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An Illustration of the Purpose of Hebrews
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Hebrews is a bridge-building book. At the point that it was written, there were a lot of Jewish Christians that were worshiping Jesus, but were still continuing to observe all of the feasts, fasts, and other religious rituals of Judaism, albeit with a new focus upon Jesus as the Messiah.
The book of Hebrews really seeks to change that in a lot of ways. As we've seen so far and will continue to see, it makes that case that Christ is greater than the previous revelation by angels and, in starting in chapter 3 today, Moses. Hebrews makes the case that this new revelation concerning Jesus changes things significantly, and so worship and life must change.
Here's what I've found to be a helpful illustration about what Hebrews is trying to get across. For a number of years, I had a 5th generation ipod.
An Illustration of the Purpose of Hebrews
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Hebrews is a bridge-building book. At the point that it was written, there were a lot of Jewish Christians that were worshiping Jesus, but were still continuing to observe all of the feasts, fasts, and other religious rituals of Judaism, albeit with a new focus upon Jesus as the Messiah.
The book of Hebrews really seeks to change that in a lot of ways. As we've seen so far and will continue to see, it makes that case that Christ is greater than the previous revelation by angels and, in starting in chapter 3 today, Moses. Hebrews makes the case that this new revelation concerning Jesus changes things significantly, and so worship and life must change.
Here's what I've found to be a helpful illustration about what Hebrews is trying to get across. For a number of years, I had a 5th generation ipod.
It was great, and at the time, top-of-the line. But, as unfortunately happens very quickly in our tech-centered world, this iPod became obsolete. Let's imagine that I still had this iPod and held on to it because I refused to try anything new. Let's also imagine that someone were to come to me and offer me a brand new latest-generation iPod touch to replace it. I respond to them,
"I can't get new iPod touch - I don't have the instruction manual for it. I only have an instruction manual for my 5th generation iPod. I'd never be able to operate it."
That would be a silly and stupid response. Refusing to get a new iPod simply because you don't have an instruction manual for it is ridiculous! Just get a new manual for the new version and the problem is solved!
This, in a rough way, is what Hebrews seeks to address. There was the iPod (the old covenant made with Moses) with it's old instruction manual (the Law). Many Jewish Christians weren't necessarily seeking salvation from the Law, but it was all they had ever known. They had a new iPod touch (salvation and the new covenant through Jesus), but were still using the old manual (the Law). This is a major problem. The old manual can't really tell you much about how to operate the new technology - the Law can't really tell you much about how to live life with Jesus as Lord. Some of the basics may be there, but things are radically new and different. Hebrews proposes an abandonment of the old manual of the observance of the Law for new life and worship in Christ. Why? Because He is greater than the previous things in every way. Most of Hebrews is spent explaining how much greater He is. The Law is no longer sufficient, so things must change.
Obviously there are a lot of details and ins-and-outs of this new covenant with Jesus, and Hebrews doesn't even necessarily explain them all - it simply makes the case that the Law isn't big enough to contain the whole of life in Christ. This illustration isn't perfect of course, buy I hope it helps you to understand a little better what the writer of Hebrews is trying to accomplish in this book.
Questions? Comments?
"I can't get new iPod touch - I don't have the instruction manual for it. I only have an instruction manual for my 5th generation iPod. I'd never be able to operate it."
That would be a silly and stupid response. Refusing to get a new iPod simply because you don't have an instruction manual for it is ridiculous! Just get a new manual for the new version and the problem is solved!
This, in a rough way, is what Hebrews seeks to address. There was the iPod (the old covenant made with Moses) with it's old instruction manual (the Law). Many Jewish Christians weren't necessarily seeking salvation from the Law, but it was all they had ever known. They had a new iPod touch (salvation and the new covenant through Jesus), but were still using the old manual (the Law). This is a major problem. The old manual can't really tell you much about how to operate the new technology - the Law can't really tell you much about how to live life with Jesus as Lord. Some of the basics may be there, but things are radically new and different. Hebrews proposes an abandonment of the old manual of the observance of the Law for new life and worship in Christ. Why? Because He is greater than the previous things in every way. Most of Hebrews is spent explaining how much greater He is. The Law is no longer sufficient, so things must change.
Obviously there are a lot of details and ins-and-outs of this new covenant with Jesus, and Hebrews doesn't even necessarily explain them all - it simply makes the case that the Law isn't big enough to contain the whole of life in Christ. This illustration isn't perfect of course, buy I hope it helps you to understand a little better what the writer of Hebrews is trying to accomplish in this book.
Questions? Comments?
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