JESUS AND MOSES COMPARED Devotion 2 of 12 Here is an arresting admonition. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" (Heb 3:1)." This is a word of believers – those who are in Christ Jesus -- "Christians." The Holy Spirit does not take our acquaintance with, and knowledge of, the Lord Jesus Christ for granted. It is to be understood that this is a primary consideration, not a secondary or casual one. What follows these words is not a theological novelty, or something is optional, tailored especially for (as churchmen would say) "full time servants." -- Tomorrow:
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Heb 3:1-6)
HOLY BRETHREN
It is refreshing, is it not, to be called "holy brethren." You may not consider this to be true of yourself. However, if you are in Christ Jesus, it is true. You have been made holy, having received the righteousness of God by faith (Rom 1:17). Because you are in the Son, you are in the class of "brethren" – Christ's "brethren." A point is made of this in Hebrews 2:11. "For both He [Jesus] who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [believers] are all from one Father; for which reason He [Jesus] is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb 2:11).
Notice the logic of the Holy Spirit. He does not say, " . . . holy brethren, that have achieved perfection of life . . . ," or " . . . holy brethren, against whom I can find no fault . . . ," or " . . . holy brethren, that have reached the goal . . ." Stooping a bit lower, He does not say "holy brethren, members of the First Church of . . . ," or "holy brethren, who are part of the so-and-so movement." The "holy brethren" will be defined from heaven's viewpoint, which really is the only valid viewpoint.
In this text, the Lord identifies us with His call, not our achievement – "partakers of a heavenly calling." Praise be to God for that association! Allow me to develop this thought briefly. The appropriate consideration of Jesus requires a proper assessment of our calling. When we, by faith, view ourselves as "holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling," it will accentuate the grace of God. Paul spoke for every child of God when he said, "by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor 15:10). That is an honest and insightful assessment that will color the way we look at Jesus. If we consider Jesus from any other point of view, what we see will lack "breadth, and length, and depth, and height" (Eph 3:18). Further, it will be a view with no moral or spiritual power.
If we look at Jesus academically, He will be interesting. However, the interest will not last but will soon dissipate, giving way to other competitive interests. If we consider Jesus as a religious person – such as a "prophet," as the woman at the well did (John 4:19), He will appear helpful – maybe even necessary. Even in that view, like the woman at the well, we will be prone to obtain information that is not pertinent to our condition. However, if we, as those made holy by means of a heavenly calling, contemplate the Son of God, He will be perceived as indispensable to our initial and continued acceptance by God.
The word "consider" comes from a word meaning to observe fully: – behold, consider, or discover. It is not a casual word, nor does it describe a carefree recollection of Christ. The aim of this consideration, or contemplation, is to grasp the true significance of Jesus – to see Him from a heavenly perspective, as God intends for Him to be seen. If the Gospel is "the record God has given of His Son" (1 John 5:10), then considering Jesus is intended to bring our thinking into harmony with that glorious Gospel. "Considering" is not an end of itself, but is a means to an end. It is like a spiritual channel through which the knowledge of Christ is ministered. If a person is not willing to think upon and ponder the person of Christ, he will be shut up to an ignorance of Him.
The reason for this exhortation is twofold. First, no progress will be made in the faith without a due consideration of the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, we will be drawn aside into meaningless by-paths if we do not consider Him.
A consideration of Jesus will yield benefits and advantages nothing else can do. Too often men ponder things UNRELATED to their "eternal salvation." They strive to become experts in matters that are associated with this world, and will be obviated when the world passes away. People are invariably distracted from the goal by such considerations, disabled in their quest for eternal life, and brought down into the realm where Satan gains the advantage.
But such is not the case when Christ's Person and accomplishments dominate the heart and mind. In this consideration the understanding is cleared, the heart warmed, and the will sanctified. Remember, God has nothing to offer that does not come through His Son. Furthermore, those resources are realized ONLY when we are focused upon Christ Jesus. You cannot receive from Jesus while you are looking at the world. In the words of Scripture, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS the Author and Finisher of our faith . . . " (Heb 12:1-2).
I want to again emphasize that the Spirit is bringing us to contemplate the Son of God. That exhortation presumes there is more to Jesus than is currently seen. He has more to give than has been received. We can be more impacted by Him that has yet been experienced. This is the Divinely appointed means to recovery, spiritual growth, and fruitfulness – considering Jesus.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me the kind of strength that is required to keep my attention on Your Son that I may receive the things You are granting through Him.