Grace Community Church of Ramona Podcast

Resurrection Sunday could also be called Exaltation Sunday; it was on Resurrection Sunday that Jesus was exalted, crowned King and appointed High Priest (Heb. 1:3-9, 13, 5:5-6). Once appointed High Priest, Jesus entered the Holy of Holies in the Heavenly Tabernacle and offered His blood as the once for all sacrifice for sins. Jesus ascended on Resurrection Sunday in order to complete His work of salvation.

Making disciples is what we are called to do.

Keeping in mind that the original readers of Hebrews were tempted to leave Christ and return to Judaism helps us understand why the Preacher here begins a long section focused on the High Priesthood of Christ. He is challenging another major pillar of Judaism:  Aaron and the Levitical Priesthood. From 5:1 through 10:18 the Preacher is demonstrating the many ways that the High Priesthood of Jesus is superior to the High Priesthood of the Levitical system. The challenge to his audience was this, "Why would you go back to the inferior Levitical Priesthood and not continue to trust Jesus Christ your great High Priest?" (Read Hebrews 4:14-5:10) In 5:1-4, the Preacher outlines four basic principles related to the office of high priest as stipulated in the Law of Moses.

Jesus wants you to have the fullest, most amazing experience in His kingdom. He doesn’t want you to simply be in the kingdom, He wants you to own it and rule over it with Him. He wants you to be part of building a world government that actually helps people; that brings peace and prosperity to its citizens. Jesus wants you to share in His kingdom; He wants you to be a partaker, not a spectator.  He wants you to be on the field experiencing the thrill of His victory. But the truth of the matter is that not all of us will share in the kingdom. All believers will be in the Kingdom, but not all believers will share in the kingdom.

It is important for us to remember that the original recipients of Hebrews were first century messianic Jews tempted to defect from Christ and return to Judaism. Throughout the book, the Preacher of Hebrews warns his readers not to return to Judaism, but to remain faithful to Christ and so receive their inheritance. In Hebrews 3:1-6 the Preacher demonstrates that Jesus is superior to Moses. For us 21st Gentiles that may not seem like a big deal, but for first century Jews it was.

When we studied the book of Revelation, we encountered an incredible scene in the heavenly throne room (Rev. 4).  In the right hand of God the Father is the seven-sealed scroll containing the Title Deed of Mankind's Inheritance waiting to be opened (Rev. 5:1-3). The Apostle John bursts into tears because no one in all the universe is found worthy to open it (Rev. 5:4). No angel, no human, not even the Father nor the Spirit are worthy!

The only person in all the universe worthy to open the scroll is Jesus (Rev. 5:5-14). Hebrews 2:10-18 explains how it is that only Jesus is worthy.  It is because He is the only person in all the universe qualified to accomplish God's purposes and promises for mankind.

Hebrews 2:10-18 explains why that is.

When we studied the book of Revelation, we encountered an incredible scene in the heavenly throne room (Rev. 4). In the right hand of God the Father is the seven-sealed scroll containing the Title Deed of Mankind's Inheritance waiting to be opened (Rev. 5:1-3). The Apostle John bursts into tears because no one in all the universe is found worthy to open it (Rev. 5:4). No angel, no human, not even the Father nor the Spirit are worthy! The only person in all the universe worthy to open the scroll is Jesus (Rev. 5:5-14). Hebrews 2:10-18 explains how it is that only Jesus is worthy. It is because He is the only person in all the universe qualified to accomplish God's purposes and promises for mankind.

We discover in this passage that our dominion over creation, which was lost in the Fall, will be restored in the Kingdom of our Lord.