Hebrews 5:7-11

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE.

At the garden of Gethsemane, is the record of Jesus’ agony as He prayed. Certainly, He has had struggles as He prayed with ‘loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.’

Yet, despite His knowledge to inevitable suffering, He prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.” He has had the choice not to as a Son. Resultingly, He perfected our salvation through His sacrifice. In other words, Jesus had chosen to suffer and wrought victory. He was neither a victim nor obliged to sacrifice for our sins.

An obedience of a slave to sacrifice for his master is expected. He doesn’t have much choice, does he? But, it’s incomprehensible, when a Son will obey to suffer for us under His Father in order to perfect our salvation. His love towards us always continue to amaze us. As Paul has written, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [Rom 5:8]

Today, let’s pray with the psalmist, “ Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” [Psa 143:10] Most of us know His will. But, it’s always a struggle to do it. It takes the grace of God to fulfill His will. Obedience is the result of our surrender to the Spirit’s control, is it not?

Jesus is our example of obedience. Peter said, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”[1 Pet 2:21] Did He not challenge us, by saying, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” [Luke 9:23]

The mark of a true disciple of Jesus is obedience.

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Hebrews 5:1-6

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”;

6 as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.

God established the office of priesthood as described in Exodus 28 through Moses. Here, the writer summarizes the work of the high priest, in saying “that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices [which may include non bloody sacrifice] for sins.” Thus, his primary role was to officiate, either directly or indirectly through lower-ranking priests, sacrifices unto the Lord.

More than being dutiful, he had compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray and ministered the atoning sacrifices with a loving heart for the people. In this ideal, the high priest had this compassion because he understood that he himself is also subject to weakness.

Thus, he is to wear the breastplate with the 12 tribes engrave on it. In this, the people of Israel were always on the heart and on the shoulders of the high priest (Exodus 28:4-30). A practice that should stir the compassion of the high priest.

Today, we should see to it that we don’t serve just for service sake. We, should be driven by a genuine compassion, shouldn’t we? Should we not bring people close to our hearts?

Another observation is that, ‘no man [high priest] takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was: The High Priest was taken from the community of God’s people but was not chosen by God’s people. He was appointed by God for His people. Simply put, the office of high priest was nothing to aspire to or campaign for. Korah, King Saul and Uzziah were judged dreadfully for usurping the office of priesthood.

It was given by right of birth in Aaron’s lineage and therefore chosen by God. It was an honor no man could take to himself. Thus, Aaron and his descendants should not take pride for having been deserving when God just had chosen them. Grace makes us special before God. But, it doesn’t make us stand out as better than others.

Similarly, Christ was appointed him like Aaaron, too [see v.5]. However, God had appointed Him after the order of Milchizedek, who has no beginning and ending [Psa 110:4, Gen 4:18,19]. This means, Jesus priesthood is unending. Would there be a time that He isn’t able to intercede for us?

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Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

THE THRONE OF GRACE.

A throne is a special seat reserved for a monarch. When the Bible speaks of God’s “throne,” the emphasis is on God’s transcendence, dignity, and sovereign rule. The fact that His throne is in heaven further underscores the transcendent nature of God’s existence.

Isaiah had seen the Lord “high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). At that time, the prophet was having an inspired vision. God’s throne (and His robe) should not be taken as literal, physical objects. Rather, God was revealing to Isaiah the magnificence, splendor, and exaltation of His Being. The prophet Ezekiel and apostle John have had their visions of the throne, too.

In the bible, it is a symbol of power and authority, majesty and honor, perfect justice, sovereignty and holiness, praise, purity, place of eternal life. But what connects this throne to sinful man is it’s a place of abundant grace and mercy. Inside the Jewish temple was the Ark of the Covenant, which was a “copy of the true” (Hebrews 9:24), and it had a “mercy seat” where God’s presence would appear (Leviticus 16:2, ESV).

The transcendence of God may cast an awe and fear before God. And, we must fear Him, we should. Yet, as a loving Father, He extends His hands for us to run from our brokenness into His embrace. His amiability as the source of grace and mercy is too strong a pull to Himself. As the psalmist had expressed;

“ How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, yes, faints

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

to the living God.” [Psa 84:1,2]

Living our Christian life is like driving a car. We need to fill our tanks with the fuel of grace and mercy. Otherwise, we are stuck. We need to plead before God for His mercy because we fail and sin against Him. Mercy is God withholding His punishment upon us. Thank God that He is plenteous of mercy. [Psa 103:7] Moreover, we need His grace to obey and fulfill His will. Can we do His will by our strength? He should be our sufficiency always. [2 Cor 3:5]

Should you feel spiritually down and depleted today, you may draw near to the throne of grace. By faith, you “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” [Matt 7:7,8]

“Let’s draw to the throne of grace; Thereby, we may feel the King’s embrace.”

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Hebrews 5:14-15 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST.

Jesus is presented as our High Priest. The high priests' main duty was to make sacrifices for the peoples' sins once a year on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) Yet, unlike the others in the past, He is described uniquely as great, passing through the heavens. It’s because He is the Son of God. Such honorable descriptions of Him should encourage us to ‘hold fast our confession.’

However great, Jesus isn’t detached with us. For He is the great High Priest, who has identified with our struggles of life against flesh and temptations. In all aspects, He was tempted yet He didn’t sin. The perfections of God displayed in a weak body. The Jews did acknowledge that Jesus was blameless. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” [John 10:31-33] How could He claim as the Son of God when He was just an ordinary carpenter from Nazareth? Is there something good coming from Nazareth? The simple answer is because He is both God and man in one person. Thus, Paul had declared, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”[1 Tim 2:5]

Thus, He could sympathize with us. How does this truth have encourage you today? In this Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, could Jesus feel what you feel? Absolutely, yes! He was tempted in every respect. The devil gave Him a hard time when He fasted for 40 days. He was thirsty, hungry and weak physically when the devil came to deceive and lure Him to sin against God, the Father.

Have you been treated unjustly, mocked and spat upon? Jesus had His share. In just one day, He went through six illegal trials [kangaroo courts] that eventually led to His crucifixion. Yet, as He hang at the cross as a lamb slaughtered, He was meek and blameless. As Peter accounted, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” [ 1 Pet 2:22-24]

Jesus as a man has sympathized with sinners on earth. And as the God, He has justified and brought them to heaven.

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Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

THE WORD OF GOD.

The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. [Eph 6:12] Aware or not, we are in a cosmic war. Are you surprise that you have struggles in your thought patterns or meditations? We are in a spiritual battleground. And, this war is as real as Covid-19 that we don’t see.

And, our only and potent weapon is the word of God through the Spirit. " For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." [2 Cor 10:4,5] This is very important because the devil know the word of God but does use the same to deceive us, does he not? He twisted Scriptures to tempt Jesus. But, He, did effectually defeat Satan by using correctly the Scriptures, didn't He? The devil trembles not with one whose head is full of Scriptures. But, to the one whose heart is governed by it.

Unbelief, which was a heart problem to the Jews, is a deep spiritual or demonic bondage. Satan can blind our eyes to not see the light of the gospel. [2 Cor 4:4]. Thus, the writer has enjoined us to take a serious look at our faith. Have we therefore ‘strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.’? [Heb 4:11] Otherwise, we will be hardened to unbelief?

While unbelief is the work of the devil, the Spirit does to every hardened heart through His sword. When Paul said, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” [Rom 10:17], it is He who does the ‘conviction of sin and persuading the person to trust Christ.’ [John 16:7-9]. His word is sharper than any two-edged sword. It is sharper than the Damascus swords. ‘The sharpest swords in the past that are sharp enough to slice a falling piece of silk in half, strong enough to split stones without dulling – owe their legendary qualities to carbon nanotubes, says chemist and Nobel laureate Robert Curl.’

What this sword could do to the silk and stones, the Spirit can use God’s word to “pierce through to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The minutest distinction such as between soul and spirit doesn’t slip from the light of His word. Thus, “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” [v.13] In short, we can fool people but never the Spirit.

Moreover, unlike any sword, the word of God is ‘living and powerful.’ Instead of killing, the word of God gives life. And, Jesus, is the Word, who is the “bread of life” too. Thus Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” [John 6:60] But, what does Jesus mean when He said, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”? [John 12:48]

Jesus and His word therefore is like a scalpel that can either help or harm the person. Or, as the sun that either melts the wax or harden the clay. Simply put, when a person hears God’s word and humbles himself to repent and believe Jesus, he will receive eternal life. Conversely, if he doesn’t follow his conscience, refuse to believe, he will be judged. As John had said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” [John 3:36]

Hebrews 4:6-8 ESV

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

REST AS GOD DID.

In contrast to the disobedient Jews, those who believe the good news has entered into God’s rest. They ceased from his works as God did. In other words, the pattern of our rest is the same with God when He rested after He created the world.

The Lord has created the universe in six days. On the seventh day [Sabbath], He rested. Was God tired? Exhausted? God won’t be God if He is tired and weary. His rest is His show of completion and satisfaction. For everything He created was good and complete. Do you think that there is still lacking in this world? Energy can’t be formed but transformed from one form to another. But, the substance is the same. Meaning, everything that this world should have is already here. Man is just to discover as more scientific breakthroughs are found.

The idea of rest is prophetic to the ‘another day later on’ wherein sinners can finally avail rest. “There is no peace[rest],” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”[ Isa 48:22] But Jesus, implying to His sacrifice of the cross, had invited us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[Matt 11:28-30]

The law and its requirements is impossible to provide us rest. It was never intended to. The law just accentuated our restlessness. For our guilt surely disturbs us as a sand in our shoe. But, the sting of sin and the law was removed by Jesus perfect sacrifice at the cross and resurrection. We, who had trusted Him as Savior had ceased from our dependence on our works [obedience to the law] since He perfected it. Paul said, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” [Rom 10:4] he came not to abolish but fulfill the law for us.

Think of the Samaritan woman, who asked Jesus of the ‘living water’ that can quench her thirst. At first, she got it wrongly to ease her physical burden of coming everyday to fetch water at the well. Not so long, she realized Jesus is the living water who can quench her soul thirst. Thus, she found her real rest in Him so that she won’t go to another relationship after her 5th common law husband.

Like her, have you trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord as yet? Have you experienced true freedom and rest in Him? For they who trust Him had His forgiveness and righteousness are imputed upon Him. In Christ we are complete. [Col 2:10] In short, there is perfect rest in our soul. Our satisfaction in Christ isn't in the clutches of religion and man made institution. There are no more sacrifices for our sin for He has done it completely.

In Christ, we don’t lack anything, do we? Christ is enough!

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Hebrews 4:1-6 ESV

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

THE NEED OF FAITH.

God’s works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” This promise of entering into His rest still stands.

But, what do we mean by rest? John Owen, a Puritan theologian had defined it, namely; Rest means peace with God, freedom from a servile, bondage-like spirit in the worship and service of God; the deliverance from the burden of Mosaic observance; the freedom of worship according to the gospel and the rest that God Himself enjoys.

In a world wherein we are told to do good and prove our own worth by achieving something, this invitation is too good to miss. Aren’t we tired that we can’t live up to the expectations of man and religion? Let’s be concerned not to fail to reach it. How?

By faith.

Certainly, God’s promise of rest is only beneficial to the one who believe the good news. Clearly, the reason why the Jews were not able to enter the promised land because of their lack of faith or unbelief shown by their disobedience [see v.6]. It’s not they can’t but they won’t. It was their choice. They heard the message but they failed to believe it, so that the message did not do them any good.

There were many who had heard and seen Jesus during his earthly ministry. But, only those who had believed Him had had known Him personally and intimately. His true disciples abide [keep believing] in His words. As a result, they will know the truth and experience freedom or deliverance. [see John 8:31,32] His challenge to us is to trust Him and we will know and understand the Father. [John 10:37,38]

Thus , Jesus has warned us sternly, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ [Matt 7:21-23]. Simply put, not everyone who professes has really possesses a genuine relationship with Jesus. Those who “do the Father’s will” show it as a shadow appears because of the substance.

Can you consider a person to be inside a room when only one foot has stepped in and the other is not? This is a sad reality. Running the race behind by a mile and by an inch are both equal losses. The Jews were at the door but haven't entered in because they refused to believe.

Our salvation is by faith alone in Christ. But, true faith in Him is demonstrated by our obedience.

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Hebrews 3:16-19 ESV

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

UNBELIEF.

In their experience to God’s favor, the Jews had rebelled Him. God, through Moses, had led them out of Egypt, that is, from slavery to freedom.

Their rebellion was deep seated to their unbelief. It’s possible that we experience the goodness of God and yet remain in an unbelief. A hard heart becoming more impervious is nourished by willful unbelief. Their disobedience and rebellion then were not a surprise.

Was God right to be angry with them?

Certainly. They provoked Him. As a result, God splattered their bodies in the wilderness. The unbelief that they had sown in their hearts had resulted to God’s judgment. Their hearts were as barren as the wilderness they were buried.

Just as the beauty of the gold and jewelries are enhanced against a dark velvet background display, so is the ugliness of unbelief against the goodness of God. God is good without prejudice to our goodness. However, is this a license for us to abuse it? Definitely, not! How repulsive were the Jews to God’s eyes? In God’s eyes, there is no beauty to behold in an unbelieving heart. Our simple trust shown by our humble obedience pleases Him. Did not David say;

“ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” [Psa 51:16,17]

For every goodness we receive from God should sweep away every dust of unbelief. Otherwise, these can accumulate and thicken making our hearts disobedient and rebellious of the first order. Did not Paul warn us by saying, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.” [Rom 2:4,5]

Today, and everyday, we should begin with a heart check as doctors take regular vital signs to his patients. Let’s be quick to acknowledge God’s goodness. Otherwise, we get bored inside our homes in this lockdown. And like the Jews, who murmured, “There is nothing else but manna everyday.”, we whine and fret that life is monotonous and colorless. Have they not forgotten where they came from? Have they not recognized the goodness of God? They did loss the sight that their wilderness journey is just temporary, didn’t they?

God’s goodness could either harden or soften our hearts. It’s our responses that matters.

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Hebrews 3:7-12 ESV

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works for forty years.

10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

11 As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.

Certainly, no believer plans to become cold and hard hearted. Does anyone plan to miss praying, reading the bible, worship, or fall away? A little neglect can have disastrous effect. But, for many Christians, it’s a sad reality that hits them in the face. And even more pathetic, that they’re oblivious that they’re one.

The hardening of one’s heart isn’t overnight. It is a slow process. A guy who walk barefooted for the first time may grimace for pain at every time he steps upon a rugged pavement. But, overtime, his sole will grow callous so that he won’t feel the pain anymore. And, such were the Jews who may had hardened as they accustomed and not bothered anymore by the scorching heat of the sun at the wilderness.

In verse 7, the writer has warned us quoting Psalm 95. It’s a result of rebelling against the promptings of the Spirit. “He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” [John 16:8-11] The Jews had heard God’s voice but they vehemently refused to listen.

Moreover, they had witnessed the work of God for 40 years. The manna, Pillar of clouds and fire did not fail day by day. The favor of God to them was overwhelming. Yet, they refused to honor God and had provoked Him to anger. As in a perfect ultrasound scan, God’s diagnosis was thorough - ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

How could we prevent from becoming hardened?

Know your heart. Jeremiah said,

“ The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately sick;

who can understand it?” [Jer 17:9]

Thus, we must take care of our hearts. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” [Prov 4:23]

Thus, we need also the “exhorting one another” among ourselves, i.e. an accountability group. Speaking the truth with one another in love [Eph 4:25]. Sin is deceitful, isn’t it? The momentary pleasure of sin gives could blind us of its catastrophic consequence later. Nobody is too smart and strong that can handle the effects of sin. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” [Prov 28:13]

Brethren, please do not harden your hearts today. Open your heart to the Spirit's promptings, by praying, “

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!” [Psa 139:24,25]

Hebrews 3:1-6 ESV

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 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 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.

MORE THAN MOSES.

Jesus was faithful to God the Father just as Moses was in all God’s house. Yet, Jesus has been counted of more glory than him. Why? He is God Himself. The writer has argued that “the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” [v.3,4] It’s quite mind boggling, is it not? The servant and the owner [builder] of the house are one and the same person – Jesus.

Meanwhile, the apostle Peter has affirmed that Jesus is the prophet like Moses (Acts 3:22, quoting Deuteronomy 18:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him”). Also, Stephen, addressing the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:37, quoted the prophet Moses and has applied the prophecy to Jesus Christ.

While Moses was faithful in the house of God [ God’s chosen people] as their servant-spokeman, Jesus is the servant -spokeman -son, rolled into one. Think of this. Moses was considered a prophet and the greatest lawgiver. But Jesus did more. He is the law author [John 13:34,15:12, Gal 6:2] , proclaimer of the word [Matt 21:46] and has fulfilled the law for us[ Matt 5:17, Rom 10:4]

It should be noted that while Moses, as an intercessor for God’s people but, he was willing to die for God’s people in Exodus 32:32. But Jesus as the God-man did fulfill what He said, that is, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” (John 15:13) He proved His love when He “laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16; John 10:15). In summary, both Moses and Jesus had mediated a covenant between the holy God and sinful men—Moses the Old Covenant (Exodus 34:27; Acts 7:44), and Jesus the New (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:15).

What does this mean to us who believe in Jesus today?

We are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Simply put, let’s be certain or assured about our trust in Jesus. As Paul had said, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” [2 Cor 13:5]

Let’s, therefore, be sure today of our profession of faith in Jesus. Are you? If we are, let’s rejoice for this certainty that we are ‘His house’, that is, we are His people, by virtue to His faithful obedience to die at the cross.

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