Christianity began with a spectacular "bang" in the first century as a flood of new converts came directly from the Jewish community responding to the electrifying gospel message. As the excitement and novelty of those early days began to fade, the Christian community became a melting pot of believers still clinging to the "old covenant" Jewish ritual system plus apathetic new converts attracted by the gospel message who lacked any interest in solid Biblical instruction or discipline. In response, the author of Hebrews composed a magnificent sermon proving conclusively that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah predicted by the Jewish scriptures yet fully divine, a high priest, a king from the House of David, and the Son of God superior to all who came before him.