Hebrews 3:1-6 Confidence and Hope

Zadok moved carefully and quietly through the night.  He had heard of the crucifixion’s near Itzak’s home and felt compelled to see his brother again. The risks were becoming greater for Zadok and his family as well.  He had avoided any contact with Itzak and Hannah because rumors of his initial contact with them had travelled widely in the synagogue.  While he had not denied the visit, he had avoided all conversations about it and kept as quiet as possible.  Some in the synagogue had begun to question his teaching because of this matter.  It had taken some time to reassure them through heartfelt and zealous lessons that he was still committed and true to the faith.  But, he missed his brother deeply and longed for him and his family to be protected and to return.  He would risk another visit, this time by night, to compel Itzak to come back.  Zadok was not certain how he could bear the news if his dear brother became a victim of the terrible Roman persecutions.

Zadok knocked lightly on the door several times and yet no one stirred inside.  He picked up a small stone and tapped on the door rapidly, but as quietly as he could.  Immediately he heard movement and then footsteps near the door.  “Itzak,” he whispered, “It’s me, Zadok.  Open the door quickly!” The door creaked open and a hand grabbed him and pulled him inside.  The hand released his arm and he felt his brother move away. He could see the embers burning golden as Itzak stirred them with a small stick.  The end of the stick glowed hot with its temporary light as it touched the wick of an oil lamp.  As the light grew, Itzak tossed the stick into the embers.  He could see his brother’s eyes at last.  For the first time he saw that Zadok was afraid.  Zadok was the courageous brother.  He was never afraid.

“What is it, Zadok?  Come, sit down.”  Itzak set the lamp down on the table and put a strong arm around his brother.

“I just had to come,” whispered Zadok.  “I heard about the crucifixion’s near here and I was so afraid—“ Zadok’s voice broke with emotion.

Itzak rested his hand on Zadok’s arm.  “Oh, my dear brother!”

Hannah’s form shuffled in to the room. “Who is it, Itzak?  Oh, Zadok!” Hannah threw her arms around her brother-in-law.  “We are so glad to see you!”

“Please don’t wake the children,” pleaded Zadok.  “They won’t know not to tell their friends that I was here.”

“They are still asleep,” Hannah assured him.  She settled in next to Itzak and the three talked in hushed tones.

“Won’t you come back?” Zadok was trembling as he looked into Itzak’s eyes.  “You might be next.  We could take in your children, but if Hannah stays in The Way she could not live with us.  For the sake of your children and wife at least, give this up!”

On one side of the table there was trembling and fear.  On the other side there was confidence and peace.  Hannah stretched her arms across the table and clenched Zadok’s hand in hers.  “Oh, Zadok, if you only knew the hope we had!”

Zadok’s eyes burned with zeal.  “How could you leave the teachings of Moses and the Law?  We have lived under God’s ways for centuries.  Does that not speak to its power and truthfulness?  This Jesus is no part of God’s house!”

Itzak put his arm around Hannah’s shoulder.  He smiled genuinely at Zadok and then he and Hannah shared a confident glance.  “Zadok, we believe that Jesus is greater than Moses.  I know that is hard for you to hear.  I know it is.  We still honor Moses and do our best to follow the Law.  But Jesus Christ has shown us a more complete way to live and serve God.  We have not really left.  We have moved forward into a hope that is far brighter. Listen, my dear brother.  Remember how I used to serve in the annual sacrifices?  Well, that is no longer necessary.  Jesus has provided the perfect sacrifice by dying on one of the same crosses you see on those Roman roads.  His sacrifice was the best sacrifice.  I no longer need to provide that service.  And better still Jesus rose from the dead and is sitting in heaven right now waiting for you to believe.”

At this Zadok covered his face in his hands. He sighed deeply.  Speaking through his hands he said, “I am so sorry to hear this, Itzak.”  Zadok wiped tears from his face as he lowered his hands.  He looked at Hannah.  “We will take your children in if you ever need us to.  I cannot promise how I might support you, but I would do everything within my power to do what I can.”  He got up from the table.  “I must go now.”  He walked toward the door as if he was carrying stones on his shoulders.

Itzak ran to his brother and embraced him.  “I love you Zadok.  I only wish you could know the hope that we have!”  Zadok embraced his brother as if it was the last time he would see him, slid out the door and stole quietly back into the night. 

Zadok stood at the foot of an empty cross.  Dawn was on its way and he knew he must hurry.  But something stopped him there. He studied the cross for a time and then turned toward home, anxious to hold his wife and children in his arms.

Read Hebrews 3:1-6.

The writer to the Hebrews has spent a significant amount of word-power comparing Jesus to angels, establishing his divinity and affirming the incarnation—God coming to us in the flesh. Now the writer moves to another very significant distinction.  This is the distinction between Jesus and Moses.

We can see the compassion and passion of the writer in how the first readers are addressed.  They are holy brothers and sisters.  Because of their relationship with Jesus Christ they are made into a family as they are in the presence of their Savior who has called them to a better and a higher way.  And with this better way is the object on which they can fix their attention, focus their religious fervor and gain spiritual maturity.  The only place in the New Testament where Jesus is described as an Apostle is here.  The title of Apostle describes someone who has been sent with a message—a message of hope.  This message of hope comes from Jesus who is also a high priest.

The writer addresses here two very prominent issues for these early Christians.  First, Jesus is the one who has completed the role of high priest.  After the sacrifice of himself—not a bull or lamb—the work of this High Priest is completed.  Centuries of people from the Hebrew tradition had followed the exact same practices outlined in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Jesus brought those God-established practices to a perfect resolution through his faithfulness to the spirit of the Law.  A perfect animal sacrifice—as perfect as could be found—had to be brought to the tabernacle to act as the substitution and representation of the sins of the people.  Jesus was the absolutely perfect sacrifice and therefore no more sacrifices for sins had to be made.  Of this the new Christians, still living by the Law given to Moses, could be freed to testify (confess, witness) to the freedom they had found in him.    

Secondly, the writer draws the comparison between Jesus and Moses.  Here it would be helpful to understand the role of Moses in the Hebrew and Jewish community, particularly for those who were contemporaries with the writer of this New Testament book.  We rely on the excellent synopsis of Richard S. Taylor.

The voice of Moses had become virtually the voice of God in Hebrew thinking.  An appeal to Moses settled all questions. The transfer of faith and allegiance from Moses to the Man of Galilee was very difficult, and the pressure to return to Moses was constant.

Moses’ devotees could point to the miracles in Egypt, the mighty events of Sinai, and the leading out of the whole nation. Jesus' disciples could point only to local miracles on individuals, and a tiny motley band of despised followers. Moses died with dignity upon a mountain and was buried by angels (Deut. 34:9; Jude 9); Jesus was put to an ignominious and cruel public death by His enemies. The disciples of Jesus clung to His resur­rection and a promise of future glory—a promise which thus far showed no signs of materializing. And the Resurrection was proof of superiority only to those who believed it. In the attempt which follows to prove that Jesus is greater than Moses it is noteworthy that the Resurrection is not appealed to. Rather the argument is based solely on the identity . . . of Jesus as the divine Son of God.  But regardless of approach, the writer is truly Pauline in his grasp of the complete eclipse of Moses by Christ. The question of the perpetuity of Moses' authority arose very early in the Church even at Jerusalem, and the first great council was convened to settle this issue (Acts 15). In their stern opposition to the tendency of the Judaizers to make Christianity a form of Judaism, Paul and the writer of Hebrews, if not the same person, were at least of the same mind.[1]

The writer retains great respect for Moses, as there should be even in our time, and yet shows a very clear reality that Moses was just a man.  The faithfulness of Moses is admirable and he is an honorable role model, but he is not God nor does he have the last word.  Moses served in God’s house.  Jesus, being one with God, built his house and now serves over it, fills it, and guides its residents.

And then the writer affirms something completely radical to these New Testament Christians.  The house of God is not a tabernacle, the Temple or a synagogue.  The house of God is not made of material, brick or stone.  It is made up of believers filled with the Spirit of the resurrected Christ!  Acts 2 testifies to this reality as well. Just as the ancient prophets, and particularly Ezekiel (37:14), God lives in us, continually calling us to deeper and more lasting faith, giving us courage to witness to the new and better way, confidently living as Christians in the face of persecution, doubt, and passionate pleas to leave the One who has given himself for us.  We are his house!  This is what pours confidence into our hearts and minds.  This is what brings us courage and hope.  Of this we can certainly boast.

Amen.

Copyright M.R. Hyde 2013  

March 31, 2015
The remainder of this series in Hebrews can be found in book form at most e-book retailers and www.Smashwords.com. Paperbacks available at www.Lulu.com. 

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[1] Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume X, Editors, A.F. Harper, et al., Beacon Hill Press, Kansas City, Missouri, 1967, p. 42.