2010-07-30
3:1-6
(v1) “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”
(v6) “But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”
(v1) “…who share in the heavenly calling…”
There are many things that could be extracted from this passage. However, there is one thing that I feel of great importance. Anyone can tell me that this passage is telling us that Jesus is greater than Moses. But to us as Christians in this age, it is not hidden but rather a know fact to all. Regardless of the importance of conveying this fact to the Jews at that time, to us, this passage has to impact us beyond the apparent fact.
The fact that could be more mind boggling to the us and the Jews at that time is not that Moses is lower than Jesus, but the fact that Moses is a part of the house that Jesus is building. The reason behind the ‘wow’ effect is that we too are building blocks of the house that Jesus is building. If that hasn’t grabbed your attention yet, deductive reasoning behind this fact is that we, the normal Joes of this world are at par with the likeness of Moses, Daniel, Elijah, David and Abraham.
Think about it. When we read the bible, how many times do people read the stories and think, ‘Wow, what a awesome life these people are leading?’ But the author of Hebrews is telling us that we are equal is position with these ‘greats’ of old. Or in another perspective, these ‘greats’ are equal with us ‘the normal Joes.’
Then why aren’t we living lives like these men? Why aren’t we leading a ton o’ people across the desert, challenging the kings of this world to a spiritual duals, etc? Why aren’t we making the impact that these men are making? Why can’t our lives be as awesome as theirs? If God thinks that we are on par with each other, what is the difference, or rather what has enabled God to use them in such a way whilst we are struggling through this bondage called ‘life?’ Why can’t I receive such a calling?
“…who share in the heavenly calling…” I have picked this passage because of one word, ‘share.’ This one word can change how you look at your vision in Christ.
If God’s calling for Moses was to free the Israelites from Egypt and lead them the promise land, the author of Hebrews could not have used the word ‘share.’ Most definitely God did not call me to lead the Israelites from Egypt nor has he called me to become King of a country (well I don’t think yet ^^). But the passage says, “…who share in the heavenly calling…”
So what calling do we share? It is interesting because I find that even not long ago I was praying, “God what do you want of me? What do you want me to do? What is your vision for me? What? What? What? What?” But isn’t I obvious? What God wants of us?
(v6) “…hold on...”
What he wants as with ‘great’ people of old is for us to hold on. Hold on to the “…courage and the hope of which we boast.” And by holding on and not letting go we are able to stay in close proximity with God. And when one is in close contact with another he gets to know the person. God wants us to ‘hold on’ and to come closer to God. (The last bit was a bit rushed but this idea is of such importance that I wanted to just give a hint and later expand in another opportunity.)
What is my calling?
-Worm
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hebrews 2:10-18 "To Be Bros of Jesus"
2010-07-29
2:10-18
(v10) “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
(v17) “For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
(v10) “…it was fitting…”
I have contemplated for a brief moment (about 10 seconds over a sip of coffee) about dividing this section into two but decided that it was fitting not to (had to do it, know it corny but hey, its me). The word ‘fitting’ used here is very interesting in that the word itself has connotations that makes the whole situation interesting. Although I cannot dive deeper into the mean via the ways of its original language, but the intent behind the word’s use is in itself quite amusing.
To a certain extent, the word ‘fitting,’ in this case may mean mostly that it was ‘right.’ It is funny because when we use the word as ‘right,’ there seams to be certain connotations behind the word. If it was ‘right,’ or ‘fitting,’ on the flip side of the coin there has to be a ‘wrong,’ and a ‘not fitting’ side to it.
Although I am jumping a few steps in my chain of thought, this whole sequence is interesting, because to God this plan and method was ‘fitting.’ The fact that the people of Israel were able to atone for their sins via sacrifice, was in fact ‘not fitting’ in the eyes of God. By his nature, the fact that the sacrifice was not ‘perfect,’ goes against the nature of God.
Though I’m not about to argue the point of doctrine of salvation, the fact that only the Israelites could receive salvation was not a perfect design. And to a perfect God, who is not only the God of the Israelites, but the God of all creation, which in fact includes the gentiles, a ‘perfect’ plan needed to be hatched. And what would God be without the perfect plan.
And so, “…should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (Too bad for Jesus, WHAT? LOL)
(v17) “…in order that…”
Then the question is, why? Why is it ‘perfect?’ Why can’t God just come up to us and say, ‘Well, kids, I have decided that all of yous, Jews or Gentiles can now offer up burnt sacrifices for your sins.’
Though the most of the passage, or more specifically 2:12-18 is a testament to the reason of this, ‘sending down the Son of God to die for little Hee-Jae’s sins,’ the reason for Jesus having to come down to this earth is best explained in this the fragment, “…in order that…”
“…in order that…” Jesus might feel my temptations to lie, cheat, hurt, slander, ignore God, commit sexual sins, put other things in above God, both in actual actions and in my mind. The fact that the goodie-goodie, that is the Son of God, experienced all the temptations that I could ever endure, he prevailed.
The suffering he must have felt at that cross. People the fact that he did not sin, means that he should not have died. “The wages of sin is death.” The injustice he must have felt as his connection with God was severed in that last moments as he carried the sin of all men and died. All this “…in order that…”
“…in order that…” he would know both ends. God’s heart and ours. So that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
“…it was fitting… …in order that…” we could be saved and be called bros of Jesus
-Worm
2:10-18
(v10) “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
(v17) “For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
(v10) “…it was fitting…”
I have contemplated for a brief moment (about 10 seconds over a sip of coffee) about dividing this section into two but decided that it was fitting not to (had to do it, know it corny but hey, its me). The word ‘fitting’ used here is very interesting in that the word itself has connotations that makes the whole situation interesting. Although I cannot dive deeper into the mean via the ways of its original language, but the intent behind the word’s use is in itself quite amusing.
To a certain extent, the word ‘fitting,’ in this case may mean mostly that it was ‘right.’ It is funny because when we use the word as ‘right,’ there seams to be certain connotations behind the word. If it was ‘right,’ or ‘fitting,’ on the flip side of the coin there has to be a ‘wrong,’ and a ‘not fitting’ side to it.
Although I am jumping a few steps in my chain of thought, this whole sequence is interesting, because to God this plan and method was ‘fitting.’ The fact that the people of Israel were able to atone for their sins via sacrifice, was in fact ‘not fitting’ in the eyes of God. By his nature, the fact that the sacrifice was not ‘perfect,’ goes against the nature of God.
Though I’m not about to argue the point of doctrine of salvation, the fact that only the Israelites could receive salvation was not a perfect design. And to a perfect God, who is not only the God of the Israelites, but the God of all creation, which in fact includes the gentiles, a ‘perfect’ plan needed to be hatched. And what would God be without the perfect plan.
And so, “…should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (Too bad for Jesus, WHAT? LOL)
(v17) “…in order that…”
Then the question is, why? Why is it ‘perfect?’ Why can’t God just come up to us and say, ‘Well, kids, I have decided that all of yous, Jews or Gentiles can now offer up burnt sacrifices for your sins.’
Though the most of the passage, or more specifically 2:12-18 is a testament to the reason of this, ‘sending down the Son of God to die for little Hee-Jae’s sins,’ the reason for Jesus having to come down to this earth is best explained in this the fragment, “…in order that…”
“…in order that…” Jesus might feel my temptations to lie, cheat, hurt, slander, ignore God, commit sexual sins, put other things in above God, both in actual actions and in my mind. The fact that the goodie-goodie, that is the Son of God, experienced all the temptations that I could ever endure, he prevailed.
The suffering he must have felt at that cross. People the fact that he did not sin, means that he should not have died. “The wages of sin is death.” The injustice he must have felt as his connection with God was severed in that last moments as he carried the sin of all men and died. All this “…in order that…”
“…in order that…” he would know both ends. God’s heart and ours. So that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
“…it was fitting… …in order that…” we could be saved and be called bros of Jesus
-Worm
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Hebrews 2:5-9 “But…” What Do You See?
2010-07-28
2:5-9
(v9) “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
(v9) “But…”
Interesting sequence of reasoning and thought on defining who Jesus really is. It is true that when Jesus is viewed in an objective matter, that he was limited by certain restraints. Some having to do with him having to embody a bodily form (notice to play on words), and others having to do with God not revealing everything to him as one thought. I cannot presume with certainty that Jesus while he was on earth, knew what was happening in China at the same instance as would God is able to. Yes, as with physical restraint Jesus was not able to perform some of the attributes of God, but not just owing to the physical restraint, but as Jesus say in referring to his second coming, ‘Only my Father in heaven knows.’ (I know I hacked that verse and the whole paragraph but hey I’m only human).
The point is however, that although we see and read all the things that Jesus has done on earth for our salvation, people will still consider him to be for something that he is not. On many levels, Jesus nowadays is being considered to be on par with the likes of Buddha, Socrates, Muhammad and Confucius. And it is true that these men like Jesus were great man. These men and many other have forever changed how we think and behave even to this day and for days yet to come. And yes, Jesus when sent to earth “…was made a little lower than the angels…”
“But…” We, the Christian, see more than that in Jesus. As verse nine declares, “…we see Jesus…” I challenge myself, ‘Do I see Jesus?’ Do I see him for what he really is? Not just a teacher, not just a philosopher, not just a leader, not just a mentor. “But…” for what he really is?
“…now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” His death on the cross, his weakest moment in ‘life,’ was his crowning moment. For his death on the cross, was his reason for ‘life.’ And in doing so by God’s grace we have access to salvation. By faith we see what we once could not see. Praise God.
“But…” what do you see?
-Worm
2:5-9
(v9) “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
(v9) “But…”
Interesting sequence of reasoning and thought on defining who Jesus really is. It is true that when Jesus is viewed in an objective matter, that he was limited by certain restraints. Some having to do with him having to embody a bodily form (notice to play on words), and others having to do with God not revealing everything to him as one thought. I cannot presume with certainty that Jesus while he was on earth, knew what was happening in China at the same instance as would God is able to. Yes, as with physical restraint Jesus was not able to perform some of the attributes of God, but not just owing to the physical restraint, but as Jesus say in referring to his second coming, ‘Only my Father in heaven knows.’ (I know I hacked that verse and the whole paragraph but hey I’m only human).
The point is however, that although we see and read all the things that Jesus has done on earth for our salvation, people will still consider him to be for something that he is not. On many levels, Jesus nowadays is being considered to be on par with the likes of Buddha, Socrates, Muhammad and Confucius. And it is true that these men like Jesus were great man. These men and many other have forever changed how we think and behave even to this day and for days yet to come. And yes, Jesus when sent to earth “…was made a little lower than the angels…”
“But…” We, the Christian, see more than that in Jesus. As verse nine declares, “…we see Jesus…” I challenge myself, ‘Do I see Jesus?’ Do I see him for what he really is? Not just a teacher, not just a philosopher, not just a leader, not just a mentor. “But…” for what he really is?
“…now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” His death on the cross, his weakest moment in ‘life,’ was his crowning moment. For his death on the cross, was his reason for ‘life.’ And in doing so by God’s grace we have access to salvation. By faith we see what we once could not see. Praise God.
“But…” what do you see?
-Worm
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Hebrews 1-2:4 "What are We Listening To?"
Hebrews
2010-07-27
1-2:4
(v2:1) “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”
(v2:1) “…therefore, to what…”
In the first few verses of Hebrews, the word ‘therefore’ in 2:1 leads us directly to the reason and purpose of the writer’s intention.
The whole reason behind the purpose of chapter 1 is to enforce the first few verses of chapter 2, while the rest hereinafter strives to support the intention of verse 2:1. In short the first chapter of Hebrews is telling us that Jesus is the Son of God.
However, the question is, to what? The people who are intended to read this passage have heard some thing or some things previous to this ‘what.’ At this point, the ‘what’ of this mystery can only be presumed by the first chapter (because we have only at the beginning of chapter 2). The extent of the writer trying to clear up the fact that Jesus is the Son of God while the angels are mere ministering spirits sent to help and serve God and us is a precursor to the reason behind the what. From this we can make an educated guess that the intended readers were having trouble in distinguishing Jesus and angels. Or rather they were having disagreements with who Jesus really was. For instance, the Son of God, a glorified angel, an angel named to be Son? Pure guess but by the looks of it, there were people teaching the wrong thing, thus the call for “…more careful attention…”
The notion of having ‘heard’ is not just referring to what the angels are saying but to the “salvation.” Hence, in my own words, ‘If words of angels have consequences, then what of the words of Jesus?’ The writer wants us to grasp the essentials of salvation. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that he came and died for our sins, rose back on the third day, went back up to heaven and sits on God’s right hand and will come and judge all. Away from this, the essentials of salvation, all is just noise in the wind.
-Worm
2010-07-27
1-2:4
(v2:1) “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”
(v2:1) “…therefore, to what…”
In the first few verses of Hebrews, the word ‘therefore’ in 2:1 leads us directly to the reason and purpose of the writer’s intention.
The whole reason behind the purpose of chapter 1 is to enforce the first few verses of chapter 2, while the rest hereinafter strives to support the intention of verse 2:1. In short the first chapter of Hebrews is telling us that Jesus is the Son of God.
However, the question is, to what? The people who are intended to read this passage have heard some thing or some things previous to this ‘what.’ At this point, the ‘what’ of this mystery can only be presumed by the first chapter (because we have only at the beginning of chapter 2). The extent of the writer trying to clear up the fact that Jesus is the Son of God while the angels are mere ministering spirits sent to help and serve God and us is a precursor to the reason behind the what. From this we can make an educated guess that the intended readers were having trouble in distinguishing Jesus and angels. Or rather they were having disagreements with who Jesus really was. For instance, the Son of God, a glorified angel, an angel named to be Son? Pure guess but by the looks of it, there were people teaching the wrong thing, thus the call for “…more careful attention…”
The notion of having ‘heard’ is not just referring to what the angels are saying but to the “salvation.” Hence, in my own words, ‘If words of angels have consequences, then what of the words of Jesus?’ The writer wants us to grasp the essentials of salvation. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that he came and died for our sins, rose back on the third day, went back up to heaven and sits on God’s right hand and will come and judge all. Away from this, the essentials of salvation, all is just noise in the wind.
-Worm
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