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December 23rd

The bible reading today is in the final chapters of Hebrews...chapters 11, 12, and 13.

To this point in our reading, we heard the case that...

Jesus is better...and...that is what I'm going to tag Hebrews with...“Jesus is just magnanimously Better than everything else.

We read that Jesus was and is greater than Moses. Moses was a rescuer...rescuing Israel from Egyptian bondage. Moses was the lawgiver from Mt Sinai...Moses was the covenant agent for Israel with God...And Moses was the warrior prophet and chosen intercessor with God for God’s chosen ones...He led Israel through the wilderness and to the entrance of the promised land. Moses was a great man.

But Jesus is better!

Jesus rescues people, Jews, and Gentiles, from something much worse than Egyptian abuse. Jesus rescued and rescues sinners from the jaws of hell to the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus did not give the law of sin and death. He, through his atoning death, gave a different law...the law of the Spirit of life...grace and truth and mercy!

Moses sat on a hillside and raised his staff during Joshua’s battle with the Amalekites in the wilderness journey to the land of promise. As long as Moses held his hands up Joshua prevailed.

Jesus stretched his arms and hands and feet on an old rugged cross. He chose the help of Roman spikes driven through his hands and feet to keep his arms raised. And for 6 hours he battled hell on a hillside called Calvary and won salvation to the fullest for his followers.

Yes, Moses was great, but Jesus was and is better.

“By faith, Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than his brother, Cain...And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:4‬

Abel’s worship of the Father was accepted by God...and though he died, he still speaks.

Jesus’ worship of the Father from the garden to the cross was accepted by the Father and proven so when he raised his son from the dead. And Jesus being alive still speaks.

Abel was commended by God. The resurrected Jesus ascended to God.

Abel was great...but Jesus was and is better.

“By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death...before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:5‬

Others commended Enoch for a faith that pleased God. Awesome.

But Jesus and the crowd at John’s baptism, heard the Father say from heaven...” this is my beloved son”...in whom I am well pleased.

Enoch was great in his faith toward God. But Jesus was loved by His great Father who took pleasure in him.

Jesus was and is better.

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:7‬

Noah trusted God and built a great boat to save his household from the flood that God sent to judge a wicked godless world. Noah became an heir of the righteousness of God. Amazingly wonderful! What a husband and father for his family. Noah was great.

Jesus did not save his life from the righteous wrath of the Father upon sin and sinners. Jesus gave his life as a substitute for me and you who believe him. He took our sin on himself and put his righteousness upon us, making us the heir of God and heaven.

Yes, Noah was great, but Jesus was and is better. “

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—of whom the world was not worthy...they did not receive all that was promised...God was going to provide something better...Jesus!

Have a great day