April 24, 2005
Could we return to what our brother read in Hebrews 1:3, Who being thebrightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; The whole passage is so precious; God speaking through His Son, even to us. Verse 3 seems to break into 3 parts. The first part answers to who He is, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his the person. The next part, expressing so great a work, tells what He did, when he had by Himself purged our sins. The last part, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high, shows where He is. The first part reminds us of that hymn “Brightness of th’eternal glory,” How precious and blessed is the One who would lay aside divine glories to take up the very cause of man in flesh and blood, then to be remembered again this morning that he purged our sins by Himself. He could have done it, and He did. The leper said, “If thou wilt, thou canst…” He had the power, but he also had the will. He came, purged our sin, and cleansed us from that indelible dye. So God, being well pleased with the work, gave Him a place at His rightful place, the right hand of the majesty on high. His work rests on His person, and we rest on that work with such assurance, because it rests on His present position at the right hand of the majesty on high. O how precious is the One Who we see in His person, work, and place; we can offer due praise.
EG Hymn 346 – “Jesus Who lives above the sky,” Prayer • Today is the Passover, the time that the angel passed over the houses with blood on the doors, not killing the firstborn. God wanted the Israelites to remember this every year. Exodus 12:7,12,13 • We deserve the judgement but we can take God’s way of escape.
Hebrews 3:1-19 • This book is written to the Jews who had given up Judaism for Christianity, so many contrasts between Jewish ways and Christian ways are used. • In the Old Testament, the Jews were called “brethren”; now they are called “Holy brethren”. • Hebrews 2:11 • God picked up the outcast of the world, the Jews, and sanctified them, so He can call them brethren. • A sincere Jewish person, travelling to Canaan, would have had his thoughts on the Promised Land; the sincere Jews that Jesus met were already in Canaan, so they wanted to set up God’s kingdom. They wanted an earthly calling. The Jews to whom Hebrews was written to had left Judaism, so the author told them that they have a heavenly calling and Person, Jesus. • In chapter 2, Jesus presents God to the Jews. He is also bearing us up before the Father, representing us before Him. • V. 1, Profession (Darby, Confession) – The Jews have a new profession as Christians; they are now Holy brethren with a heavenly calling, and with Jesus as their Apostle and High Priest. We have the same thing today. EG Hymn 119–“When God’s judgement fell on Egypt” Prayer