CONSIDER JESUS
Hebrews 3:1
20+, before I was a pastor, I was a member of a church in Florence. There was an elderly gentleman there by the name of Deck Davis. One of the kindest people you could ever meet. We talked often and I always walked away a little better off for having talked with him.
One day, he said to me, “Jerry, I’ve been reading in Hebrews and I’ll admit that there’s a lot that I don’t fully understand, but there is 1 verse, actually just 2 words of one verse that I want you to read, but not just read it, but meditate on those 2 words and see what God reveals to you.
I thought it was a little strange, but I did just that. It’s been over 20 years and from time to time I still meditate on those 2 words.
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, CONSIDER JESUS, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;
CONSIDER JESUS. I think of those 2 words often because of Mr. Deck.
1. WHO HE IS.
(1) He is the Creator.
Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is the Creator and the heavens reveal His glory! Gen 1 reveals that Jesus spoke the physical universe into existence. Planets, stars, moons, and all sorts of other celestial objects. By vs 2, though, the earth, either was or had become formless and void. But He put His hands on the clay formed it and shaped it into exactly into something beautiful and useful. Something good.
He also created man and specifically He created you. Maybe this morning your life is like the earth in vs 2, filled with chaos....
But God wants you to know today:
* that the same God that created the stars of Heaven can make you shine even brighter.
* the same God that spoke the world into existence can bring new life to yours in an instant.
* the same God that formed the chaotic earth into something beautiful and useful can make transform yours also.
* God is God and He can do all things but for Him to do that you must yield yourself to Him!
(2) He is Immanuel.
Mt 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
Since the Fall, Man has always strived to know God and to have
a relationship with Him, but sin had destroyed that relationship. Since man could not effectively approach God, Jesus left Heaven and came to earth. He took on flesh and became one of us in order to restore our relationship with God. He not only created you, but He also wants to have a relationship with you. He loves you + wants you to know Him.
(3) He is the Savior.
Lk 2:10-11 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The night that Jesus was born, the world was a dark place and all mankind was lost in the darkness of sin. Man could not fix his own problem of sin. He needed a Savior to do for him what he could not do for himself. Jesus came to the earth to do just that and the angel told Joseph to name Him Jesus because He would save His people from their sins.
Sum up... Jesus is the God of All Creation that left Heaven and came to earth as Immanuel so that He might become one of us in order that He could save us from our sins.
2. WHAT HE DID.
(1) He Lived a Perfect Life.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus came to earth and clothed Himself with human flesh and became one of us. He was tempted in every way, just as we are, but never sinned. He taught us how to live in righteousness, but the perfect life He lived also afforded Him the ability to become.......
(2) He Was the Perfect Sacrifice.
1 Pet 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
For 1000s of years man sought the most perfect of their flock to offer as a sacrifice to God for the covering of their sins. But these lambs could never take away man’s sins, only cover them because no lamb is divine and no lamb is truly perfect. Jesus, though, is the Lamb of God that lived a perfect life, having never sinned. Every lamb that was offered before Him was only a representation of the perfect Lamb that was to come. When He shed His blood on the cross, it was to destroy the effects of sin once and for all.
(3) He is Our High Priest.
Another reason for Jesus becoming a man was so that he might become High Priest.
Heb 2:14-17 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
So Jesus became a man, so that He could die a physical death in our place to pay the price for our sins but also so that He could be our High Priest. After He died on the Cross, Jesus went to Heaven and entered the Holy of Holies and offered His blood on the Mercy Seat for the forgiveness of our sins. He became one of us in order to restore us to the Father.
Sum Up.. Jesus lived a perfect life while He was here on earth so that He would be the perfect Lamb and His blood was sacrificed on the cross to pay for our sins. While His body lay in the tomb, He went to offer to offer His blood on the Mercy Seat. At Calvary, Jesus was not only the Lamb of God, but He was also our High Priest.
3. WHERE HE IS.
(1) He Ascended Back to Heaven.
Acts 1:9 After He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Jesus had completed all that He came to earth to do. He taught man how to live in righteousness. He restored our relationship with God. He died on the cross and rose again so that those who believe in Him would be saved. With His work completed, He ascended back to Heaven. But what is He doing in Heaven today?
(2) He is Seated on the Throne.
Mk 16:19 When the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
He resumed His position of glory and power and dominion over all Creation. And He welds that power to defend and protect us from the Evil One and empower us thru the Holy Spirit to live a holy life.
(3) He is Ready to Return for Us.
Acts 1:10-11 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
Jesus promised that He would return again and receive us into Heaven
For, when He comes, He is not coming again for everyone; He is only coming for His people. He is coming only for those who are saved by His grace and who are washed in His blood. Therefore, friend, you need to be sure that you are saved today so that when He comes, you can go to Heaven to be with Him for all eternity.
4. CONSIDER JESUS.
Consider Jesus for a moment. Consider Who He is and all that He has done and ponder what our response ought to be.
If Jesus is Lord of all Creation, He ought to be Lord of your life!
If Jesus gave His life for us, we ought to live our life for Him!
If Jesus is Sovereign over all things, we ought to live with boldness!
If Jesus is returning for His people, we ought to be ready for Him!
If Jesus is all of these things that Scripture has revealed to us this morning, then we ought to worship Him in all that we do!
