The disciples, who first dismissed the women’s claim of Jesus resurrection because they know it was impossible, later became convinced that it was true, giving a firm basis for faith in Jesus Christ and a strong defense against doubts of all kind.

Jesus Christ came prepared to be the One True Passover Lamb for His enslaved people, sacrificed so that God’s judgment passes over them and that the prisoners are set free.

Although we are looking forward to a glorious eternal inheritance in Heaven, Jesus’ disciples must be prepared for a life of suffering and service as we follow in the footsteps of our Lord who stooped to serve and who drained the bitter cup of God’s wrath to the dregs as He gave His life a ransom for many.

Those men and women that the writer of Hebrews holds up for us as superheroes of the faith did not triumph because they were possessed of innate superpowers, but because they were made strong out of weakness through their faith in the Living God, ordinary, weak men and women who became extraordinary by the power of God.

The city of Jericho lay under God’s wrath, given over to total destruction, but Rahab the prostitute placed her trust in the True God and was saved from God’s wrath, in a foretaste of God’s final judgment and the salvation that comes by faith in Christ alone.

By faith Moses defied Pharaoh, enduring all his hardships as seeing the invisible God, protecting the people from the destroyer by the blood of the lamb and leading the people to trust God and cross the Red Sea on dry land, while the unbelieving Egyptians were drowned

Moses’ parents defied Pharaoh’s decree of death in order to preserve the life of their son, who went on to deliver God’s people from Egypt. Moses renounced the pleasures and treasures of Egypt, choosing mistreatment with God’s people and reproach for the sake of Christ, because he was a heavenly treasure hunter.

The author of Hebrews offers three snapshots near the end of the lives of the patriarchs Isaac, Jacob and Joseph to highlight their strong confidence in God’s promises and to encourage each new generation of believers to persevere to the end.

The Church must be a people seeking a just society grounded in Jesus Christ Who bore God’s justice on the cross and Who will come back in final justice reigning.