OBSCURING THE SON Monday:
" Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 8:5-6)
The book of Hebrews was written to brethren who were moving backward, not availing themselves of the freshness and vitality of salvation. They were standing on the border of rejection, and thus were soundly warned of their condition, and summoned to a more hearty involvement in the greatness of salvation. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation . . . . Harden not your hearts . . . Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God . . . Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts . . . let us go on unto perfection . . . but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." (2:3; 3:8,12,15; 4:7; 6:1-6; 10:38).
There is no indication that these were people who were lapsing into gross immorality, although their condition could very well lead to that. These were Jewish believers who were neglecting Jesus in favor of the Law and its ordinances. The early church wrestled with this tendency, and was frequently instructed concerning it (Acts 15:1; 21:20; Gal 3:1-3; Col 2:16-17). Because of their condition, these believers could no longer see the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant. Their religion had actually obscured the Son of God, who was in the zenith of glory at the right hand of God.
In order to awaken the people to Christ's superior Person and ministry, the Spirit declared Jesus to be the exclusive Spokesman for God: "God . . . Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (1:1-2). In Christ, God and His purpose are most fully comprehended, for He is the "express image" of God, and the fulness of God's glory abides in Him alone (1:3). The greatness of the Son of God is seen in the angelic hosts all worshiping and serving Him (1:6). The Kingdom in its entirety has been given to Christ Jesus, and He is presently ruling that Kingdom in righteousness (1:8).
There is a solemn obligation placed upon men to give heed to the words of the Son of God, for none can escape His wrath if they fail to do so (2:1-3). That obligation requires that our attention be placed upon the Son, with nothing obscuring Him from our vision, or dulling our hearing to His words.
Jesus, in the form of a Man, has been made like unto us. The result of this is declared with great power. First, He was able, "by the grace of God," to "taste death for every man" (2:9). Second, as a Man He "destroyed the devil" (2:14). Third, He delivered those "who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (2:15). Fourth, He is now "a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God" (2:17). Fifth, "He is able to succor them that are tempted" (2:18). Sixth, "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (5:9). Seventh, "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (7:25). Eighth, He "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (9:26). Ninth, He will "appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (9:28). Tenth, He is presently speaking "from heaven," and must not be refused (12:25).
Who could ever hope to be saved without the Lord Jesus Christ? How could any person of sound mind conclude that salvation in any sense could be realized independently of the Son of God? Yet, these Hebrew believers had been lulled into this foolish conclusion. They were actually neglecting God's great salvation, and their ears no longer heard the voice of the Son of God. That is precisely why they had not grown. It was said of them, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God" (5:12).
What had caused this remarkable lapse in growth and the development of dullness of hearing (5:11). It was their religion! They were trying to serve God after the manner of the Old Covenant – through rules and procedures – instead of by faith! The very Law to which they were attracted contained vivid types and shadows of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (8:5; 10:1), but they were not able to see them. God has decreed that those who "serve the tabernacle," or the institutionalized approach to God, CANNOT eat at the altar of salvation that is provided in Christ Jesus (13:10). That institutionalized approach was set in place by God Himself, but it was not intended to be a lasting arrangement. As soon as Jesus was exalted, that approach became void and illegal.
In our time, there are multitudes who are still attempting to serve God on an institutional basis. Such an approach has no life, and thus cannot be connected to Jesus. In fact, that very approach obscures Jesus, His salvation, and His effective ministry. It is to be shunned.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, send laborers into Your fields that will challenge the people to awake out of sleep.