Sunday, March 29, 2009
Hebrews 5:5-10
Senior Pastor
Today we are reading from the book of Hebrews. It does not come up in the lectionary readings very often. It is a difficult book, in some ways, to understand.
Who is the author?
We don’t really know.
Who is the congregation to which it was written? We don’t really know.
When was it written? Well… that is hard to say.
And even though it is normally called The Letter to the Hebrews, it reads more like a sermon or a theological essay than a letter.
Yet, there are clues within that tip us off to the fact that the folks he is addressing are a tired and exhausted group of Christians. Apparently they are about ready to give it up. At one point he talks about drooping heads and weak knees. (12:12) That is a pretty vivid image. He also mentions that they have had some drop off in regular attendees and that they have slacked off a bit in the loving your neighbor category as well. (10:25) It also alludes to the fact that they have suffered abuse and persecution because of their belief in Christ. And, in fact, their possessions were plundered and some went to prison. (10:32ff) At another point he says…well at least you have not shed your blood. If that is the only category left then it gives you a picture of how bad it has been for them. (12:4)
The author of Hebrews says to them, now listen, you have a high priest that has gone to God and can take care of all of this for you. He suffered like you are suffering and yet he has gone on to glory, and he will take you there as well. But, here is the problem: when?
When is that going to happen – they are waiting and they are suffering and they have just about had it? There is no visible evidence that their belief in Christ has brought them anything but pain and suffering. The question hovering throughout this book is this: Can Jesus Christ really help? From all signs, they are about to conclude “No!”
When we are suffering we wonder the same thing sometimes. Often when people are facing death themselves or have just lost one they have loved and are experiencing the pain of the loss and death they are wondering: Can Jesus Christ really help? Sometimes when our marriage has gone bad or when our kids are hurting or a friend is in trouble we wonder: Can Jesus Christ really help?
The author of Hebrews says well, “Yes, of course he can help.” Then he lays out this elaborate framework of Jesus being the high priest. This requires a little Jewish religious history review to understand.
The Jews had a high priest who was the only person allowed to enter the holy of holies or the innermost part of the Temple and he only once a year on Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement. Even then he could enter only after making proper preparations. He could enter that day to make sacrifices for the sins of all the people. It was considered the most sacred place, the place where God dwelt. It was an awe-terrifying experience to be that close to God. Jews take the sheer power and majesty of God’s presence very seriously. But it was necessary to realign with God and receive forgiveness for all the sins of the people for the past year.
Hebrews says, okay, those high priests were good, but Jesus Christ is the ultimate high priest. He has been appointed by God to fulfill this role. Through his sufferings he not only identified with humanity, but sacrificed himself for our sins once and for all – therefore the door is open for us to receive the mercy and forgiveness, the grace and salvation of God. The Hebrews are not too sure; because of their ongoing suffering their faith is beginning to wane.
Even for Christians this is a very real possibility. Our suffering can take us down. It can lead to despair and the loss of faith or it can lead to obedience and the growth of faith? Hebrews encourages all who are suffering to trust in Christ. Now, for most of us, our suffering is not brought on because we are being persecuted and imprisoned or tortured because we are Christians. It is easy to forget that for a good part of the world that is still a very live possibility. There is an organization headquartered in Bartlesville that is dedicated to staying in touch with and diligently striving to support those who do experience persecution for their Christian faith in our world today. The organization is called The Voice of the Martyrs.
In a recent mailing I got from them, they told the story of Celso. He lives in Columbia and felt the call of God to witness to the armed rebels in his country. The group is called The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, and they wreak havoc through terrorist or guerilla tactics in Columbia. They purposely persecute Christians. Yet Celso felt this call. It seemed impossible and yet he says, the Lord’s call was clear. Be a witness to the terrorists. He understood the danger, but he also knew the power of Christ’s love. He headed into the jungle. When he reached their guerilla camp he was held there for 49 days under very difficult circumstances. He knew he could be executed at any moment. But even in captivity he was a witness for Christ. Soon younger guerillas secretly came at night to talk with him.
Eventually Celso was set free. But he managed to leave behind many Bibles and Christian books
and stories of other persecuted Christians.
He says, “Jesus told us to go.
He never said we would come back.”
The Voice of the Martyrs says what all of us in the States can do is pray. Pray for the persecuted church. Pray for their captors. Pray the Holy Spirit will walk closely with them, especially in times of suffering and pain. (If you want more info I have left some of their brochures on the Welcome Desk.)
What the author of Hebrews wants Christians to know is that Jesus can help them through their suffering because he endured suffering first hand. He prayed to God for help, but he was not spared the torture and suffering. He lived through great suffering, but he was sustained by God to the end. Therefore he can take any of us by the hand and understand completely any suffering we might experience and strengthen us as well.
The help we need may come directly from the Holy Spirit or it may also come in the form of God using a willing soul to be the divine hands and feet helping us.
A mother tells the story of her 4-year-old daughter Meredith who was crying and talking about how much she missed her dog Abbey. Abbey had died the day before. Meredith asked if they could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.
I told her that I thought we could, so Meredith dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in
heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even
though she got sick.
I hope you will play with
her. She likes to play with balls and
to swim. I am sending a picture of her
so when you see her, you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.
We
put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and
addressed it to “God / Heaven”. We put our return address on
it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps
on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to
get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the
mail. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her I imagined so.
Yesterday, there was a package
wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed to Meredith. She opened it to find a book by Mr. Rogers
called, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the
inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened
envelope. On the opposite page was the
picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having
the picture was a big help. I
recognized Abbey right away. Abbey
isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here
with me just like it stays in your heart.
Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to
keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for
you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the
beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it
to me. What a wonderful mother you
have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God.
Who is the ____________?
We don’t really know.
Who is the congregation to which it was written?
At another point he says well at least you have not shed
your
blood …it gives you a picture of how ______ it has been...
The question hovering throughout this book is this:
Can Jesus Christ really help?
From all signs they are about to conclude “____!”
The author of Hebrews says well, “______, of course he
can help.”
…those high priests were good, but Jesus Christ is
the ultimate high ____________.
Hebrews encourages all who are suffering to trust
in ____________.
He says, “Jesus told us to go. He never said we would
come ________.”
…Jesus can help them through their suffering because he
endured suffering __________ hand.
The help we need may come directly from the Holy Spirit…
in the form of God using a ______________ soul
to be the divine hands and feet helping us.
that I ________ ______ very much. Love, God.
Kid’s Question: Jesus can help us when we
are suffering
or sad because he endured suffering __________ hand.