JESUS AND MOSES COMPARED
"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)
Devotion 3 of 12
" . . . Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him . . . "
What a marvelous word is said of our Savior: "He was faithful to Him who appointed Him." Do not take the faithfulness of Christ for granted! It was accomplished in the arena of temptation and struggle. In this world, faithfulness assumes opposition and distraction. That was never more true than in the earthly tenure of our Savior.
God sent His Son on a mission transcending the fondest expectations of both men and angels. How refreshing to read the various expressions of that mission in Scripture.
1 – To be the Savior of the world – "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14).
2 – To fulfill the Law and the Prophets – "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matt 5:17).
3 – To reveal those that had hope, and those that did not – "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind" (John 9:39).
4 – To bring abundant life to those in the grip of darkness and death – "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
5 – To voluntarily lay down His life, and triumphantly take it back again – "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father" (John 10:18, NIV).
6 – To bring Divine illumination to the sons of men – "John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46).
7 – To destroy the devil -- "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb 1:14).
8 – To destroy the works of the devil -- "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).
9 – To proclaim freedom, recovery of spiritual sight, the release of the oppressed, and announce the day of grace -- "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19, NIV).
10 – To testify to the truth of God, making it accessible to a fallen race--" . . . for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth . . . " (John 18:37, NIV).
11 – To save sinners -- "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . . " (1 Tim 1:15, NIV).
12 – To give His life a ransom for man -- "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matt 20:28).
13 – To show His justice and justify sinners -- "He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" (Rom 3:25-26).
14 – To condemn sin in Christ's flesh, and fulfill the righteousness of the Law in believers -- "God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom 8:3-4).
15 – That we might be made the righteousness of God in Christ -- "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21, NIV).
By saying the Son was "faithful to Him Who appointed Him," the Spirit is affirming the above objectives – and more – were all accomplished by the Son. Adam did not fulfill the expectation of the Lord, but Jesus did! Abraham occupied the land of promise in the capacity of a stranger (Heb 11:9), but Jesus occupied His domain in reality! Moses once spoke hastily with his lips, marring his impeccable record (Psa 106:33), But Jesus did not! The Son of God was flawless in His obedience, thorough in His work, and glorious in its accomplishment! The devil had no part in Him – no place in which to gain a foothold (John 14:30).
How marvelous the confession of Christ. "For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak" (John 12:49-50). " . . . I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me . . . " (John 14:31).
The mission of our Savior was large, and the work exacting! Yet He fulfilled it to the finest detail. He was "faithful to Him that appointed Him!" Mark it well! What Jesus can do for you is important, but what He did for God is MORE important. The foundation of your salvation is what he did for the Father! His obedience to God ranks even higher than what He did for you. In fact, that is what makes His work vicarious! Were the Son disobedient to the Father, or unfaithful in His mission, His death and resurrection would have no efficacy at all for us!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a faithful Savior!
-- Tomorrow: