8: The Source of Eternal Life (Heb 4:12-5:10)

VIDEO: Behold the King (igniter.com)

This is the day we recognize as “Palm Sunday”, that week that Jesus stepped into Jerusalem first HAILED as the Messiah, but later NAILED as a blasphemer. In a few moments you will see how our Scripture from Hebrews ties into the significance of what happened this week almost 2000 years ago.

People have long been looking for a way to live forever.

You’ve heard stories of “the fountain of youth” that was supposedly being hunted by Ponce de León. Stories of such a body of water were not new, as similar stories are mentioned in the 4th century BC about Alexander the Great.

In our day, people seek out plastic surgery & special diets that keep them looking young. Some even choose to have their bodies frozen after death, hoping that technology will advance to be able to bring them back from their refrigerated rest.

WHY? People have a deep desire to live…forever. And while many of us are afraid to die, it’s not just the idea of death, but of what awaits after, and most of us hope there is life AFTER death - eternal life.

Today we journey to discover where we can find “Our Source of Eternal Life”, according to the author of Hebrews. Before we do, lets...

CATCH THE CONTEXT

The author of Hebrews continues to point back to the Scriptures from Psalms to show that a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.

1) Our Sabbath Rest is found in following Jesus. We are to REST in the good works of Jesus - His perfect life & sacrificial death - and stop relying on our own “good works” (see Eph 2:8-9).

2) We must listen to God’s voice through the constant warnings from the Scriptures to NOT harden our hearts (Heb 4:7 & Ps 95:7-8) and to make every effort to enter God’s rest by obeying Him (Heb 4:11).

The author of Hebrews has already shown us the power of God’s words through the Scriptures - words that both warn and encourage us, words that warn of God’s WRATH or encourage with God’s REST.

Hebrews 4:12–13 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the Eyes of Him to Whom we must give an account.

When the New Testament writers mention the word of God they are referring to what God spoke to His people in the past and what is recorded for us in the present, spotlighting the good news about Jesus. NT Wright says it well:

‘God’s word’ seems to mean ‘the ancient scriptures, and the message about how they all came true in Jesus’. - NT Wright

[Tom Wright, Hebrews for Everyone (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 40.]

Here the author shows us how the ancient Scriptures - the word of God - impacts our lives. First, the word of God is...

Living: The author of Hebrews has already demonstrated how God’s word from Psalm 95, speaking of events 1400 years earlier, was still speaking to his contemporary audience. The Scriptures don’t grow and change, but the Scriptures DO grow and change us - now 3400 years after the days of Moses! God’s word exports the ancient & unchanging truths across every culture and every generation. If life on earth continues for the next 2000 years, the word of God will continue to impact lives!

Effective: like a surgeon’s scalpel, it cuts through the fleshly fluff of our lives and gets deep inside to the soul and spirit. The word of God is the spiritual TOOL that God uses to show us the real thoughts and intentions of the heart.

We are able to cover our bodies with clothes to hide what is underneath from others, but we can’t keep things hidden from Him. By the way, THAT’S WHY many of us don’t open the Scriptures; because when we do, God uncovers and exposes the attitudes and actions that we want to keep hidden.

It’s amazing how we humans try to justify our sinful actions and intentions. For example, people who are sexually intimate outside of the marriage bed say things like this to justify their sin: “I love him/her” but the Scriptures call this LUSTFUL and DISOBEDIENT. So, when we try to justify our sexual sin, the word of God cuts down deep and exposes our thoughts and intentions.

This week I met a man who shared how he came to follow Jesus. Although he grew up in church, it wasn’t until a real Christian confronted him with the Scripture that his life changed. The Christian cared enough to tell him the truth, that those who live in sexual sin will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. The man got defensive and said, “Where does it say that?” The Christian showed him, and the word of God did its work - cutting deep into his heart. He began to read and believe the Scriptures, which led him to follow Jesus.

He started living like God really knew his actions and intentions, like he was actually going to stand before God to give an account of his life.

I wish all of US lived that way!

Sadly, many of us treat God like Santa Claus. We might talk like he exists when we are around others, but we don’t really act like He exists.

When I was young, my Dad knew how to get me to eat my dinner. He would walk over to the phone, pretend to dial, and then say something like this: “Yes, Santa? Jackie isn’t obeying us and eating his...” and about that time, little Jackie started digging into his meal. Why? Because I really believed that my actions were going to be judged by Santa…and affect my present condition.

Years later, however, Dad couldn’t use that wicked, highly manipulative trick on me anymore, because although we SPOKE about Santa when MY YOUNG BOYS were near, and although I was know to go pick up the phone and call him once or twice, I no longer believed that I was going to be judged by Santa.

Some of us act the same way about God. When we’re around the kind of folks who believe in Him, we talk as if He is real, but we don’t really believe that must give an account to Him one day.

Thankfully, the Scripture warns us, but it should also encourage us because the word of God tells us that He also sees when our actions and attitudes are pure, when our intentions are honorable and kind.

When Jesus sent His disciples out to surrounding villages, He tells them that although some will reject them, others will welcome them. And those people - says Jesus - will receive a reward. He even mentions a simple act that you and I might not consider very significant. Jesus says:

Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

So while our impure actions & intensions are known to God, He also knows our simple, yet pure actions and intentions.

That simple way you serve others when no one else is looking - God knows. How might KNOWING THAT change not only WHAT we do, by WHY we do it - this week?

But, what if that leaves us convicted and concerned about God’s judgment in our lives? What happens when we realize that the wicked thoughts, actions, and intentions are not hidden from Him? If that’s you, just wait until you hear THE GOOD NEWS that follows!

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.

What’s THAT mean? Those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, are to hold fast - to hold firmly (NIV, NLT) to who we say Jesus is. Fully man but also God the Son, Jesus passed through the heavens - the One who was glorified in heaven (Jn 17:5) stepped down onto earth. After completing His work, Jesus ascended to heaven (Lk 24:50-51; Acts 1:9) and sat down at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33; Heb 1:3) - the place of honor & authority.

So, after the human high priest would pass through the veiled areas in the temple and enter the Most Holy Place (aka Holy of Holies) once a year, he would stand, complete his task, and immediately have to leave this place, that symbolized the throne room of God in heaven.

Jesus never entered into this part of the earthly temple. Instead, after sacrificing Himself to make payment for our sins on a brutal Roman cross, and after His resurrection, Jesus passed through the heavens and sat down at the right hand of the Father - the throne room of God that the earthly temple symbolized.

The author of Hebrews then reminds us of the gracious benefits that trusting Jesus brings to our lives.

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Human Weakness. Jesus experienced human weaknesses - exhaustion, hunger, thirst, disappointment, grief, betrayal, laughter, and tears. He felt what we feel, so He can sympathize with our weaknesses.

Human Temptation. Jesus experienced real temptation as a real human being. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil (Lk 4:1-13). And after facing every temptation the enemy could throw at Him, Jesus remained without sin.

As such, when we are experiencing weakness and facing temptation, we know where to turn! Jesus understands, because He’s been there!

One day when we were getting ready to begin chemotherapy, a sweet Christian lady approached and introduced herself. As a survivor of cancer, she had a deep understanding of what Tonya was about to experience. She encouraged us, prayed for us, and gave us her card - pleading with us to call her if we needed any help through the process. She had been through what we were about to go through.

So too, we are told to approach God’s throne of grace with boldness. I love that phrase.

You see, most ancient rulers couldn’t be approached by the common people. Queen Esther even risked her life by approaching her own husband without an invitation (Esther 5:1–2).

[John F. MacArthur Jr., Hebrews, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), 115.]

Yet here the God of the universe, the sovereign Creator of all kings, INVITES us to approach His throne, not to be judged for our GUILT, but to be welcomed into His GRACE. Knowing this, we can approach with boldness - having received the invitation from the King, Himself!

Then the author compares OUR HIGH PRIEST to the many other previous high priests.

Hebrews 5:1–3 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness. Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people.

Of course, making an offering for his own sins is NOT something Jesus had to do, as our sinless Savior. The human high priests were SINFUL, but OUR High Priest is SINLESS.

The human high priests didn’t elect themselves to serve as high priests.

Hebrews 5:4–6 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, also says in another place, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Again, the author quotes Ps 2:7 and adds a verse we haven’t seen quoted yet, Ps 110:4. We will spend more time on that in 3 weeks.

The author is again comparing human high priests to Jesus. They are called by God to serve, but they AREN’T called God’s Son.

And then we see the ultimate contrast between Jesus and all other human high priests.

Hebrews 5:7 During his earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

This passage reminds the reader of one specific evening in history, when Jesus prayed fervently with loud cries and tears in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was there that Jesus cried out asking for the Father to save Him from death.

What a vivid picture of pain that painted in the minds of the first followers of Jesus, as our Perfect High Priest wrestled with the reality that He was about to take our sins upon Him.

Watch this struggle through the artistic portrayal in The Passion of the Christ.

Passion of the Christ - Gethsemane

Hebrews 5:8–10 Although He was the Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. After He was perfected, He became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, and He was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

This does not imply that Jesus was somehow disobedient and imperfect beforehand, but that He proved to be obedient & perfect by completing the task given to Him.

It’s one thing to say “My team has the potential to have an undefeated season”, but it’s another thing to go the whole season without being defeated.

Jesus lived His entire life, without ever being defeated by sin, and suffered on OUR behalf.

And because of that, Jesus became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. Eternal life is NOT found in an earthly 'fountain of youth’, a better diet, or plastic surgery.

Jesus is Our source of eternal life - our Faithful High Priest, who lived a sinless life and then offered to exchange our sin for His sinlessness. Let’s conclude by remembering the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well.

John 4:13–14 Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.

Jesus IS our Source of Eternal Life, and that doesn’t start when we stop breathing, but it does start when we die....when we die to OUR SIN and surrender our lives to Jesus. That’s then that we experience this well of water springing up in us for eternal life.

And while we can experience the REST of Jesus living in us, recognizing that eternal life starts NOW, many of us are beginning to realize that the hour-glass of our life has a whole more sand on the bottom than on the top. We better do what we need to do before it’s too late.

Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.

FEET2FAITH

Take time this week to read what Jesus did for you (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16:8, Luke 22-24, John 18-20). Then ask the question, “Jesus gave His life for me; am I giving my life for Him?”

Watch a MOVIE that shows the significance of what Jesus has done for you - Passion of the Christ or Risen. You might watch this with your family/friends on Good Friday morning or early afternoon.

Join us for Good Friday Gathering at 5:30-7:30 (dinner, fellowship, & communion - child care)

Invite Someone Next Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and talk about the Best Day Ever. When’s the last time you invited someone and were prepared to introduce them to others? Invite them, pray for them, pick them up, take them out to eat afterwards!

AND take the opportunity to share that Jesus is the Source of Eternal Life!

The Hitchhiker

Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date—May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sigh to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his surprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. He ran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat.

“Going home for keeps?”

“Sure am,” Roger responded.

“Well, you’re in luck if you’re going to Chicago.”

“Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?” “I have a business there. My name is Hanover.”

After talking about many things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witness to this fiftyish, apparently successful businessman about Christ. But he kept putting it off, till he realized he was just thirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat, “Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to you about something very important.” He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Savior.

To Roger’s astonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. Roger thought he was going to be ejected from the car. But the businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger. “This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”

Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him five years before. In Chicago he looked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover. A little confused as to what was going on, he was ushered into a lovely office and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties.

She extended her hand. “You knew my husband?”

Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war.

“Can you tell me when that was?”

“It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army.” “Anything special about that day?” Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving his witness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take the plunge.

“Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled over to the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel. He gave his life to Christ that day.”

Explosive sobs shook her body. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, “I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I believed God would save him.”

“And,” said Roger, “Where is your husband, Mrs. Hanover?”

“He’s dead,” she wept, struggling with words. “He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He never got home. You see—I thought God had not kept His promise.”

Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, “I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!”

PRAY