!1 of !15 Pastor Richard Allen Farmer Crossroads Presbyterian Church 5587 Redan Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30088 770.469.9069-office Gems From Hebrews, Part 3 Better Than Moses Text: Hebrews 3:1-19 It is easy, as one navigates life, to see only the darker side of the adventure. The anonymous writer to the Hebrew believers reminds us to see Jesus (2:9) and to consider him. That's how chapter three of this letter begins. Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. !1 of !15 !2 of !15 I want to pause here and press the issue of Christology, the study of Christ. We are not religious people. We are Christ-ians, followers and disciples of Jesus. The writer does not say "Consider religion" or "Consider a Divine Being" or "Believe in Someone up there". He doesn't even say, "Consider Moses". The writer is specific: consider Christ Jesus (Greek for consider= be concerned about; understand completely; notice). The theologian/writer then describes Jesus. 1. He is the Apostle, sent from God (John 3:17, 34; 5:36, 38; 6:29, 57; 7:29; 8:42; 10:36; 11:42; 17:3) 2. He is the High Priest. Moses was a prophet and leader, but he was no regularly-serving priest (Psalm 99:6), as was his brother Aaron. Jesus, however, is called the great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) !2 of !15 !3 of !15 Here's the writer's logic: A house is a house, but the greater honor goes to the one who built or conceptualized the house. God, in Christ, originated all things (4). The writer is not saying Moses was not to be admired or respected. Moses was revered in Israel. The anonymous writer simply reminds us that Christ is superior to Moses. Moses was a servant in the house. Christ is over the house, to use a building metaphor (6). The word house is used 7 times in verses 1-6. It is not referring to a physical building but, rather, God's people. Moses was part of God's collective people, but Jesus built the people. See the lives of Moses and Christ paralleled and contrasted. Parallels • Both were faithful to their assignments !3 of !15 !4 of !15 Contrasts • Moses was the house. Christ was the architect (3-4). Moses was a servant. Christ is the administrator (5-6). • Moses is in the house. Christ is over the house (5-6) • Moses is a servant. Christ is a Son (5-6). • Moses ministered in the shadows (8:5; 10:1). Jesus is the full light of the world (John 8:12). Then Psalm 95:7-11 is quoted. It's a great way to remember the reference. Verses 7-11 here equal verses 7-11 in Psalm 95. A caution about unbelief (3:12; 2:3). We are in great danger if we ignore the gospel we have heard. According to verse 13, we ought regularly remind each other (exhort) !4 of !15 !5 of !15 of how important following Jesus is. We ought be turning each other away from the deceitfulness and hardness of a Christ-rejecting life. Back to Moses. Let's learn from him and his people. A. They heard and rebelled (16). B. They incurred the anger of Yahweh (17; Numbers 14:26-29). C. God withheld His rest from them (18-19) We are to learn from Moses and his ordeal with Israel. 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, esp. 6 and 11. Remember our study of the book of Jude? In verse 5 of that one-chapter book, Jude says that God destroyed the people of Israel because of their failure to believe. It was disobedience and lack of faith in God that kept some Israelites out of the land of promise. !5 of !15 !6 of !15 I want us to observe a pattern illustrated here and commit ourselves to avoiding falling into this pattern. 1. Not taking Christ seriously. That is, failing to consider Christ (verse 1) 2. That failure leads to unbelief (verse 12) 3. That decreasing belief leads to a departing from God (verse 12). 4. That departing from God leads to "hardening of the hearteries" (verse 15) 5. The hardened heart leads to rebellion (verse 16) 6. The rebellious disobedient, hardened heart forfeits the rest that God offers (verse 18-19). This doesn't mean that they lose their salvation. They will not enjoy the fellowship and intimacy with God that is known by those who wholeheartedly put their trust in God. !6 of !15 !7 of !15 Entering the rest of God is enjoying a closeness to Him that can only be described as euphoric. Back in Numbers 14, those who didn't believe did not get to experience the Land of Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. They were still God's people, but they didn't get to enjoy all that God had for them...because of unbelief and rebellion (Numbers 14:20-23). This anonymous author says if we get stuck on Moses, we will always be disappointed. Moses was fallible and mortal and worked with people who were the same. Jesus, in contrast, was infallible and immortal. True, Moses and Jesus were similar in some ways. Moses – The first mediator Jesus – The final mediator !7 of !15 !8 of !15 Moses was born as a Hebrew. Jesus was born as a Hebrew. Moses was chosen by God to be a leader. Jesus was chosen by God to be a leader. Moses was born while his people were suffering under a cruel leader (Pharaoh). Jesus was born while his people were suffering under a cruel leader (Herod). Moses hid in Egypt as a child. Jesus hid in Egypt as a child. The leader of the land that Moses was born into tried to kill all of the babies when he was born. The leader of the land that Jesus was born into tried to kill all of the babies when He was born. Moses turned water into blood. Jesus turned water into wine. !8 of !15 !9 of !15 Moses died on a hill. Jesus died on a hill. Moses fasted 40 days and faced a spiritual crisis on a mountain. Jesus fasted 40 days and faced a spiritual crisis on a mountain. Moses told people about the need for a Passover lamb. Jesus became the Passover lamb. Moses founded a new religion. Jesus founded a new religion. Moses communicated directly with God Jesus communicated directly with God Moses performed miracles. Jesus performed miracles. Moses revised an existing religion. Jesus revised an existing religion. !9 of !15 !10 of !15 Moses was a law giver – gave the ten commandments Jesus was a law giver – gave the great commandment. Moses was hated by the ruling party (Egyptians). Jesus was hated by the ruling party (Pharisees). Moses had brothers and sisters who misunderstood him. Jesus had brothers and sisters who misunderstood him. Moses gave his people a new identity as a people. Jesus gave his people a new identity as a people. Moses had followers who strayed from his teachings. Jesus had followers who strayed from his teachings. Moses chose people to carry on when he was leaving. Jesus chose people to carry on when he was leaving. Moses led his people to the promised land. Jesus leads his people to the promised land. !10 of !15 !11 of !15 Moses sent 12 spies to Canaan so he could bring people to the promised land. Jesus sent 12 disciples to the world so he could bring people to the promised land. The people picked up stones to stone Moses but they did not succeed. The people picked up stones to stone Jesus, but they did not succeed. Moses exercised authority over the waters of the Red Sea. Jesus exercised authority over the Sea of Galilee Moses brought living water out of the Rock. Jesus brings living water to all of his believers. The face of Moses shone with glory on Mount Sinai. The face of Jesus shone with glory on the mount of Transfiguration. !11 of !15 !12 of !15 Moses lifted the brazen serpent up in the wilderness to heal people. Jesus was lifted up on the cross to heal us from our own sins. Moses was a shepherd. Jesus was the good shepherd Moses subdued an attacking army by raising his arms high on the top of a hill. (with two other people) Jesus subdued sin and death with arms raised high on a hill (with two other people). Moses fed thousands supernaturally with bread. Jesus fed thousands supernaturally with bread. Moses took a gentile bride. Jesus took a gentile bride (the church). There is a long period of silence in the story of Moses from the time he was a child until adulthood. There is a long !12 of !15 !13 of !15 period of silence in the story of Jesus from the time he was a child until adulthood. Moses showed compassion to a woman getting water at a well. Jesus showed compassion to a woman getting water at a well. Moses’ mission was to redeem Israel from slavery to Egypt. Jesus’ mission was to redeem mankind from slavery to sin. Moses was loved and supported by his sister Miriam (which is Miryam in Hebrew). Jesus was loved and supported in his ministry by His mother Mary (which is also Miryam in Hebrew). Moses gave God’s law on a mountain. Jesus gave the new law from the Mount of the Beatitudes.