Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

The heartbeat of the Book of Hebrews is the ultimate supremacy of Christ over all.

The heartbeat of the Book of Hebrews is the ultimate supremacy of Christ over all. Christ is King, and is above every power, person, prophet, situation, gift, talent, etc. Over the course of their series, much of our study will focus in on Christ, why He is above all, and how our thoughts and lives should be different because of Him.

The letter of Hebrews begins with that same focus, and that’s where we begin today:

Three Things:

1. The author understood the Old Testament writings extremely well, and they are interwoven into the text.

2. The letter is a pastoral exhortation to the readers, written to early Christians who were being persecuted.

3. The author understood how all of Scripture points to Jesus – that Jesus is greater than the prophets, the angels, key political and spiritual leaders of Israel’s history, sacrifices, etc. Jesus us greater.

From the commentaries:

“The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the most carefully written books in the New Testament. The author was well informed and articulate about the Jewish Scriptures and the message about Jesus Christ.” – James Earl Massey, True to our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary

“Written to challenge a community that the author saw as being in a perilous situation… urging its readers to remain faithful to its confession… Revelation through prophets was promissory in character; it was incomplete, not faulty. By contract, God’s ultimate word through the Son is unique and final.” – Victor Pfitzner, Hebrews: Abingdon New Testament Commentaries

Hebrews 1:1-4

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Hebrews 1:5-14

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Psalms 2:4-8

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

Psalms 102:25-27

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.

Psalms 45:6-7

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Jesus is the just King of the eternal Kingdom.

From the commentaries:

“The idea that Jesus is the heir of all things addresses the human need to know where life is ultimately headed. Does the one who ends up with the most toys, or the most troops, really win? Does history flicker without a whimper? Do the richer keep on getting richer, and the violent always bear it away, world without end, amen? The preacher of Hebrews assures his congregation that when all is said and done, life does not belong to the demagogue, the oppressor, the tyrant, or the warrior; it becomes to Jesus Christ. The creation does not disintegrate into violence, chaos, and futility; it ensures at a holy inheritance. Human being do not end up in meaningless; they end up as the treasure of the beloved Son.”

– Thomas Long, Hebrews: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching

A full surrender to the Lordship of Christ requires us to align ourselves to Christ.

Our surrender to the Lordship of Christ centers us on the will of God.

Is Jesus the King of my life?

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Church of the Nazarene – East Rock

Christ Above All: Hebrews Part 1

The heartbeat of the Book of Hebrews is the ultimate supremacy of Christ over all.

The heartbeat of the Book of Hebrews is the ultimate supremacy of Christ over all. Jesus is above every power, every battle, even every prophet from the scriptures- Christ is above all. So, much of our study will zero in on Christ, why He is above all, and how our thoughts and lives should be different because of Him.

The letter of Hebrews begins with that same focus, and that’s where we begin today-

Hebrews 1:1-2

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

Without any greeting or introduction, the author dives right into the matter at hand- The supremacy of Christ.

We don’t know for certain who the author of this letter is. We do know that the author is well trained in the Greek language, and he knows the Old Testament scriptures and the story of God’s people very well.

The author begins by setting up a contrast, between the back then of the Old Testament, and the now of Christ.

He basically says “We used to hear form God second hand through his messengers, but now we hear straight from Him through Jesus Christ, His son”

In the first sentence the author is already establishing the supremacy of Christ.

Hebrews 1:2-4

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Verses 1-4 are one sentence in the original Greek, and within this one packed sentence there are 7 different affirmations of the person, work, and status of Christ.

“Christ is the appointed heir of all things.” Jesus is the one set in authority by the father, witnessed in the Old Testament scriptures.

“Through whom also he made the universe.” Jesus Christ is an active agent with the father in the creation of the universe.

“Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”Jesus told his disciples “If you have seen me, you have seen the father.” That’s the essence of this passage.

“Jesus is the one sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Jesus is leading his plan of redemption on, by his powerful word.

“Christ provided purification for sins.” The blood of Christ provided a sacrifice that didn’t need to be repeated. Once and for all, Christ atoned for our sin.

“He is seated at the right hand of God.” Having finished his work, he is enthroned in the position of power and authority.

“Jesus is above all angels and heavenly hosts.” Throughout the the letter, the author will show that Christ is superior to the angels, to the old covenant and Moses himself.

The letter of Hebrews declares this truth loud and clear throughout the centuries- Christ is above all.

He’s above creation, He’s above the seen and unseen, He’s above every problem you can conceive of for your life.

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving

Establish COTN as Your Church on the App

In this YouVersion Bible app, we encourage you to set up COTN as your church. It’s a simple process and will open up opportunities to stay connected to us!

https://help.youversion.com/l/en/article/y03uerubo8-mychurch

http://bible.com/events/49272993

Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg

Christ Above All: Hebrews part 2 Harrisonburg

What, in your life is better than Jesus? What in your life is higher than Jesus? Does anything in your mind stand above Jesus?

Those are the unspoken questions asked by the Book of Hebrews.

The book of Hebrews not only shows that Christ fulfills the promises of the Old Testament prophecies but also proves that Christ is better than anything established in the Jewish system. Christ above all!

But the question is, is He above all for you?

Hebrews 4:14-15

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 5:1-4

Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs. And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.

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The priest’s job was to offer sacrifices to the Lord daily, and once a year, on Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, the High Priest would offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people. He would enter the Holy Place. As he made his way to the back of the Holy Place, there was a veil, which served as a divider separating man from the presence of God (the Holy of Holies). This was the dwelling place of God.

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By the time the High Priest made it to the Holy of Holies, he would have gone through various cleansing. When entering the Holy of Holies, the High Priest did not wear the colorful golden garments but only the white linen garments. As the High Priest entered this most sacred room, he would first burn incense before the Ark of the covenant , filling the room with smoke. He then exited and re-entered the Holy of Holies with blood from the sacrifice, which he sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant seven times. As Israel was not allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, the High Priest represented all of Israel, making atonement first for his own sins and then for the sins of Israel through the blood of the sacrifice.

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He would place the blood of the animal that was sacrificed on the lid of the ark of the covenant, called the mercy seat.

This worked for a while, but God had a better plan! From the beginning of time, God had already made a way for THE HIGH PRIEST to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Hebrews 5:7-10

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Have you ever faced financial hardship? Remember, Jesus was born in a humble stable (Luke 2:7).

Ever felt frustrated? Imagine traveling with His disciples, who often misunderstood and doubted Him (Mark 9:19).

Tempted? Jesus faced Satan’s temptations in the desert, resisting every lure with the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-11).

Tired? Jesus journeyed by foot, often weary and seeking rest (John 4:6).

Hungry? He experienced hunger and ate with His disciples, sharing in their daily needs (Mark 11:12).

Overwhelmed with sorrow? Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35).

Angry? He cleared the temple, driving out those who defiled His Father’s house (John 2:15-16).

Betrayed? Judas, one of His closest followers, sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver ($260)

(Matthew 26:14-16).

Overwhelmed with anguish and stress? He said to His disciples before His prayer at Gethsemane, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38).

Innocent and wrongly accused? Jesus stood before the council, falsely charged by those who sought His death (Mark 14:55-59).

Taken advantage of and humiliated? “They stripped Him and wove thorn branches into a crown, mocking and taunting Him” (Matthew 27:28-29).

Feel disappointed in someone? Consider Peter, who denied knowing Him three times despite his earlier promises of unwavering loyalty (Luke 22:61-62).

Yet through it all, Jesus remained steadfast, showing us that He truly understands our struggles. No matter what we face, we can bring it to Him, knowing He has walked this path and overcome it for our sake.

1. Jesus knows our woes and meets our needs.

2. Jesus, our King and Priest, reigns and intercedes

3. Jesus’ submission to God’s will set the ultimate example for us

Jesus’ obedience was not passive; it was active and intentional.

Hebrews 5:8-9

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

Jesus’ life teaches us that obedience to God is not about avoiding suffering, but about trusting God through it.

Let us, therefore, draw strength from Jesus’ example. Let us strive to be obedient to God’s will, trusting that He is working all things for our good. In our moments of doubt and pain, let us remember that we have a High Priest who not only understands our struggles but has also shown us the way through them.