.
Christ's priesthood is a "better" priesthood. There is no end to it. It is not temporary. The priesthood of Christ is eternal.
Why is this important to a group of discouraged Christ-following Jews?
We pick up the story in verse 23:
23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood last forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins. 28 The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.
Let's break this down further to see how we can let God care for us.
REFLECT (Verse 24)
Reflect on the fact that Christ's care is forever!
We've all lost loved ones that cared for us. When you lose a parent or spouse or friend that cared for you, you're partly sad for them and partly for yourself. Someone who cared for you is gone. There's a void there. An emptiness.
That will never be the case with Jesus!
Yes, Jesus died. But he rose again and is alive forever!
The Bible says in Romans 8:
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry,or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries for tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflect on that the next time you're tempted to doubt God's care.
One caveat, you've got to come to God in order to qualify for this kind of care.
RECEIVE (Verse 25a)
In order to let God care for you, you've got to receive the free gift of salvation that he offers.
The first part of Verse 25 says, "Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him."
If you "come to God through him (Jesus)" you will have this eternal care.
The big debate in our nation right now is health care. We don't know the end result of this debate - but we do know the end result of the eternal care of those who come to God the Father through Christ the Son! When you come to Christ you are safe and secure in knowing that Jesus conquered death and lives forever so that you too may do so!
You have eternal care if you have come to God through Jesus!
RELISH (Verse 25b)
Once you've received God's free gift of salvation through His Son Jesus, you need to enjoy it!
The last part of verse 25 says that Jesus lives to intercede with God on your behalf.
This means that Jesus is your representative in heaven. He is there since that is where God's throne is. He is there where his holiness, his sinlessness, has been presented to the Father in place of our guilt and sinfulness.
Christ's presence in heaven is much like the appearance of an advocate in a courtroom. When someone has been convicted of a crime and the sentence is being pronounced, a defence attorney may plead for leniency. Is this case, Christ has presented Himself as the One who already paid for our sins.
Each of us is guilty of breaking the laws of our Creator. But we enjoy forgiveness because Christ intercedes for us.
You may not have all of life's comforts but if your sins are forgiven you are a free man or woman!
REMEMBER (Verse 26)
In order to let God care for you remember that Jesus is the kind of priest we need because his is holy and blameless, unstained by sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."
I'm always looking for good deals but I have never found one better than this! When I came to Christ and admitted that I was a sinner in need of forgiveness He in turn gave me His righteousness!
I came into God's presence a beggar and left a joint-heir with Christ!
REALIZE (Verse 27)
Realize Christ's sacrifice for us is complete and does not need to be repeated.
Verse 27 reads, Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins.
A veteran friend of mine named John Barnacle died several years ago. He would often rehearse to me (and to anyone else that would listen) the story of the Air Force pilot on who crew he served in World War II. His eyes would fill with tears as he told of how that pilot died saving his life and the lives of the other crew members. Everyone got out alive except the pilot who went down with the plane. He would say, "In that one act of heroism, that man gave me the rest of my life!"
That's what Jesus did for you and me! In that one act of heroism on the cross he gave us the rest of our lives on earth to live for Him and the rest of eternity to live with him!
The levitical priests couldn't offer that. It took a priest of the order of Melchizedek to do that! It took Jesus whose sacrifice in a one-time act of heroism gave us an oportunity to live life to the fullest!
We don't need anything else to be complete!
RECOGNIZE (Verse 28)
Trust Christ for your care because He is not weak in any area!
Verse 28 says, The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.
Perfect.
There is nothing greater than perfection. The 1st Century Jewish converts to Christ would be stepping backwards to trust their care to anyone but Jesus.
So would we.
We need to recognize Christ's perfection in order to let God care for us through Christ.
He is perfect. We are not. We are weak. His is perfectly strong.
