Reflexion will be observing the Lord’s Supper on our Facebook page this Thursday evening, June 18. Have bread and wine prepared and join us at 7:00 pm. (Search: Reflexion, a spiritual community.)

In these strange days, Communion is one important way to anchor our souls in Jesus. Though we observe this sacred ritual as a community, at the same time our experience is personal, as each of us encounter Jesus as if alone with him.

If Thursday evening does not work for you, we will leave the post up for several days to give you opportunity to share this experience with us.

Until Thursday, grace and peace.

As of today, there is no definite date for resuming our Sunday morning meetings when we will be together again physically. Although there are a number of logistical challenges to overcome before we get to that place, our primary concern is for everyone’s safety, especially those who for health reasons are most at risk.

I doubt that you need to be reminded that it is necessary to discern the difference between faith and presumption. When the devil tempted Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple, Jesus could have said, “Yeah, I’ll do that; I believe in a God of miracles! And when the angels catch Me, you’ll see that I am the Son of God.” But he didn’t. What the Lord said was, “It is written,
‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'”
Now, if the angels would have caught anyone, it would have been Jesus, but he chose instead not to test God. So that is the path we are taking as well.

If you need to speak to someone person to person, please private message us on our Facebook page or leave a comment on our blog site with your phone number, and we will get back to you.

Grace and peace

O God, our Father,
Creator of all that is good
and beautiful,
breathe again Your Spirit into our hearts.

Today we are grateful for all those
who every day risk their own health and safety
to devote themselves to healing others.
Please, Lord, protect them from this disease.
And also, keep safe all those
who are most vulnerable,
because of their age,
or impaired health,
their living arrangements,
or their poverty,
or homelessness.

Bless all those who continue working
to provide essential services.
Bless all farmers and packing house workers,
all truck drivers and grocers,
all pharmacists and clerks.

Though we are separated by the danger
of worldwide pestilence,
let us feel the oneness of heart
that we have together in You.
A safe distance from each other,
may we feel our sacred togetherness.
Let this time be to us
a valuable investment in our spirits,
to keep us strong and loving for others,
and faithfully devoted to You.
These things we pray
through Jesus Christ,
Your Son and our Lord and Savior.
Amen

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices . . . . Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb . . . . since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. John 19:39-42

I have not been especially mindful of Holy Week this year—too many other distractions. However, this morning my reading in John’s Gospel brought me to the crucifixion of Jesus and, appropriately so, that became my meditation.

As John’s footnote indicates, we have already met Nicodemus. It was near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and a moment when the story was filled with hope and promise. Nicodemus arranged a private meeting with this impressive young man whom he recognized to be “a teacher come from God.” Jesus taught Nicodemus the two sides of religion, that which is manufactured by “the flesh” and that which can only come by “the Spirit.” Nicodemus learned from the Lord that he needed to be born into the life of God’s Spirit.

Then, about halfway through Jesus’ ministry Nicodemus resurfaced. He attempted to defend Jesus, or at least slow down a rush to judgment, when the chief priests and Pharisees were prepared to condemn Christ without allowing him a fair hearing. However, Nicodemus was quickly and effectively silenced by a prejudicial attitude the religious leaders held against Galileans (Jn. 7:50-52).

Nicodemus’ reappearance at the end of Jesus’ ministry sharpens the grief surrounding the cross. The Lord’s disciples, family and friends were not the only ones who lost him when he said, “It is finished,” bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. There were others on the periphery of his ministry like the unnamed Samaritan woman, the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda, and the blind man whom Jesus told to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam, and when he did he could see.

And there was Nicodemus. His curiosity about Jesus at the first, then the fight in him when Jesus was treated unjustly, and the hope he felt that this man might be Israel’s salvation — all of that was gone. There was nothing left to do than bury the body. It was safe for Nicodemus to assist with this responsibility, because he was not a known disciple of Jesus. Besides, he belonged to the Pharisee sect, most of whom were hostile to the Lord. He was willing to come and help lay Jesus—and the Jesus movement—to rest.

We cannot lose Jesus! To lose him is to lose everything. Jesus cannot become to us nothing more than a fond memory, a nostalgic remembrance of happier times. We cannot return to the garden now and then to leave flowers on his grave, as if the world can go on without him. To his last breath, there was a chance he might somehow escape death. But when his corpse was removed from the cross and placed in the tomb, the stone that was rolled over its entrance, sealed all hope in darkness.

The sorrow of Good Friday is not only the suffering of deep grief, it is complete despair. It is the saddest, the most difficult and frustrating cliff-hanger of all time.

Podcast

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1

Intro: We have seen that there is an overall structure to whole book

It is a wave-like pattern that alternates between revelation and warning
– the first revelation came in chapter 1,
• and now in chapter 2 we have the first warning
◦ the warning sections can be severe
◦ but the writer also softens them softened with encouragements
Harold Attridge, “The God who speaks through . . . the Psalms defines for a covenant people the goal toward which they strive and motivates through words of encouragement and warning, their [faithfulness] to that covenant. . . . They have heard him promise, as well as threaten. They have heard words of encouragement and consolation as well as words of warning. They have heard in the person of God’s Son a model for their own dialogue with God, a paradigm for words of faith lived out in action.”
• the writer reveals new dimensions of Jesus’ awesome nature and gifts
◦ so he tell his readers, “You do not want to miss out or lose this!”
– why the warnings?
• Christians were not the first people to be called by God as his own
◦ God first chose Israel to be his people
◦ their history is clouded by many failures (e.g., see Psalm 106)
• as Hebrews explores the spiritual wealth we have in Jesus,
◦ the writer recognizes humans have not held up their part very well
◦ failure is possible, but it is also preventable

Verse 1, The first warning

As always, the word “therefore” is a link to what came before
– in this case, that includes everything all the way back to first verse
• Long ago . . . God spoke
◦ the same word for “spoke” is here translated “declared”
◦ only now the emphasis is not on the speech, but our response
• the “therefore” points to an additional factor
◦ an insight to be gained, a conclusion to be drawn, or a lesson to be learned
– “we” is inclusive: the writer, his audience, and every reader ever since
• he pulls us onto the stage of this cosmic drama
◦ there are ramifications to the message that affect us
◦ we are the people who benefit from service of angels
Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Heb. 1:14 )
Timothy Johnson, “. . . receiving so great a salvation demands a response.”

What are we warned to do? To pay attention
– this word is used in a variety of ways in the New Testament
• it can mean, watch your step, be aware of your surroundings, beware of others, and so on
◦ here it is applied to what we have heard
◦ that is the message regarding Jesus and through the person of Jesus
• and not just pay attention, but much closer – more intensely focused
◦ notice that the writer is not saying merely to “hang in there”
◦ but to dig deeper, look more closely, be more attentive and alert
– the danger is that we can drift away from what we know of God
• let’s put a bookmark here and return to it further down

A two-part argument

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:2-3a

The particular form of this sort of argument was very common
– rabbis referred to it as kal wahomar – “light” and “heavy”
• it is not like drawing a contrast between right and wrong
◦ it is more of a comparison of what is good to what is even better
◦ Jesus used it often, usually with the phrase, “how much more”
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Lk. 11:13)
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (Lk. 12:24)
– the message declared by angels proved reliable
• there was a tradition about angels being with Moses on Mt. Sinai (Acts7:53)
◦ how did that earlier message prove “reliable?”
every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution
◦ Israel never got away with disobedience to God’s commandments
• so the question is,
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
◦ the point is, the message through the Son is more reliable than that of angels
◦ and if Israel suffered the consequences of breaking God’s covenant,
how much more will wee

There is a subtle idea here, but one that is important
– it is in the word “neglect”
• we do not have to reject Jesus, or act defiant, or rebellious
◦ the danger for us is not that we will turn and walk away,
◦ but that without turning, we will drift away
we will let too much space grow between us and the Lord

Years ago, the youth ministry of Capo Beach Church hosted a summer camp on Catalina Island. That week, the youth minister sustained a serious injury and was in significant pain. So he allowed six students to return the ski boat to the mainland. But as they were navigating their way home, the boat engine failed and they were adrift at sea. All night long a search and rescue helicopter flew between Catalina and the Dana Point Marina looking for them. At last, just after dawn a fishing vessel spotted them at sea out from Oceanside. They had drifted more than thirty miles south of their destination.

• the natural motion of boats is to drift,
◦ carried by the forces of currents and winds
◦ to resit drifting, they must be anchored or moored to a dock
• we cannot think our spiritual journey will take care of itself
◦ by paying closer attention to what we have received from God,
◦ we anchor ourselves in him

The message we received was not delivered by angels

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will Hebrews 2:3b-4

It was declared first by the Lord
– no more messengers, the Lord came and delivered his word himself
• notice, the author still hasn’t referred to him by name
• after the Lord, the message was “attested” by those who heard
◦ attested means “confirmed”
◦ it is the same word translated “reliable” in verse 2
◦ the Lord’s message was reliably transmitted by his apostles
– God also became a witness to truth of the message
• in John 5, Jesus claimed to have the support of certain witnesses
◦ John the Baptist, Jesus’ works, the Father, and the Scriptures
• God’s witness to the apostle’s message was through
signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will
(we see this many times in the Book of Acts and in the letters of Paul)
◦ the last line is remarkably similar to what Paul says about spiritual gifts in the church
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills (1 Cor. 12:11)
◦ the Spirit continues the work of Jesus in the Christian community

The flow of the message turns in a new direction

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking Hebrews 2:5

This is not a totally different theme – angels are still kept in view
– but there is a shift in perspective and a new theme
• the new perspective shifts to the world to come (future tense)
◦ but notice “subjected” is in the past tense
◦ something regarding the coming world has already been arranged
It is a “done deal”
• the new theme is “subject”
(five times in this chapter: subject, subjected, and subjection)
◦ this means to “submit,” to be placed under someone’s authority
◦ the point is, angels are not in charge of the world to come
– of which we are speaking
• even though the writer has not really been discussing this
◦ he could be referring to general Christian discourse
◦ after all, Jesus taught us to pray
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven (Mt. 6:9-10)
• our entire Christian life is built on this
◦ it is what Paul refers to as “the blessed hope”

If the world to come is not in the hands of angels, then who?
– the author answers the question in a round about way

We return to the Psalms–this time Psalm 8

It has been said somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
You have made him for a little while lower than the angels:
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone Hebrews 2:6-9

This psalm is a favorite of many
– it also gives us a clue as to how we pay much closer attention
• and that is, by immersing ourselves in scripture
◦ the writer found something in this psalm that shed light on Jesus
◦ we can have a similar experience through the close attention we give to scripture in reading, studying, meditating, and sharing with others
• the psalm asks a question–in light of the universe, What is man?
◦ God placed humankind on highest rung of the animal kingdom
◦ slightly lower than the angels, but above everything else
God created man in his own image . . . male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Ge. 1:27-28)
– the author adds three points to the quote:
• “everything” means everything (even death; 1 Cor. 15:22-25)
• we do not see everything in subjection to humans–at least “not yet”
◦ by nature, not every insect, reptile, mammal, or primate is our pet
◦ however,
we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels

The writer of Hebrews has waited until now to reveal the name
– he is the Son, and he is the Lord, but here we learn he is Jesus
– when we look at Jesus, what is it that we see?
• for a short time he was lower than angels
◦ Jesus did not always have this status, he submitted himself to it
. . . who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Php. 2:6-7)
◦ this will be explored more fully in the following passages
• now crowned with glory and honor
◦ he fulfills God’s destiny for humankind
◦ in doing so, he became the firstborn of a new people (Ro. 8:29)
• because of the suffering of death
◦ the reason why he made the descent into human flesh

The final themes are too big to tackle right now
– but the writer will share many more details regarding:
• Jesus’ suffering — its purpose and goal
• his death — what he accomplished by it
• how through Jesus we have access to the grace of God

Conclusion: There are many thoughts I could leave you with for now

Like ways that we could pay closer attention to what we have heard
– but for me, the most striking and reassuring thought is this:

We do not see our God-appointed destiny fulfilled
we do not see the heavenly world to come,
but we see Jesus
We see him in multiple dimensions;
in his earthly life,
in his transition through the human condition,
in his suffering and death,
and in his resurrection to glory and honor
We see Jesus in the Scriptures,
many times in each other,
and also in the widow, the orphan, and the stranger
And with eyes of faith,
we see Jesus in there here and now of prayer
It is when we cannot see Jesus that we start to drift
It is in paying closer attention that we see him,
and in seeing him that we are safely anchored in him

Podcast

I am going to begin with the verses we covered last week, only this will be my own “interpretive paraphrase” of the first four verses of Hebrews.

God spoke in the past and God has spoken in our time.
There are differences in how he spoke then and now.
In the past he spoke
• many times in many ways
• to our ancestors in the faith
• through the prophets
Now he has spoken
• one time (i.e., the life, death and resurrection of Jesus) in one way
• to us
(note that this spoken word has created a community, an “us”)
• through his Son–God’s ultimate word regarding himself
Everything has been passed down to God’s Son,
So that we now understand how Luke 8:25 can say
“he commands even winds and water, and they obey him.”
The universe does not exist apart from the Son,
but was created through him.
As we do not see the distant stars, rather we see their light,
So we see the Son, the light and glory of the invisible God.
The Son is God, making himself visible and knowable to humans.
God stamped his impression on human clay,
and the Son is that image of God perfectly represented and revealed.
In the words of the old Gospel chorus,
“He’s got the whole world in his hands.”
Knowing the Son in this way,
we can understand how his capacity
to wash away all the sins, of all humankind, for all time.
The Son has joined God, at his right hand.
The Son of God is our divine Shepherd and King.
He provides and he protects.
As awesome as the angels are in splendor and might,
God’s Son is superior to them.
The Son has a name, an identity, more excellent than theirs.

The remainder of the chapter will support verse 4; that is, the Son’s superiority to angels
– the author does this with, what I call, a string of pearls
• seven quotations from the Old Testament, mostly from the Psalms
• the point he wants to drive home:
◦ Jesus is not a culmination of all that came before–he is greater
◦ greater than angels, Moses, Joshua, priests, and so on
– in a sense, the author began making his point in verses 1 and 2
• the Son is greater than all the prophets
◦ they revealed bits and pieces of the word of God
• the Son is the Word of God

The whole idea of angels has become messy and muddled

C. S. Lewis observed how depictions of angels were diminished in visual art
– he wrote,
“ Fra Angelico’s angels carry in their face and gesture the peace and authority of Heaven. Later come the chubby infantile nudes of Raphael; finally the soft, slim, girlish, and consolatory angels of nineteenth century art, shapes so feminine that they avoid being voluptuous only by their total insipidity—the frigid houris of a teatable paradise. They are a pernicious symbol. In Scripture the visitation of an angel is always alarming; it has to begin by saying ‘Fear not.’ The Victorian angel looks as if it were going to say, ‘There, there.’”
• through history, the tendency has been make too much or too little of angels
• I think most people living in North America,
◦ find it easier to believe in existence of demons than angels
– at any rate, they appear in the pages of Bible from Genesis to Revelation
• they are messengers
(both the Hebrew and Greek word “messenger” is used for angel)
◦ it is obvious that they are intelligent spiritual beings
◦ they have access to God’s immediate presence (Is. 6:1-3; Heb. 12:22)
◦ they are powerful – God’s “heavenly host” or army (2 Ki.19:35; Ps. 148:2)
◦ they watch over and assist God’s people (Ps. 91:11)
◦ every nation has an angel (Dan. 10:21; 12:1)
(and perhaps every church; Rev. 2-3)
◦ there are angels for individuals (Acts 12:15)
◦ there are especially angels for children (Mt. 18:10)
◦ people can interact with angels without knowing it (He. 13:2)
(if a New Testament Christian were with us today, he or she would likely believe angels were present too)
◦ there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Lk. 15:10)

When reading the quotations in Hebrews 1, keep in mind two thoughts

First, we may not see the logical connections that holds two quotes together
– the author uses various methods of interpretation, Hebrew and Greek
• Hebrew scholars could find a link between verses that shared a thematic word
◦ e.g., the word “son” connects the quotes in verses 5 and 6
◦ in both, the father is God and the Son is royalty, a king
Frank Matera, “Hebrews generates its theology by a creative and insightful reading of Scripture. Rereading Israel’s Scriptures in the light of Christ, it provides its audience with new ways of understanding the person and work of Christ and the nature and destiny of the community that believes in him.”
◦ I agree, except for “creative” I would prefer “inspired”
• it would not hurt to read each quote in its original context
◦ we may see other reasons why the author chose them
◦ and we may discover additional insights from them

Second, keep in mind how the Old Testament regarded King David
– he was Israel’s ideal king – the one who was God’s pick
• a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14)
He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;
from following the nursing ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.
With upright heart he shepherded them
and guided them with his skillful hand (Ps. 78:70-72)
• God’s promise to Israel through the prophets was:
◦ he would give them another king like David
◦ a descendant of David, but more
– all the kings of Judah were measured by David’s example
• at a coronation, the king was anointed with oil
◦ so they were referred to as God’s “anointed one”
◦ this translates the Hebrew word for messiah and the Greek for Christ
• Christians found Jesus in every Old Testament reference to the Messiah

The first three quotations establish the Son’s relation to God

For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the word, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:5-6

The string of quotations begins and ends with a rhetorical question
(the answer is already known – the question is asked for its effect)
– the first quote is from Psalm 2
(the answer to the question would be, None)
• the psalm celebrates God’s absolute rule over the nations
◦ he laughs at their rebellion
◦ he hands over his universal authority to his Son
• in verse 5, “today” looks like it applies to a definite time
◦ but what it suggests is more like a definite happening
◦ in chapter 3 today applies to
when the psalm was written
when it was read by its first audience
and when its been read every time after that, to the present
– the second quotation is from 2 Samuel 7:14
• the prophet Nathan predicted Solomon’s reign
• but for all his greatness, Solomon turned out to be a disappointment
◦ so the interpretation of Nathan’s prediction was expanded–and intensified
– the third quotation may be from Psalm 96:7 or perhaps Deuteronomy. 32:43
• “brings the firstborn”
◦ brings: “introduce” – like bringing someone up on stage
◦ firstborn: let’s just say, Jesus has gone before us
into the new way of being (in God’s kingdom)
through death into life
And because of this, he made it possible for us to follow him
(later Hebrews will refer to Jesus as “the pioneer … of our faith”)
• angels worship him – every time we get a peak in heaven’s door
◦ we see angels worshiping God
◦ the Son is also worshiped by the angels

The next two quotations compare the essence of angels and the Son

Or of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions Hebrews 1:7-9

In Psalm 104, angels are winds and fire –
– for winds, perhaps “spirits” would be a better translation here
• if so, it would harmonize with verse 14
• angels are ministers or servants
– verses 8 and 9 provide the longest quote yet
• in contrast to angels, the Son has an eternal throne
◦ but what is more–and very surprising–he is referred to as God
• it seems that he met certain qualifications: love and hate
◦ his anointing is referenced in Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18, and Acts 4:27

The next quotation compares creation with its creator

And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end” Hebrews 1:10-12

“Heaven and earth” are frequently paired throughout the Old Testament
– together, they represent the entire creation
• the nature of created things is that they change, wear out and perish
• God’s nature does not change and does not perish
– you are the same will be echoed at the end of the book of Hebrews
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8, “same” is the same word in both places)

The final quotation excludes angels from the honor given to the Son

And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?” Hebrews 1:13

I find the psalm quoted here, Psalm 110, particularly fascinating
– the author will return to, and emphasize this psalm further on
• the first Christians quickly picked up on verse 1, applying it to Jesus
• Peter quotes it in his first sermon (Acts 2:34)
– before that Jesus used it to stump his critics (Lk. 20:41-44)
How can they say that the Christ is David’s son?
• in their culture, it didn’t work
◦ honor was always paid to the fathers, never the other way
◦ so how could David ever address a descendant as “Lord”?
• Jesus did not divulge the answer to them
◦ it was an insider secret
◦ Jesus is both David’s son and David’s Lord

The final verse is not a quote, but a summary statement about angels

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Angels are sent out to serve–us
– of course, this is not all about us; it is about the Son
• yet we are the focus of the Son’s life and work
• Jesus inherits everything (v. 2)
◦ we inherit salvation
◦ salvation, not as a hoped-for future, but our current experience
◦ we are already being put back together–healing toward wholeness
– to assist us, there are these invisible helpers
• they are serving our Lord in their care of our souls
• we’re never alone and on our own

Conclusion: These last couple of weeks,

We have either been amused or disturbed by the panicked purchase of toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and whatever else people feel they must stock up on and hoard
– panic itself can be lethal
• even in a situation that is not deadly, panic can kill
◦ as when a crowd is rushing toward an exit
◦ a person trying to rescue someone from drowning; panic causes the victim to grab on to their rescuer tightly, with the result that the rescuer is unable to swim and they both go down
• but knowing panic can be lethal isn’t enough to prevent us from feeling it
◦ panic can hit our bodies before we realize what’s happening

Even so, we can also learn to recover quickly
This is a skill we gain through practice
And for us, practice comes through prayer,
through running back to Jesus, everyday,
and by doing this in times of peace
our hearts are conditioned and prepared
for times of hardship, trial, and emergency
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous person runs into it and is safe (Pr. 18:10)

We have not yet made much progress in Hebrews,
but we’ve come far enough to know
that our Lord Jesus is great enough
to keep us in his care through all things,
including life and death

Podcast

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds all things by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent that theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4

I once heard a seminary professor lecture on cultures and worldviews. He explained that our materialistic western worldview does not allow room for the supernatural and that is one reason why we find it difficult to make room for God’s Spirit to work in our lives the way Christians experienced him in the New Testament. We are like the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, where “he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief ” (Mt. 13:58).
The professor explained that it is possible for us to make a mental turn to a worldview that includes the supernatural work, but very difficult and would require a paradigm shift. I had the opportunity to ask him how it would be possible for us to experience such a paradigm shift. He was quiet for a moment and then offered two suggestions. “Analogy is useful,” he said, and I immediately thought of Jesus’ parables. Then he added, “And it would be helpful to have a credible guide”–that is, someone with more experience and insight in the realm of God’s Spirit.

The author of Hebrews is a credible guide
– he is an excellent resource for those of us who are always longing to live closer to God
• Hebrews takes us on an adventure of discovering Jesus
◦ it unfolds the mystery of his person
• in Hebrews we look at Jesus through a different lens than other New Testament books
◦ in the gospels, Jesus reveals God; in Hebrews, God reveals Jesus
. . . no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him (Mt. 11:27)
◦ other than the gospels, no other New Testament book holds such a sustained focus on Jesus all the way through

The introduction to Hebrews is not quiet music and soft lights

It is fireworks and crescendo
– in studying the Psalms, biblical scholars have identified enthronement psalms
• these poems celebrate the coronation of a king
• Hebrews begins with something like that
◦ it celebrates Jesus as he takes his place at right hand of God
◦ as we read in verse 8,
But of the Son he says,
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever . . . .
– the theological soil of the book of Hebrews is the Old Testament
• however, Hebrews is not controlled by the Old Testament or the Hebrew language
• the author quotes scripture from the Septuagint
(the Greek translation of the Old Testament)

At this time last year, we were in Gospel of John
– we observed how it was different from other three gospels
• John provided explanations and insights to the Synoptics
◦ revelations that the disciples did not understand at the time
◦ Hebrews is similar, but goes much further
• at the same time, there are solid connections with John
◦ especially in the introductions to both books
◦ both begin with:
> God creating the world through Jesus
> the glory of God revealed in Jesus
> Jesus as the Son of God
> God being “made known” through Jesus
– the major themes of Hebrews are also present in introduction
• the structure of the book has an alternating pattern
• there is revelation and then warning; revelation and warning; etc.

God has spoken

In the past, God spoke to our fathers; that is, Israel’s ancestors
In the present (these last days) God has spoken to us

In the past, God spoke by (or through) the prophets
In the present he has spoken to us through his Son

The Scriptures are a record of what God said in the past
– the emphasis here is on fact that God speaks, he communicates
• in Hebrews we do not just read scripture, we hear it
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”? (verse 5)
◦ the quotes in verses 6-8 are not introduced with, “It is written”
◦ but with, “he says” — God’s word speaks to its readers
• whenever God spoke, he revealed something
– God spoke in the past, long ago
• many times – in every period of Israel’s history
• many ways – through dreams, visions, prophetic oracles and drama
– whenever God spoke, his word was like a piece of a puzzle
• what people heard was relevant to their lives and experience at the time
• but the whole revelation came and piecemeal and in fragments
◦ no one ever saw the whole puzzle
◦ in fact, it never came to completion in the Old Testament

But in these last days – we are no longer in the past
– things are different now – what has changed?
• it is not that God no longer speaks
◦ he still speaks, but now it is to us that he has spoken
◦ and not only by the former prophets, but by his Son
• now in Jesus the whole puzzle is complete
◦ everything God wants us to know about himself is revealed in Jesus
◦ Jesus could say, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (Jn. 14:10)
– the present situation is connected to the past;
• a continuation of God’s revelation
◦ we have a shared history with Israel
◦ the cumulative message of the prophets is brought to completion
• Jesus and what he does and what he provides,
◦ is “better,” “greater,” and “much more” than what was revealed previously
◦ Jesus is the fullness of God’s revelation

The author of Hebrews has much to say about Jesus

But he does not repeat what we know from the gospels
– that is, that Jesus was born of a virgin, preached, healed, was crucified and rose again
• all of that took place on the stage of this world
• but other things were hidden behind the earthly screen
◦ the writer wants to tell us about heavenly things
◦ the work Jesus accomplished there, and what he is doing now
– let’s look briefly at the eight statements regarding Jesus in this prologue

whom he appointed heir of all things
– in verse 5, the writer will begin a list of quotations
• the first one comes from Psalm 2, and the whole quote is,
I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
and the ends of the earth your possession (Ps. 2:7-8)
– when human history has run its course and curtain comes down,
• God will hand everything over to Jesus
• through Jesus God created all things
◦ and at the end of human history, he will give Jesus all things
◦ in other words, Jesus is the world’s destiny

through whom he also created the world
– we are not give any information on how this worked
• but it tells us, Jesus existed with the Father prior to his earthly life
– “world” translates a Greek word that is literally “ages”
• we refer to “prehistoric age,” “age of reason,” “industrial age”
• whatever happens in the ages also occupies physical space
◦ so the ages that develop through time, can be referred to as the world
◦ world history

He is the radiance of the glory of God
– God’s glory was one of the manifestations of God’s presence
• it was only seen when God wanted it to be seen
◦ and when he wanted people to know he was there
◦ John could say,
. . . we beheld his glory, as of the only Son from the Father (Jn. 1:14)
◦ and Paul could say regarding those who do not know Jesus, that they are kept from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)

and the exact imprint of his nature (essence or “very being”)
– think of a rubber stamp and the impression it leaves
• when we talk about a seal made in clay or wax,
◦ “seal” can refer to both the engraved object and its image
◦ it is as if they are one and the same
• the idea is that Jesus is an exact, visible representation of God
He is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15)
– as William Barclay put it, “Jesus revealed God by being himself.”

and he upholds the universe by the word of his power
– when in the OT God exercised his power, it took two fundamental forms
• his Spirit and his Word – we see both in the creation story
• God who spoke in past, shares his power of speech with Son
◦ as when Jesus drove out demons with a word (Mt. 8:16)
◦ or when he healed the centurion’s servant
say the word, and let my servant be healed (Lk. 7:7)

making purification for sin
– we’ll come to more teaching on this later on
• we’ve spent a lot of time with purification in Leviticus

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
– having completed his work on earth, took his place in heaven
• in this statement, a dual role is implied:
◦ a priestly role – purification
◦ and what we could call a royal or majestic role
(much more on Jesus’ dual role later)

having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs
– Jesus superiority to angels will fill the remainder of the chapter
– the name of Jesus, that is “above every name” (Php. 2:9) has not yet been mentioned
• the author delays using it until he has prepared his readers to hear it
◦ both Luke and John do the same thing in their gospels
• in scripture, a name was a person’s identity, it defined him or her
Timothy L. Johnson, “In the biblical tradition, the name is more than an arbitrary designator; it evokes the identity of the one named.”
◦ the name is the person
◦ and the person, Jesus the Son of God, is superior to angels

Conclusion: I think the author tied the last chapter of Hebrews to the beginning

We find in chapter 13 a simple statement that seems to stand alone
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (He. 13:8)
– all that Jesus is, he has always been and will always be
• studying the book of Hebrews will deepen our knowledge of Jesus
◦ it will mature beyond romantic notions of “our buddy”
◦ and at the same time avoid the emptiness of sterile doctrine
• the book of Hebrews will also motivate us to persevere through hardship and suffering

I was impressed with, and inspired by Alex Trebek this past Wednesday. He made a public update on the progress of his treatment for pancreatic cancer. He said:
“I’d be lying if I said the journey had been an easy one. There were some good days, but a lot of not-so-good days.”
“I joked with friends that the cancer won’t kill me, the chemo treatments will. There were moments of great pain, days when certain bodily functions no longer functioned and sudden, massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it really was worth fighting on.”
But he bravely fought on anyway, because he believed it would be wrong to give up.
“That would’ve been a massive betrayal, a betrayal of my wife and soulmate, Jean, who has given her all to help me survive.”
He said it would also be a betrayal to his faith, of his supporters, and of others fighting the illness who were looking to him for hope.

The book of Hebrews will give us reasons to hope
and that hope will give us motivation to endure
And in it all, Jesus will become everything to us

Podcast

The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.
“If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.'” Leviticus 1:1-4

Intro: For some time I’ve wanted to walk us through the Book of Hebrews

When we come to it, you will discover why it is so extraordinary
– but the same reasons that make it extraordinary,
• also make it difficult to comprehend
• it’s content, style and logic are sometimes difficult for us to follow
– Hebrews is built on stories and symbols from the Hebrew Scriptures
• we need to be familiar with that background to grasp its message
• so we are going to spend the next three weeks in Leviticus
◦ if we were in junior high school, I’d hear a lot of groans right now
◦ but we’re adults – so we’re silently planning to be somewhere else
for the next three weeks

I confess that, for me, Leviticus is dry, tedious and boring

There are several reasons for this
– first, it lacks the stories that make the books around it entertaining
– second, it reads like a legal document
• Leviticus was written primarily for Israel’s priests
• it is filled with regulations, procedures, crimes and punishments
– third, it belongs to an ancient culture, long gone and far away
• finding its relevance for today is a huge chore

But we’re going to do this – and eventually you’ll be glad we did
– it will be like learning the alphabet to be able to read and write

Leviticus begins in the “tent of meeting” (God’s “dwelling place”)

This is where the Book of Exodus left off (Ex. 40:1-2, 34-38)
– God gave Moses the plans, and Israel put it together
• the architecture is easy to imagine, it is all rectangles and squares
◦ including the furnishings, except for the basin and lamp stand
• the sanctuary was divided into two sections:
◦ the holy place, and at one end of it a cube–the holiest place
◦ outside, in the courtyard, was the altar for sacrifice and a basin where the priest would was their hands and feet before entering the sanctuary
– the purpose of this structure was to assure them that God was nearby
And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst (Ex. 25:8)
For what great nation is there that has a god so near to I as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? (De. 4:7)
• because it was God’s residence, it was holy
◦ this is a major theme in Leviticus – several times we’re reminded
You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy (e.g., Le. 11:45)
• Leviticus addresses two powerful forces operating in their world
◦ holiness and pollution – a positive and negative energy
◦ both can be lethal and therefore demand respect
Mary Douglas noted that the idea of holiness is not sentimental, “but more like Exodus’ terrifying concept of unbearable beauty and power, God known in the thunderstorm on Mount Sinai, God who warns Aaron not to come into the holy of holies improperly dressed lest he die.”

God’s first words from the sanctuary are instructions about sacrifice

“Speak to the people of Israel”
– the most frequent opening line used in Leviticus when God speaks
• less frequent, “Speak to Aaron and his sons” or “to the priests”
– but the whole book was primarily for the priests
• it was their job to perform the rituals
◦ needed to know how it was done
◦ what to do with the various parts and the blood
• it was also their job to inform, instruct, and guide the people
◦ the priests were Israel’s worship leaders

An important qualification regarding Israel’s priests
– you know there were twelve tribes of Israel
• each of them were named for their ancestors
◦ twelve brothers, the sons of Jacob
• one of the tribes was named for Levi (Gen. 29:31-35)
– a prophet could be called from any tribe
• the kings of Judah belonged to tribe of Judah
• all of Israel’s priest had to belong to the tribe of Levi
◦ that poses a problem that Book of Hebrews will solve

The first seven chapters describe Israel’s ritual sacrifices

Mary Douglas, “. . . the first chapters of Leviticus are largely about how to make a sacrifice, how to select the right animal victim, how to cut it, what to do with the blood, how to lay out the sections on the altar.”
– whenever I read these chapters,
• it feels like I’m in a slaughter house or a butcher shop
• I think it is difficult for us to connect with this gruesome practice
◦ even though sacrifice was a common practice in every culture,
◦ it is far from where we live today
– it’s important for us to remind ourselves that back then,
• people didn’t run to grocery store for ground beef neatly wrapped
◦ they owned the animals that were sacrificed
• the life of each bull or sheep was valuable to them
◦ economically, but also as a sacred, because a living thing

A variety of sacrifices are described here

At the end of chapter 7, there’s a summary of previous chapters
– we find the different purposes that sacrifice could serve
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering, which the LORD commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai (Lev. 7:37-38)
– Everette Fox asks whether the purpose of Israel’s sacrifice was:
◦ a gift of value – meant to win God’s favor
◦ communion – a shared meal (forming a relational bond)
◦ or atonement – cover sin and remove guilt
Everett Fox, “Actually, at various times one can find all of them—the texts present a variety of motives and occasions for sacrifice in biblical Israel, from thanksgiving to purification and reparation. But in generally one may say of Israelite sacrifice, as one may say of much of the ritual in Leviticus, that it is designed primarily to maintain or repair the relationship between God and Israel. . . . sacrifice was a crucial element in keeping the covenant, and hence God’s beneficent presence among the Iraelites, intact.”

The sacrifice we read about in the first chapter is a Burnt Offering
– this was the basic offering that “functions essentially to bring human beings to the attention of God and to win his acceptance.” (E. Fox)
• the unique feature of Burnt Offering,
◦ everything was placed on the altar – all of it was burned
◦ “turned into smoke”
• it is described three times in this chapter
◦ first, when the offering was a bull
◦ second, when it was a goat or sheep
◦ third, when it was turtle doves or pigeons
– all the sacrifices that follow are variations of this one
• in distinguishing them, what matters is not what they share in common, but how they differ
• what parts are eaten and by whom, what is burned, and what is added

Briefly:
– chapter 2,the Grain Offering
– chapter 3, the Peace Offering–or “Fellowship offering,”
• the sacrificial meal was shared with God, the priest, and the person or persons who brought the offering
– chapter 4, the Sin Offering – its purpose was to cancel sin
– chapter 5-6:7, the Guilt Offering
• examples of types of sin that required this offering are given
– chapter 6 the Ordination Offering
• for the priests, before they could begin their service
– ch. 7, how priests were to handle what was placed on the altar
• before and after
• the “wave” offering is also mentioned here
◦ the priest or worshiper would raise the sacrifice up toward heaven before placing it on the altar

There are several things we need to understand:
– first, this sacrificial system of worship worked
• it was effective in what God mean for it to do
◦ atone means “cover”
◦ as if God were saying, “You’re alright now; I’ve got you covered”
• through sacrifice, their sin was atoned and they were forgiven
And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven (Le. 4:2)
– second, the goal of worship is to find acceptance–for the offering and the worshiper
• from the very first instance of worship in scripture: Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1-7)
• and throughout the Scriptures
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Ro. 12:1)
– third, to keep their covenant relationship with God solid
• and to repair it after a rupture
• they would work out their relationship with God at the altar

Conclusion: Sometimes it’s hard for me to comprehend or realize this truth,

But God travels with us, on our spiritual journey through life
– he is always here with us
Living with him nearby creates special conditions
– and we do not always live up to our part
Ruptures occur in our relationship with God
– but he has made provision to repair those ruptures
Perhaps we can find in Israel’s sacrifice
– the appropriate response in times of worship
• Confession
• Prayers for personal needs
• Prayers for others
• Thanksgiving
• Praise
• and times of intimate expressions of love

God’s door is always open,
because through Jesus Christ he gives us
an infinite supply of mercy and grace

Podcast

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:26-33

Intro: It seems to me that the traditional Advent themes are jumbled

The first Sunday is hope, then the second, third, and fourth are faith, joy and peace
– if I had lived in the 4th century–and anyone had asked me
• I would have suggested that we put faith first
◦ faith is what enables us to hope
◦ so hope would be the theme of the second Sunday
• then, feeling secure about the future, we would be at peace
◦ and that, I think, is when we are most likely to feel joy
– one other Advent theme that integrates and completes the others
• love–and we save that for Christmas Eve
• but since we are following the ancient tradition,
◦ the arrival of Jesus into our world is God’s gift of peace

The angel, before visiting Mary, had another appointment

Zechariah was already an old priest when assigned to his service
– there were hundreds of priests – he belonged to one division
• when they drew names to see who would enter the sanctuary,
◦ Zechariah’s name was drawn
◦ this is where we meet him – lighting incense in the temple
• this was done every morning and evening
◦ incense symbolized Israel’s prayers and praise
◦ the people praying outside waited to receive his blessing
– this moment had to be meaningful–Zechariah did not do this often
(this may have been the only time he had ever had this honor)
• he’s in the dark, sacred space and every object around him is holy
◦ suddenly, in his peripheral vision he glimpses someone else
◦ he turns, and standing beside the altar is the angel Gabriel
Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard
• I won’t go through the rest of story, except this:
• coming out of the holy place, Zechariah could not speak,
◦ he was unable to pronounce God’s blessing on the worshipers
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace (Num. 6:24)

Sometime after Mary’s angelic encounter, Joseph got the news

I imagine him coming to his parents’ home after a long day
– he’s surprised to see his mother at the gate
• she takes him by the arm and leads him to side of house
◦ “Mother what is it?” “Mary,” she answers
◦ she has trouble getting the words out – “She’s pregnant”
• “That’s impossible! We never even . . .”
◦ “I know, I know, but it’s true”
– Joseph did not immediately assume, “Well, it must be a miracle”
• he was immediately contemplating divorce
◦ they were not merely “engaged,” but “betrothed”
◦ the first stage of an arranged marriage — legal and binding
• because Joseph is a good man, he wants to do the right thing
◦ the divorce will be private for her sake and for both families
◦ but the angel of the Lord appeared to him – in a dream
Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife

The angel had one more Christmas errand

This visit came after the birth of Jesus
– last week we read the story of the shepherds
• the angel of the Lord appeared to them also
◦ his first words were,
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

So here we have four stories and one message
– Do not be afraid
• for Zechariah and the shepherds,
◦ the fear was triggered by presence of other-worldly beings
• but it was different for Mary and Joseph
◦ Mary was “greatly troubled” by the angel’s greeting
◦ Joseph’s fear was the prospect of going forward with marriage
taking on the responsibility of the whole mess
– the idea I’m chasing, is that in each instance,
• fear was triggered, then addressed, and then calmed

In calming the fear, the theme of peace is implied

One of the statements made to Mary was a partial quote (v. 33)
– we read the full quote the first Sunday of Advent
. . . and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end (Isa. 9:6-7)
• worshipers at the temple would have received a blessing of peace,
• if Zechariah had been able to speak
– in the announcement to the shepherds, the promise is explicit
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased (Lk. 2:14)
• this wasn’t a promise of universal peace
• it was a promise to everyone who received heaven’s gift

Stephen Porges, a professor of psychiatry and research scientist
– he has focused his research on the vagus nerve
• it plays a vital role in preparing the body for action or rest
◦ it also functions in personal relationships and social interaction
• he says the human body and brain function best when we feel safe
Porges, “If our nervous system detects safety, then it’s no longer defensive. When it’s no longer defensive, then the [functions of] the nervous system support health, growth, and restoration.”
◦ socially we’re better adjusted
◦ we are more present, creative, and positive
– he says, safety is not defined by the absence of threat or risk
• but by the feeling of being safe
◦ in other words, my situation may not be safe,
◦ but we can still think and respond well if we feel safe
(for example, a car’s safety features allow us to feel safe while driving)

Perhaps the best way to understand promise of peace is Shalom

This Hebrew word signifies a state of complete well-being
– a quiet, secure and productive life,
• with good physical health and close relationships
– last week, when joy was our subject, I quoted Jesus,
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in your, and that your joy may be full (Jn. 15:11)
• he made a similar statement regarding peace
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33)
• he also said,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (Jn. 14:27)

Here’s what I believe we need to understand

The Christmas promise is that we will find peace in Jesus
– this is not easy for us
• our minds are materialistically conditioned
◦ how can Jesus become real enough to us, to rest in him?
• by getting to know him in scripture,
◦ then by practicing spending time with him in silent prayer
– in the New Testament, we hear Paul say repeatedly that we are
IN CHRIST
• with relaxed, deep breaths we can learn what that feels like
◦ quiet our souls in him – to trust – and to rest
• no matter what our circumstances throw at us,
◦ if we can find our way back to Jesus, we can return to peace
◦ he is always a safe, loving, calming presence

Conclusion: One last thought about the angel and his messages

Each time he appeared to a person, he spoke to them by name
Do not be afraid, Zechariah
Do not be afraid, Mary
Joseph, son of David, do not fear
– as soon as the angel spoke, they discovered they were known
• they were not anonymous digits, lost in the mass of humanity
– God knew them by name – and he had a message for them
• as he knows each of us by name, and has a message for us
• are we listening?

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, his saints (Ps. 85:8)

Podcast

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:8-20

Intro: I’m going to begin by asking you two questions

First, What makes you feel happy?
– take a moment and give this some thought

Second, What makes you feel joy?
– again, take a moment with this question

I don’t think it’s possible to separate joy from happiness
– but I do believe it’s helpful to make the distinction
• we could spend a lifetime in the pursuit of happiness,
◦ pile up a lot of good times,
◦ but never experience joy
– so, how do they differ?
• happiness depends on external factors–what “happens”
joy depends on internal processes–response and reflection
• happiness is temporary
joy has a long shelf-life
• happiness fluctuates
joy is stable
• happiness is loud
joy is quiet
• happiness feels good
joy feels content and grateful
• happiness expresses itself with enthusiasm
joy expresses itself with a smile, a hug
• happiness is at home with entertainment
joy is at home with deep thought

This third Sunday of Advent we celebrate joy

The angel’s presence evoked great fear; their message was of great joy

In first century Israel, a shepherd’s life was not enviable
Bruce Malina provides some cultural background to the story:
“Although shepherds could be romanticized (as was king David [sic]), they were usually ranked with . . . tanners, sailors, butchers, camel drivers, and other despised occupations. Being away from home at night they were unable to protect their women and therefore were considered dishonorable. In addition, they often were considered thieves because they grazed their flocks on other people’s property.”
– shepherding was a bottom-rung occupation
• some jobs today are treated with a noticeable lack of respect
◦ we don’t even mention them by name, but activity
◦ “flipping burgers,” “scrubbing toilets,” “washing dishes”
“bagging groceries,” and so on
• in Luke’s gospel, Jesus gravitated towards these people
◦ more than once, he is criticized for socializing with them
– the world of these shepherds was hard and unpleasant
• authoritarian governments create a culture of oppression
◦ that is, people who are oppressed by “higher-ups”
◦ typically oppress others who are “lower-downs”
• shepherds were fair game for everyone’s contempt

WARNING: This will be a brief tangent. To me, a sad example of ugly religion is when people who claim to be Christians treat with contempt or condescension waiters in restaurants, clerks in stores, fast-food servers, gardeners, janitors, and people other similar professions. And some ugly religion people do this just because they can. In the reconstructed world of Jesus, no person is above or below anyone else.
But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all (Mk. 10:43-44)

The angel promised a joy that will be for all the people
– as if giving proof this was true, the announcement came to shepherds
• those dirty outcasts became the first messengers of the good news

In scripture, God is the source of all human joys

Israel celebrated annual feasts in which they worshiped with rejoicing
(see Deut. 16:11, 14, 15; 26:11; 27:11)
– they rejoiced at harvest time, sheep-shearing, weddings, etc.
• in all joyful occasions, they lifted their eyes to heaven
◦ every good thing that comes from the natural world is God’s gift
◦ and every gift is cause for joy and rejoicing with thanksgiving
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wind abound (Ps. 4:6-7)
• in that same psalm, the poet celebrates other gifts of God
◦ relief from distress – peace, and safety
– after returning from exile, Israel renewed their covenant with God
• when they gathered to hear the reading from the Scriptures,
◦ the people wept over their past sins and what that cost them
• but Nehemiah and the Levites told them not to grieve
Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength (Neh. 8:10)

Israel also rejoiced in God for their liberation from slavery and exile
– after fleeing Egypt and crossing the Red Sea,
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying,
I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him (Ex. 15:1-21)
• looking forward to the time they would return from captivity,
◦ Isaiah sang,
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa. 51:11)
– but most frequently in scripture, especially in the New Testament,
• joy comes from relationships with other people
◦ so Paul could say to the believers in Thessalonica,
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy (1 Thes. 1:19)

The Book of Joy was one of my favorite reads in the past two years

In it, Douglas Abrams reports a week-long conversation between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
– both men have suffered extreme hardships
• yet both men are fountains of joy
– through their conversation they discerned eight pillars of joy:
Perspective – “There are many different angles”
Abrams, “A healthy perspective really is the foundation of joy and happiness, because the way we see the world is the way we experience the world. Changing the way we see the world in turn changes the way we feel and the way we act, which changes the world itself.”
Humility
– we are not as big as we think
• and, we are not as small as we think
Desmond Tutu, “God uses each of us in our own way, and even if you are not the best one, you may be the one who is needed or the one who is there.”
Humor – “Laughter, joking is much better”
Abrams, “Humor is one of the best ways to end conflict, especially when you are able to make fun of yourself or admit that you are overreacting or being silly.”
Acceptance – “The only place where change can begin”
Forgiveness
Tutu, “Forgiveness is the only way to heal ourselves and to be free from the past.” “Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us.”
Gratitude
Compassion
Generosity
– in his instructions to the leaders of the church of Ephesus, Paul said,
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)

Conclusion: And that brings us back to where we began

The good news of great joy had to do specifically with Jesus
– Peter said that in him we rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory (1 Pet. 1:8)
• something Jesus said to his disciples their last night has stuck with me
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in your, and that your joy may be full (Jn. 15:11)

When the shepherds got over their fear,
– and their rational minds kicked in,
• they decided, “If this is true, we better go check it out”

This is all I really have to say today
– we can find our way to Jesus if we sincerely want to
• we can open our hearts fully to him
• allow him to pour his joy into us – and then begin to live it

What I know for sure,
is that there is more in Jesus to lift us up
than there is in this world to bring us down