What's So Great About Jesus?

2. He is greater than the Prophets. (Heb. 3:1-3)

Note the comparison made between Jesus & Moses. Moses was the most revered leader in the History of Israel for numerous reasons. Moses delivered the law. Moses performed absolutely stunning miracles. He met with God and even saw God. Moses was a great man! But Jesus was greater by far. He was greater than all the prophets of old. In the mind of the traditional Jew, this was a radical claim. Yet true.

In today’s world we face our own dilemna and comparisons. We have figures of great spiritual influence like Oprah Winfrey. The Oprah empire continues to grow both materially and spiritually. She now has a magazine, a charity, a movie production company, a book club, a popular show, & she owns half the Island Hawaii! Oprah is also a major figure of spiritual influence in today’s world. While she would never mantle herself as a prophet, she unabashedly promotes her own brand of spirituality. She’s a powerful spokesperson for what many would call new age spirituality. She embraces popular new age gurus like Shirley Mclain and Depok Chopra. She’s an advocate of self realization (the means by which a person achieves wholeness through a process of self discovery beginning with self.) I ask you then: Who is Oprah really? A Prophetess, a spiritual leader, a talk show host, or a combination of all? Decide for yourself.

Make no mistake, what we have in Christ is better. The Oprah brand of spirituality begins and ends with self. Christianity begins and ends with Christ. Oprah is set to retire in 2008. Jesus Christ will never retire! He is greater than all prophets, both old and new & Christian and non. He is Jesus, God’s son.

3. He is bigger than the Sabbath. (Ch. 4:1-3, 9,10)

During a time of desert wandering, the Israelites were unable to enter rest. The rest of God was forfeited through disobedience. Even though they had a day off, the didn’t really have a day off. The Sabbath tradition of the Jews was strict. There was a total cessation of work and labor. Violations of the Sabbath were punishable by death. So everything came to a screeching halt on the Sabbath. While the Sabbath was outwardly observed, there was a lack of inward obedience. The Jews were unbelieving, therefore they did not enter rest God promised even though they kept the sabbath.

You’ve heard the old saying, “There is no rest for the wicked.” There’s a ring of truth in that statement. St. Augustine once said, “We are restless O’God until we rest in thee.” That’s the whole teaching of Hebrews Ch. 4. There is no rest apart from God.

In the New Testament, Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. The rest we have in Him is more complete. He is bigger than the Sabbath. A day off without Jesus, is no day off. I’d rather have Jesus than a thousand days off. Because rest for my soul is found in Him. You ever take a vacation and come home not really feeling rested? Haven’t we all! Think what your entire life would be like if you never found rest for your soul? Jesus Christ can rest your soul whether you have a day off or not. Our obedience to Him is more important than merely observing a day off and keeping the sabbath. He is bigger than the Sabbath. You can find rest for your soul any day, anywhere.