Pentecost +21 – On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Pentecost +21 2024
Rev. Doug Floyd
Hebrews 3:1-6

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ³ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”^[1]

The book of Hebrews opens with God who created the world and speaks to His people. He created the world through Christ Jesus, speaks to His people through Christ Jesus. He reveals His glory through Christ Jesus and has redeemed His people through Christ Jesus. Jesus is the center of this book.

Now let me back up to God as creator. If we jump ahead to verse 10 of chapter 1, we read,

You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; ¹¹ they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, ¹² like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” ^[2]

The writer quotes Psalm 102, which emphasizes the distinction between God and His creation. In Psalm 102, the psalmist is struggling, is discouraged, is taunted by his enemies. He looks to the God who is not bound by His creation but over and above His creation. The writer of Hebrews references this verse but here he is focused on the supremacy of Christ. As we read the letter, we learn that the hearers of this book are also facing some struggles that have caused discouragement.

The writer draws upon this image of God as Creator, but he combines it with the focus on Christ who is fully God and separate from creation and who is fully man and has entered creation in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Christ bears witness to God the Father. Christ has entered our suffering, our discouragement, our struggles. He bears witness that we have not been forsaken, but we have been redeemed. As Hebrews 2:18 says, “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”^[3]

Now we finally get to chapter 3. Once again, we return to a creation image. This time the focus is on the Temple or Tabernacle.

“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, ² who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. ³ For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” ^[4]

Moses served the household of Israel. He directed plans for the Tabernacle and the eventual Temple is still based upon the plans he received on the Holy Mountain from God. Moses served the household of God, but the builder of all things is God.

We learn from Hebrews and John 1 that all things have been created in and through Christ. When the Father speaks, He creates in and through the Son and by the power of His Spirit. Jesus is not simply another Moses. He is the builder of the house. He is the redeemer of the house.

The writer has been talking about the creation, about the household of God’s people, and about the Temple because the whole letter is leading us beyond the veil to the Most Holy Place. All this finds consummation in Christ Jesus.

Listen to the end of our passage, “Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, ⁶ but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”^[5]

We are His house.

First, Christ has incorporated us into the household of God. Consider Ephesians 1:5-6, “In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in th...