Hebrews Chapter 7
By Pastor Chris
Mr. Fix-It
Do you ever look at the way something is done and think to yourself, “This is absolute madness, there HAS to be a better way!” I don’t know about you, but I have some great ideas on how to deal with traffic jams. I won’t bore you with them now, but if you want to I could have a 20-minute conversation on adaptable speed limits, speed cameras, roundabouts and the “accident pop up tent.”
The book of Hebrews is a letter to a group of Jewish followers of Christ who are beginning to turn from the ways of Jesus, so they can return to their traditional beliefs and religious rituals. The writer to Hebrews confronts them on their lack of maturity and reminds them that Jesus is greater than the angels (Chapter 1), Moses (Chapter 3), Abraham (Chapters 6, 7) and the High Priest (Chapter 7). He systematically shows his readers that Jesus is, in fact, greater than all the main figures of Israel’s history. For the intended recipients of this letter, they are given a shock to the system as they were reminded that everything they had valued up to that point fell underneath someone greater still. Jesus redefined and enhanced what each of these figures would bring to the people of God.
In the case of the High Priest, Jesus is described as taking over this role. Jesus’ teaching and life example serves as the authority on what God values from his people and he resets the expectations and purpose of being a follower of God. The Message paraphrase says it like this, “The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way—Jesus!—a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place.“ (The Message: 7:18-19) In Jesus we have the answer to “this religion is madness, there HAS got to be a better way!”
According to this passage, the hope we find in him is …
In Jesus we have a better way.
In Jesus we have an indestructible advocate (Verse 16, 25).
In Jesus we have a final sacrifice (Verse 27).
In Jesus we have access to the presence of God.
