JESUS THE BETTER WAY: BETTER THAN OUR LEGENDS
HEBREWS 1:1 – 2:4
BIG IDEA: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”
SERMON PREFACE
As I was studying this book I remember saying to myself, “The Hebrews probably had a lot of problems accepting the writer’s assumptions and conclusions.” You see he takes personalities, emblems, and concepts that are very sacred to them and “demotes” them. He takes the very elements of the Hebrew faith and identity and says they are obsolete and replaces them with another – Jesus Christ.
Now what the writer did for them (or maybe more accurately TO them) is nothing short of what he does for/to us either, that may never be more obvious that in this chapter on legends and heroes.
You understand what I am saying right? We must be prepared to be offended by the Word of God today.
Having said that, let’s read from chapter 1.
HEBREWS 1:1 – 8
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” 8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
INTRO
It was Christmas again; Vickie and I spent what seemed like a very long time not just buying presents but wrapping them. But that Christmas Craig was so excited by the wrapping, and inside the wrapping the cardboard box, that he almost ignored the present itself. Indeed, though he seemed pleased in a way with the present, later that day we found him playing with …the box. He was using it as a prop for some of his smaller toys; namely army men and hot wheels cars. It worked well; even the wrapping paper was useful for hiding battalions of men and machinery. The fact that I can’t now remember what was in the box itself - the actual gift - makes the point. (Adapted from “Hebrews for Everyone,” N. T. Wright)
The book of Hebrews is determined to help the people it’s written to not make that same mistake. The wrapping had come off the gift; and the gift was Jesus himself, God’s own, unique son, sent to fulfill everything the law and the prophets had spoken of. They could now move on from the earlier stages of God’s purpose and gladly live out the new and complete purpose which had dawned.
All sorts of pressure was being applied to this little church. They were being pressured to return to the faith they had served before; to abandon this new-found Christianity with its strange claims and to go back to their old practices, beliefs and value systems.
Speaking of practices, beliefs, and value systems … Every culture has tools and emblems they use to pass on their history, practices, beliefs, and values to the next generation. These vary from society to society but always include heroic stories and heroic personalities. These stories become part of the psyche – the DNA – the instinctual values of the people. Words used to describe these stories would include –“heroes”, “myths”, and “legends.”
These legends pass on character and behavior that is considered admirable by the people in question. They have enormous power and potential. As I said, they shape culture, society, virtue, values, character, and justice; the society’s civic worldview. They also place parameters, restrictions and taboos on the society in question. Legends relate the past to the present. They connect humanity with the world and show them how to navigate it successfully.
Now do not equate legends with mere mythical moral stories like Aesop’s fables. Legends are often based upon history and actual events but they have stood the test of time and transcend specific moments; they seek to apply universally held principles to every age.
The Hebrews were no different than any other culture when it comes to legends. In fact, the Old Testament is, in one sense, a written document of their legends. But, as with any society, legends often extend beyond fact and the hero becomes inflated; larger than life.
One such series of stories for the Hebrews would be their legends of angels. The Israelite legends about angels did what all legends do. They helped shape how the people understood God, humankind, and how to relate to the world.
They understood angels to be
• Involved in creation
• Active agents in the giving of Torah. Angels were present at the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai – see Deuteronomy 33:2 and Acts 7:38 and Galatians 3:19
• Ministering agents to God and to God’s people (1:14)
• Messengers from God to man
• Warriors on behalf of God’s people
Angels were held in high regard and came dangerously close to being equal with God. In fact, we know they were worshiped in some Jewish communities.
• Qumran (where we got the Dead Sea scrolls and the sect that John the Baptist was probably associated with) had an angle cult.
• When Jews became believers some of this practice filtered over into the church. Colossians 2:18 goes so far as to charge the church to stop the practice of worshipping angels.
• This may also be why John the Apostle was twice rebuked for almost worshipping an angel in the Book of the Revelation. It was a way of combating the tendency of Jewish Christians to do so.
Angels were such a big deal that to disrespect them was “fightin’ words” for some. And this was obviously the case in the church this letter (sermon) was written too. That is probably why angels are addressed first and in great detail. The writer is challenging these legends and their tendency to exalt them above Jesus Christ.
This was no small matter.
As I said, what is true of the Hebrews and Hebrew Christians is true of every society. We use historical stories and events to shape character, behavior and values.
An example might be George Washington cutting down a cherry tree. It is used to teach character (“I cannot tell a lie”). But the story is not true (it was fabricated by M. L. Weems).
Another may be the story of Abraham Lincoln fighting a bear with only his hands. This shows us the value of stamina and courage. But it’s probably not true. The same can be said of his two mile walk in the snow to return change to a customer when he was a storekeeper.
In both cases we have taken (or created) anecdotal stories of these heroes and exalted them in order to embed values.
These, and similar stories are useful – but they are only stories. The problems begin when we allow our legends to be the primary source of character development. The problems begin when we choose to believe the myth because it serves our purpose … or when we begin to venerate the hero.
For example: “The Apotheosis of Washington” is an immense fresco painted by Italian artist Constantino Brumidi (in 1865) on the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol. The apotheosis depicts George Washington becoming welcomed as a new member of the pantheon of gods. It is not by accident that you have to look to the heavens to see it. In fact, the definition of apotheosis is “the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.”
This first chapter of Hebrews is, among other things, reminding us that Jesus Christ is “better” than Israel’s legends. The writer will get even more specific in coming chapters as he mentions other places, symbols, people, and events but the one threatening many messianic communities was their veneration of angels.
The writer reminds us that all our legends should be two paces behind Jesus Christ!
Verse 4 introduces the writer’s favorite word, “kreitton”. It is translated “superior” here but it is translated “better” in most other places in the book. It is used on an average of once per chapter and in every case it contrasts that which Israel venerates with Jesus and shows Jesus to be … “better,” “superior,” “more excellent.”
Please hear me. It is not that their legends of angels were bad or even ineffective. It is that Jesus can do it “better.”
In Chapter 1 we discover that Jesus is:
• A better word (1:1-2)
• A better model (1:3-4)
• Of better character (1:8-9)
• He is the bridge from age to age (1:10-12) (able to pass on values and character)
• God has appointed Jesus heir of all things
• It was through Jesus that God made the universe
• He alone is the reflection of God
• He upholds all things by his “enabling power”
• He has made purification for our sins
• He alone has sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High
• Jesus is the priest who accomplished the perfect work of cleansing for His people
• Jesus is the King who sits enthroned in a place of honor next to the Majesty on High
The writer has directly challenged angels in these propositions. As we will see, the writer emphatically believes that Jesus is better than any over-emphasized legend that the Hebrew Christians could proffer. They are simply wrapping paper – Jesus was the gift.
And guess what -- he surpasses (is superior) to our legends and heroes too.
Did Harriet Tubman risk life and limb to rescue people from oppression, bondage, and slavery? Yes. Can her story inspire us? Absolutely. But Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (v.3).
WRAP-UP
Name your hero: Martin Luther King Jr., Ronald Reagan, Tom Landry, John Kennedy, Bear Bryant, Harriet Tubman, John Wooden, Steve Jobs, Henry Ford, Albert Einstein -- your call. Might I suggest to you that Jesus is more effective at instilling values, virtue, character, and shaping society and worldview than any of our secular legends?
The same holds true for your Biblical heroes. According to our author (who will address greats like Joshua and Moses) they also stand two paces behind Jesus Christ. They have a place in our spiritual formation (read chapter 11) but they pale in comparison to Jesus. They are shadows and promises – Jesus and Jesus alone is the fulfillment. They are the wrapping paper – Jesus is the gift!
Might I suggest to you that Christians should be telling stories from Jesus’ life for these reasons as well as for salvific reasons?
And there’s the rub. For too many of us the Gospels are a bit uncomfortable. We could easily go from incarnation (God birthed in flesh) to crucifixion (God’s sacrifice on the cross) without the stories and teachings in between. We are more comfortable with “The Christ” than we are “Jesus.” But the Gospel stories of Jesus’ teaching and actions are paramount to a Christian’s character, behavior and world view!
Tell me, who could better teach us timeless truths about sex, power, racism, marriage, war, politics, women, money, materialism, greed, integrity, etc … Jesus Christ or George Washington?
I challenge you to let the life of Jesus speak to you. Ask Jesus (via reading the Gospels) what he would say about sex, power, racism, marriage, war, politics, women, money, materialism, greed, integrity, etc. You will come to some very different conclusions than our secular legends and heroes proffer. You will come to some very different conclusions that what our culture is trying to ingrain within us through their use of legends too.
Many today, including many in the church, seem dissatisfied with what they have, and are eager to expand their spiritual horizons. Let this letter, beginning here in chapter 1, serve as your guide. Don’t start playing with the wrapping instead of the actual gift. Pay closer attention to who Jesus really is; to the role he played (and still plays) in God’s plan; to the life of worship he incites; and to the sacrificial, self-denying service to which He calls each one of us.
Can you covenant with me today to turn to Jesus first and foremost to inform your values, behavior, character and destiny?
Maybe a good way to start is by praying our Congregational Prayer from Hebrews together.
+++++++++++++++++
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
First Church of the Nazarene
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
www.banazarene.org
+++++++++++++++
Jesus: The Better Way
(A Congregational Prayer from Hebrews)
Leader: Heavenly Father, giver of all good gifts,
Leader: Because Jesus is better than our legends
All: We will look to Him for character
Leader: Because Jesus is better than our human potential
All: We will look to Him for strength
Leader: Because Jesus is better than our family pedigree
All: We will look to Him for identity
Leader: Because Jesus is a better mediator
All: We will look to Him for reconciliation
Leader: Because Jesus serves as a better guide
All: We will look to Him for direction
Leader: Because Jesus offers a better relationship
All: We will look to Him for communion
Leader: Because Jesus makes better promises
All: We will look to Him for assurance
Leader: Because Jesus ensures a better peace
All: We will look to Him for comfort
Leader: Because Jesus provides better possessions
All: We will look to Him for satisfaction
Leader: Because Jesus instills a better motivation
All: We will look to Him for purpose
Leader: Because Jesus establishes a better family
All: We will look to Him for belonging
Leader: Because Jesus awards a better inheritance
All: We will look to Him for our future
Leader: Because Jesus imparts a better life
All: We will look to Him for an example
Leader: In the name of Jesus, the Better Way, we pray.
TALKING POINTS
• This sermon can be found online at: http://www.potsdam-naz.org/sermons
JESUS THE BETTER WAY: BETTER THAN OUR LEGENDS
HEBREWS 1:1 – 2:4
BIG IDEA: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”
Pastor ken said, “Ask Jesus (via reading the Gospels) what he would say about sex, racism, marriage, politics, women, money, materialism, character, etc. I suspect you will come up with some very different conclusions than our secular legends proffer.”
• Have you ever considered looking at Jesus’ life in the Gospels as an answer to these and similar questions?
• Can you think of a specific story from Jesus’ life that would address some of the hot button issues today?
o Racism:
o Sex:
o Money:
o Materialism:
o Women:
o Politics:
o Marriage:
• Make a list of personalities and heroes that people idolize and connect them to a “cause” they champion.
o Compare their messages (and life) to the message and life of Jesus.
o How does their message compare and contrast to the message of Jesus you see in the Gospels?
• Make a list of historical people you tend to admire and look to for life lessons and connect a particular life lesson with each.
• How does their message compare and contrast Jesus’ message and life?
