045 - O Captain, My Captain

You pick up your Bible and wonder, is there more here than meets the is there something here for me. I mean it's just words printed on paper right it may look like just print on the page but it's more than a join us for the next half hour, as we explore God's word together as we learn how to explore it on our own.

As we ask God to meet us there in its pages welcome to more than a hero movie.

There's always that moment when the hero seizes the enemy's weapon and turns it back to destroy him. Yeah, that's awesome that's going to happen today. What Jesus did when he used his own death to defeat the power today on more than link. Glad you're joining us Saturday I'm sitting across from and I'm sitting across from Jim there you go, love for you to join us as we take a deeper dive into Hebrews during the second half of Hebrews 2 and we got done halfway through Hebrews to last week and he ended with a fascinating bruise and the phrase was that he would taste death for everyone. Jesus would taste death for everyone. According to God's gracious mercies for us so that whole idea that God's sent one would die was one of the things that the first century listeners gang done.

They just can't get their head around the fact that Messiah would die right and sell that the argument coming up here is that while it's appropriate fitting and necessary necessary to account is God's purpose that Messiah would die right and actually Jesus. Even if you think about this when he encountered those two on the road to Emmaus and set off yourself foolish and slow to believe what the prophets of said this is Luke 2424 25 60 foolish man is slow of heart to believe all that the prophets of spoken was it not necessary Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory. So that's the backdrop yeah and for a Jewish audience, which is what Hebrews is written to that would be the biggest sticking point is that we know what the Messiah's post be like we know he's posted the kind of power. He has a control he has everything is subject, and we know all that stuff you have to teach us about that and the right of Hebrews is already underscored all that stuff. But the whole issue about him having to die. That is just terribly difficult thing to swallow were starting into and it will be a theme throughout all of Hebrews. In fact, how is it that the Messiah, who now we also know is the one who created everything holds everything together and to whom everything is going to go and he dies so he's bigger than their thinking. But still, it's necessary that she should come into his creation and die while so we start of verse 10 in chapter 2 okay, for it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That's why he's not ashamed to call them brothers saying I will tell of your name to my brothers in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise and again I will put my trust in you and again, behold, I and the children God has given me stop there. You redo because like we said last week a couple of those quotes from Isaiah kind of break the rule that we understand about what you gotta be able to put two and two together immediately if the writers can use a quote demonstrate right up front what he's saying but it's a little hard for us to make the connection when he grabs these fragments out of Isaiah 8 so that the Psalm 22 quote makes a lot more sense in this context, but we have to let Scripture interpret Scripture for exactly and and don't get too hung up on on exactly the interpretive connections between Psalm 22 in verse 12. Here in Isaiah, even verse 13 right because we can we can get a view of the of the argument of the writer. Even if we don't understand why he's using these quotes. The way he is.

But let me tell you what is trying to point is that the key word in verse 12, is this word brothers okay right because here, here is he's saying that the Messiah is calling mankind his brother.

That's a very odd thing and then in verse 13. He's another familiar term children so I and the children because here's here's someone who saying his role in the inhumanity is one of filial one of action being part of humanity part to the degree these brothers and children as well. So that's an interesting thinker to think that they can go back to like Zeus in Greek mythology and stuff like that.

You know the separation between the superhuman gods in the medial little human beings you know and they just barely touch. They don't it would be just crazy to think about the superhuman God like Zeus according that mythology of actually mingling with humans, let alone calling them brothers. So here what would with the right a few verses do is spinning this huge distance yes indeed God is huge and big and outside of creation, but he did something quite unique to actually come into the middle of humanity and call them brothers. And that thing he did was become a man that is okay, but where we live there that the central religion where we live has made this idea of Jesus is our brother and utterly blasphemous construct that he's just a bigger, better me and he's he is literally our brother right. We have to be careful here because that's not what the writer of Hebrews is emphasizing that he is emphasizing that the on scene God.

God is spirit took on flesh to become like us in that sense is our brother and that senses or brother exactly yeah the the war they go off the rails, is the fact that they claim that Jesus and and us are literally brother Raymond were the same kind of elevates us that's that's heresy. Sunday the writer.

He has already made it very clear that that Jesus is of a different kind. So much so using bigger than angels right. So, get over it so so we would go back to verse 10 it says is, it was fitting that he, I mean this is needed. This is this is appropriate is fitting that he, for whom for whom and by whom all things exist. So were back to the creator.

He's in charge very but it was fitting that in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. Okay, a lot of ways right.

Yeah, I guess I'm putting on the edge of the real trouble but it was fitting it was necessary as we sing this is a necessary part of side even though he is the creator to bring many sons to glory.

That means to to bring many of this humanity into a place of fellowship with God himself into glorious with that is presence of God and and that that death is necessary to make the founder of their salvation perfect know people trip over that perfect work well because we immediately jumped to seamlessly seamlessly perfect and he was made perfect, he must've not riper. So did he go through process to become perfect. That's not the meaning of this for what it means no is no image at all infected this perfect word comes up many times in different ways and means kind of the end of a long process usually is it you want something to achieve something I always talk about using the verb form to perfect perfect something get to get to a point, getting to a point and so it is really getting here is that for the Messiah to be the Messiah. One of the things he has to has to include in his portfolio is dying and I only can do this if he's a man. This is Jerry through unnecessarily hard with identifying with humans in order to bring about our salvation.

So it really completes the purpose and the end of the goal of who the Messiah is is for him to become a man. That's what that's what completes the whole idea of Messiah. He wasn't made sinless by being made perfect if the wrong interpretation and that would come through suffering. The suffering and eventually ended by way before we leave. At first I love that word founder because it literally is this is you know you got some Greek word study things it comes up pretty clearly. It really is putting two words together.

The two words is arch which means first and an ego which means to lead. So he's the first leader. He's like the pioneer. He's the first guy forward so in a way or actually I love many places. I think it's it's in King James transits this Capt. right.

I like that transaction captives. He's the one that takes the lead goes forward and we follow. So Jesus is indeed our captain in the salvation processes the first one out and we followed behind. So what is he do verse 11, he sanctifies and he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source and that's why he is not ashamed to call them brothers. So here we are again. He's in the midst of mankind as a man as a human being.

And that's why he's not ashamed to call us brothers because he came to be a man amongst men to save men.

That's the point is making writer and to be sanctified is to be made holy right so you know the holy one himself became one of us in order to invite us into his holiness and I've been away for us to be made holy. We define holy again to be set apart for God's purpose under God's own purpose to be different from this place, I'm writing, I mean if you ask if you live in a place that's completely riddled with sin and evil will be part of that Plaxo apparatus will be holy is separated separated and set apart yet so many times you think about God and and effectively created this creation, but it fell. And so it's contaminated by sin does not contaminated by the sin, he's always apart from that stuff. But God has called us to be part of him to be part of fellowship with him and in doing so we have to have no none of that tainted Ness of this place with this we need to be set apart so that we can be with them.

This is set apart to be holy to be with him while Jesus, who already was as creators sinless, never send came into the fallen creation. The sinful Christian became a man tonight causes brothers and in so doing, transformed us who were tainted by sin. That's the sanctifying process so that we can be with him and that he causes brothers because brothers I will tell of your name to my brothers in the midst the Congregational sing your praise and so as a result we put her trust in them, and now we are considered the children of God.

Any comments on the topic. I'm stunned. I just always come to a screeching halt here when I think about reality of the uncreated one subjecting himself to his own creation, for the sake of those he created. That's just amazing. And the point in Psalm 22 where where this little fragment comes from a hotel renamed my brothers comes after some 22 has this very graphic description of what Jesus went through on the cross cross and it comes after this cry in the Psalm that says oh God, hear me being near me, help me, which is going to be important later, when the writer of Hebrews says he gives help to the seed of Abraham to the spring of Abraham so you know I just I just have all of this. I'm just totally captivated by this by his becoming one of us that we could become in fellowship with him and you know if from the Jewish mindset. There was always some questions about this Messiah. The so much written about the Messiah, but the debates would range all the time between the rabbis well was this this Messiah is a human, or is he kind of God you know is he is dealing is he an angel is he some kind of supernatural being does it fully qualified to be human. And there was always talk about. He's clearly something more than a man, but is he still a man so that debate raged on and on. Basically came back to a ping-pong discussion is easy manner is a God, which is why when Jesus claimed before Abraham was, I am basically you're just a man that's blasphemy, right they picked up rocks to stun those two ideas cannot they coexist in their money since that how can I be God and demand, which is part of your own creation.

How can that be possible, but the right of Hebrews thing that's exactly what happened and it was necessary and it was fitting because that was what was required in order the pay the price for the death that we incurred because of ours and no angel could do that knowing Jan no mere human right could do that and as a result we put our trust in him and that's what he says all this move in the next section is getting more stuff going. Oh my gosh, you start out hey guys, well since therefore, the children, you know, that's all share in flesh and blood himself likewise partook of the same things that through death he might destroy the one who has the power that is the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

For surely it's not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham, so therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every reserve act so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people, for because he himself has suffered when tempted, he's able to help those who are being tempted like it is like a freight train full of content well where you start. Well, you know, I would read it again. Coming to this to study it for the first time I would come to the end of that section. Go oh, I'm not sure I really grasp what was there.

He read it again slowly I often stop and read something aloud to myself and see what words my eye I emphasizing the reading aloud and so you know, we see death death death at death repeated. See slavery, fear of death brothers, he became one of us.

He partook flesh and blood, all those things is emphasizing his humanity so that he could actually die that that was totally appropriate and necessary for Messiah to die in the Messiah that died had to be a human being. That's the issue. That's why he says you know when he starts notices you. He just talked about children so you know, since therefore the children share in flesh and blood. We all have flesh and blood.

He's flesh and blood, he partook of the same things flesh and blood. And then he comes down the Millis's is made like his brothers.

As we just emphasizing load passages.

He is a fully a man is not just the demi-man are sort of man he is fully man and that he needs to be fully man, so that the dying tasting death for everyone works in terms of the justice and that's what he gets and 14 through death he might this industry through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, wait a second, if the devil kills you. How is that you destroyed him devil has the power of death, but you can use death to destroy the guy was the power of death. What is all about and that's the mystery that's the original master plan and you know he will. He will unpack the sum of the chapters go on and we you know if you grew up in the church. He knew that this is what happens.

Jesus dies for you, but what but why, why does work, but the bottom line. He's saying, almost astonishingly, is he came deliberately to die, and in so doing, took away the power of the one who has the power of death itself.

He will explain well and he says that that he he died to free those who were held captive by the fear of fear right because we know in our human weak state death is permanent and we don't know what's on the other side of it, and if fear of that paralyzing what happened to me when I died in Jesus and you know if you if you live and believe in me will never die right in. John 11 when he was talking to the sisters of Lazarus. So Jesus said I the resurrection and the life. So we're just have to wait until the impact is mean it's it's just it's true, and I get what he's saying. And also, he says, the fact that because of this fear of death that you keep us in slavery during our lifetimes.

And so and and I understand that's all about to when you were worried about you and all the bad things are done in my life.

My pay for those when I die.

There's a certain conscience.

It tells us that there's going to be a wreck right this a day of judgment selling that worries us. That's part of that slavery but then at 16. Is he still continuing Angel talkie schism. By the way, this is a he's that thing is to help angels right he's doing this to help the offspring of Abraham.

So this only applies to Jews well know the question, who is the offspring of right and what is it offspring is in all who are genetically of Abraham. Question bloodlust which is of course what the Jews are or is there something else when the New Testament goes on to say that it's not just those who are genetically Jews who are the children of Abraham but those who believe God like Abraham did right. So is it is it that offspring of Abraham. He's talking about. Well yes, God is our helper included but is it also the one seed of Abraham, the offspring of Abraham Messiah who God helps because that takes us back to some 22 where he says God help me be near me in verse 19. So verse 19 of Psalm 22 so but it is our helper doesn't help angels right and any he's helping human beings, offspring of Abraham. Those who are created in his image and like he will unpack that some more to what he use that phrase, the offspring of Abraham and you know if you if you want some bonus point you can go read Galatians 3 right into the entire chapter talking about that or you can go look at when John the Baptist kind of you know, it's up the Pharisees.

When they come out too good to look would be baptized and this is what you could depending on the fact that you are Jen Jen and Lorraine God can raise them up from the very side can come from lactone so so yes so this is an interesting phrase is really relevant but but let's push on pass that so so therefore in 17 he had to be made like his brothers, which means just that to be a human being in every respect, not a sort of respect in every respect fully man so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest. Okay now is introducing another idea which will take them all the booked unpack huge idea and central to Judaism, but Jews understand what the hi & that's it.

It's a code word for a very special person who accomplishes a very special thing and because that's such a common idea. You'll spend chapters talking about how it is that Jesus who dies our behalf is not just the sacrifice for us but is indeed actually the high priest who somehow mediates sacrifice and that he is the EV only good true righteous high priest because of who he is, exactly, so, so that again this this section of verses. He's he's captured you know something like half a dozen chapters will discuss later, but for a Jew, this is kind of this is very intriguing mean Jesus the Messiah is our high priest, and you know just to give your preview when the immediate reactions in a Jew would have hearing this would sit no I don't think so because you know what. The only people in Israel who could be priests had to be literally genetically descended from Levi Brandon specifically Aaron to Aaron yeah and we know that Jesus came out of Judah.

So he's got the wrong blood he can't be a high priest will get into that too well in the next few generally what that is so so that's why this is just it's just very intriguing for a Hebrew thinker there. Go wait a second I hear what you're saying but that doesn't make sense to me.

Okay nothing for a minute about what you know about the high priest in Jesus's time because the writer here says that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God.

Well, in the time of Jesus the high priest was not merciful and he was not faithful in service of God. He was faithful in service to his own ends. Now it was the high priest and his father-in-law who were instrumental in that trumped up trial for Jesus and masquerading him as someone opposed to Ron not your exemplary right create your not merciful nor faithful although they they kept all of their tees crossed in their eyes darted ceremonially but in their hearts they were not faith. So in their condemnation of Jesus. The irony meter just pegs right here because here we have the high priest condemning the high priest, the real-real priest yes so it will get into that. That's just it's us that's a fascinating thing. The high priest is an important theme in the entirety of Hebrews and he makes propitiation, that's a word, just like Morley who knows what propitiation boldly have to look it up in the data dictionary will really help. That's a good Bible study tool is a pick this English word deliberately. Although it's a little bit antique. It is old-fashioned word, but it contains the idea of appeasement satisfaction. Someone needs to be appeased to do something so that someone else will be favorably disposed right you know right kind of its hints at the repair of a relationship talk about propitiation and that he rendered himself. This offering that propitiate the wrath of God. Yet when you when you see someone who offend someone else. They finally get back together again in the offending person comes up to them.

They'll say something like, what can I do to make things right between us. That's potentially good idea does propitiation that's repairing the relationship and the thing that makes it happen with Jesus is the is the thing in that particular case that's instrumental to the reconciliation so that's what's going on well and maybe before we quit altogether. Let's talk about a priest for a minute because what is a priest you know priest isn't a guy who just wears a robe and and does prayers a priest by definition represents God to humankind and then he represents humankind before God and that's that's the way priests function both in Christianity and in Judaism and in pagan religions. Priests represent their God yeah and in early Latin culture. They were called Pontifex means a bridge bridge there bridge builder between God and man. Yeah so so that's that's a really good definition so so here you have someone who is in the process of figure out how to get Manning got back together again, and that's what priest is this like priestess as will discover the Old Testament you look at the what goes on in the temple there.

With the high priest to their just consumed with dealing with the problems in some arrangement from gum sunup to sundown dealing with sin. So because he himself is suffered when tempted, he's able to help those who are being tempted.

So Jesus is going to go into exactly the same environment that we herein which is being tempted by sin and the messiness of sin is going to go in the midst of that be tempted himself, but actually not succumb, and because of the fact that he experiences the same environment that we are in terms of sin.

It makes him again qualified to be not only our high priest, but was put someone who can dial be just the temptation. But the suffering associated the suffering we've run into that word suffering three or four times now. In this chapter. It was essential that Messiah experience the suffering caused by sin right in order to fully identify with the cost, just so there's no way in which in the difficulties that you're experiencing right now. If you feel up to God to guide you just don't understand got say no, actually I do. I was in your shoes, literally making sure it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom are all things and bringing many sons to glory, should perfect the author of their salvation through suffering through suffering we are out of time again that we bitten off chunks and the writer of Hebrews is been no big chunks and largely to intrigue you about what's coming because he does explain these things here.

If you do particularly be really tweaked by almost everything you say you want to hear what you want to do. So glad you're with this.

We hope you join us next time.

You can read ahead in Hebrews 3 and will dive into something can't and it gets even deeper from here so I'm Jim and Dorothy and were delighted you're with us do some homework read ahead and discuss it next time. On more than Inc.