Learning to Pray
Jesus Intercedes for Us
Hebrews 3:1-11 The Message
The Centerpiece of All We Believe
3 1-6 So,
my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the
heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of
everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses
was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more
valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the
Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God’s house, but
it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come.
Christ as Son is in charge of the house.
6-11 Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house! That’s why the Holy Spirit says,
Today, please listen;
don’t turn a deaf ear as in “the bitter uprising,”
that time of wilderness testing!
Even though they watched me at work for forty years,
your ancestors refused to let me do it my way;
over and over they tried my patience.
And I was provoked, oh, so provoked!
I said, “They’ll never keep their minds on God;
they refuse to walk down my road.”
Exasperated, I vowed,
“They’ll never get where they’re going,
never be able to sit down and rest.”
don’t turn a deaf ear as in “the bitter uprising,”
that time of wilderness testing!
Even though they watched me at work for forty years,
your ancestors refused to let me do it my way;
over and over they tried my patience.
And I was provoked, oh, so provoked!
I said, “They’ll never keep their minds on God;
they refuse to walk down my road.”
Exasperated, I vowed,
“They’ll never get where they’re going,
never be able to sit down and rest.”
For Reflection
We do not know the author of Hebrews, but clearly the intent of this book is to argue the superiority of Jesus. Many will read this as, "my god's better than your god." However, in my opinion, this interpretation misses the point. It is not about who has the better god. The argument is about the placement of Jesus in Judaism and the world. Christianity derives it's fundamental belief system from Judaism. Christ illuminates the tradition and tempers it with grace, love, compassion, peace and justice. The result is that the whole world is offered a place in God's household. We all are part of an inclusive faith centered in God.
Pray
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