2009 Year B Lent 5th Week
THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION
Hebrew 5:1-10
The high priest
Hebrews is a very special book among the New Testaments. It is neither like the gospels which deal with Jesus’ official life. Nor like the Acts which contains the apostles’ activities. Nor like the epistles to encourage the early Christian community’s faith. According to the scholar’s widespread understanding, the Hebrews is the first theological thesis that specifically focuses on Christology. It is common that a theological thesis is a little boring for the lay Christians to read because it deals with theories that seem unrelated to real life. However, this assumption is wrong. Theology is not the intention to raise any trouble in the Christian’s life but to establish a solid foundation. And if we open our mind a little bit and pay attention to the theological world then we can find out abundant spirituality from the theological articles. It is a similar to an experience in a karaoke room and classical concert. It is very funny to sing a popular song in a karaoke room. However, we can enjoy much more abundance of music world by listening to the classical music in a classical concert.
The author of Hebrews explains how great Jesus is theologically. Especially he explains Jesus comparing with the people in the Old Testament according to its type such as Moses and Joshua. Jesus is more excellent than an angel (1:4-2:18), greater than Moses (3:1-19) and more outstanding than Joshua (4:1-13). Jesus is the perfect and eternal high priest above all people, all the religious activities and all the priests in the Old Testament. (4:14-7:28) Today’s content also asserts emphatically that Jesus is the eternal high priest.
Here two people of the Old Testament suggest the role of the high priest. One was Aaron, an elder brother of Moses, who worked as a high priest during Israel’s wilderness life. Look at verse 4. “No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.” The author emphasized the point that Jesus’ priesthood also was given by God as the high priesthood of Aaron had given by God.
The other person in the Old Testament related to the high priesthood is Melchisedec. The author mentioned Melchisedec’s name two times in today’s content in order emphasize Jesus’ succeed of the high priesthood of him. Verse 6 which is quoted from Psalm 110:4 is one and is verse 10, applicable to the conclusion of today’s content is the other. Look at verse 10. “…and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” Who was Melchisedec? This name would be sounded quite strange to you. According to today’s content, it was clear that he was a high priest but with no additional explanation. He is an important person in today’s contents. So it is better to examine him a little further.
Melchisedec
Genesis chapter 14 explains about Melchisedec in great detail. He appeared in a tale of Abraham, known to the first patriarch of Israel. Abraham departed from Chaldean Ur, the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization and went against the stream of the Euphrates River. He for a while settled in Haran, at the head of the river. After his father Terah’s death, he went down to the southern part of Palestine with Lot his nephew. Lot had lived in Sodom, notorious for its’ immoral and unethical people, while Abraham had remained in Canaan. Meanwhile there was a tribal battle and Lot and his family were captured. Hearing this news Abraham chased those kings who captured Lot with his 318 (embers and fought against them. Abraham won the battle and returned Lot’s family and property. Many kings came for Abraham who had won in the battle. One of the kings was Melchisedec. He was a king of Salem, Jerusalem today. Genesis 14:18 says like this. “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.” In the ancient times, a king used to take the role of priest too. The story that Melchisedec came for Abraham was nothing special. However, the story of Melchisedec and Abraham newly progressed.
According to Genesis 14:19, 20, Melchisedec blessed Abraham. “ and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.’” After this blessing, Abraham gave him tithes of all. Some make this verse as a basis of tithe but this story says much more fundamental thing in Christian than tithe matter.
Melchisedec was the priest of the most high God. Of course the priest of those days was different from the high priests in Jerusalem temple who had strong religious power. There was no a temple and law in Abraham’s times. At the time Abraham left Chaldean Ur, the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization and settled in Palestine, the religious tradition of Judaism was yet to be established. However, the author of Genesis describes this Melchisedec as the priest of the Lord God whom Israel worshipped. It was because the God of Melchisedec was the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth. The God of Melchisedec and the God of Abraham was the same God at the point of the creator of the world. The important point here was that this Melchisedec was the priest of a universal religion before formation of Judaism, a certain form of religion. He was a priest at the universal level, exceeding a certain religion.
The fact that Melchisedec blessed Abraham meant Abraham’s submitted to Melchisedec. Melchisedec was the only king to whom Abraham bowed down among many kings who came to Abraham. Abraham couldn’t but bow down to Melchisedec for he was a high priest to serve the most high God. Now the author of Hebrews is explaining the fact that Jesus is the successor of the priesthood of Melchisedec to whom Abraham bowed down and be blessed. It says that Jesus Christ is the high priest to whom even the Jews the descendents of Abraham should bow down their head.
The subject of redemption
However, we have to consider a huge gap between a high priest and Jesus. The comparing point is the role of a high priest and Jesus’ official life. Jesus was born into a laborer’s family not from a high priest family. John the Baptist was from a priest family. Jesus didn’t have the authority to perform a sacrifice. Jesus lived in the middle of secular world rather than a temple which was related to sacrifice. Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God by walking along with his disciples, in a market, by the riverside and in the desert. He healed the sick and sometimes argued with the teachers of the law. He lived his official life in this way for 3 years and eventually died on the cross. The most responsible people in Jesus’ crucifixion were the high priests. At this point of view, Jesus was not a high priest but rather a person attacked by them. Why does the author describe Jesus as a high priest, even as the omnipresent and universal high priest?
First of all think about the duty of a high priest. Verse 1 correctly explains the role of a high priest. “Every high priest is selected from men and is appointed to represent them in the matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” There are two key points here.
First, it is redemption. The role of a high priest is the redemption of worshipers. The reason for necessity of redemption between God and man is that man’s sin becomes the greatest stumbling block that separates man from God. Modern people feel bad when they hear that they are sinners. On the contrary, they think they are not innocent or rationalize themselves thinking that everybody lives the same life. Here sin shouldn’t be considered shameful, harmful or immoral. All these are the result of sin not sin itself. Sin is much fundamental and ontological power. The Bible points out the origin of man’s sin through the story of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Such teaching explains the reason why man’s life is fundamentally divided. Despite our every effort to live righteously we go the way of separation internally. Our body and heart cannot keep a complete peace. This is the result of sin. Man’s life that doesn’t identify with God of perfect peace cannot but eventually go to the way of self-dissociation. When we are forgiven by God we can unite with God, the perfect peace. This is the meaning of ‘redemption’.
However, Israel’s high priest expected God’s forgiveness through the sacrifice but Jesus directly declared forgiveness to the people. Because of the crowd, the friends of a paralytic brought him right in front of Jesus by breaking the roof. Jesus saw their faith and said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." (Luke 5:20) Jesus was able to proclaim the forgiveness of sin for he had been identified with the rule of God. Likewise Jesus is the true high priest at the point of redemption.
Perfect sacrifice
Second, the role of high priest was offering a sacrifice. Animals like cow, sheep and dove were offered as a sacrifice in Israel’s worship service. They tried to get redemption from God through the blood of animals which substituted for man’s sin.
However, Jesus offered himself differing from the high priests who offered animals. Jesus crucifixion is rightly the ultimate sacrifice. Such explanation may not give you a sense of reality and you may even think it is a little old-fashioned idea. The fact Jesus crucified on the cross itself is not important. The cross is a result. The word that Jesus became a sacrifice means he thoroughly obeyed to God. Look at verse 8. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” The word that Jesus obeyed God’s word means he identified with the kingdom of God. Even though man is endowed with personality and ability to learn, he is not able to completely identify himself with God. For his own will is always at work. Different from the other people, Jesus had a complete obedient heart. He completely obeyed God’s love, his salvation plan and his rule. As a result, he was crucified on the cross.
Jesus’ obedience and his crucifixion, the result of his complete obedience was the perfect sacrifice. So we don’t need to give a sacrifice through the animal’s blood. Jesus Christ is totally different level of high priest, became a sacrifice by himself. He is rightly our savior. He is the savior who unites us who once were separated from God with the God of perfect peace.
The source of eternal salvation
The author says in verse 9. “…and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. “ Now Jesus Christ became not only staying at the point of redemption but also became a main character of salvation. What does this mean? How is Jesus able to be the subject of salvation and a source of salvation? Isn’t salvation possible from God only? The answer to this question is that Jesus was made ‘perfect’. To be perfect signifies his resurrection. Perfect and ultimate life is resurrection. Resurrection, a perfect life, happened through Jesus who was with imperfect body like us through perfect obedience to God in order to identify with God’s rule. Now Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to those who obeyed Jesus.
I say again that Christian faith is focusing on the incident that happened to Jesus Christ, crucifixion and resurrection. It is to entrust our entire destiny on him from the present life and to the life after. For those who live like this, Jesus is the source of eternal salvation.
THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION
Hebrew 5:1-10
The high priest
Hebrews is a very special book among the New Testaments. It is neither like the gospels which deal with Jesus’ official life. Nor like the Acts which contains the apostles’ activities. Nor like the epistles to encourage the early Christian community’s faith. According to the scholar’s widespread understanding, the Hebrews is the first theological thesis that specifically focuses on Christology. It is common that a theological thesis is a little boring for the lay Christians to read because it deals with theories that seem unrelated to real life. However, this assumption is wrong. Theology is not the intention to raise any trouble in the Christian’s life but to establish a solid foundation. And if we open our mind a little bit and pay attention to the theological world then we can find out abundant spirituality from the theological articles. It is a similar to an experience in a karaoke room and classical concert. It is very funny to sing a popular song in a karaoke room. However, we can enjoy much more abundance of music world by listening to the classical music in a classical concert.
The author of Hebrews explains how great Jesus is theologically. Especially he explains Jesus comparing with the people in the Old Testament according to its type such as Moses and Joshua. Jesus is more excellent than an angel (1:4-2:18), greater than Moses (3:1-19) and more outstanding than Joshua (4:1-13). Jesus is the perfect and eternal high priest above all people, all the religious activities and all the priests in the Old Testament. (4:14-7:28) Today’s content also asserts emphatically that Jesus is the eternal high priest.
Here two people of the Old Testament suggest the role of the high priest. One was Aaron, an elder brother of Moses, who worked as a high priest during Israel’s wilderness life. Look at verse 4. “No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.” The author emphasized the point that Jesus’ priesthood also was given by God as the high priesthood of Aaron had given by God.
The other person in the Old Testament related to the high priesthood is Melchisedec. The author mentioned Melchisedec’s name two times in today’s content in order emphasize Jesus’ succeed of the high priesthood of him. Verse 6 which is quoted from Psalm 110:4 is one and is verse 10, applicable to the conclusion of today’s content is the other. Look at verse 10. “…and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” Who was Melchisedec? This name would be sounded quite strange to you. According to today’s content, it was clear that he was a high priest but with no additional explanation. He is an important person in today’s contents. So it is better to examine him a little further.
Melchisedec
Genesis chapter 14 explains about Melchisedec in great detail. He appeared in a tale of Abraham, known to the first patriarch of Israel. Abraham departed from Chaldean Ur, the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization and went against the stream of the Euphrates River. He for a while settled in Haran, at the head of the river. After his father Terah’s death, he went down to the southern part of Palestine with Lot his nephew. Lot had lived in Sodom, notorious for its’ immoral and unethical people, while Abraham had remained in Canaan. Meanwhile there was a tribal battle and Lot and his family were captured. Hearing this news Abraham chased those kings who captured Lot with his 318 (embers and fought against them. Abraham won the battle and returned Lot’s family and property. Many kings came for Abraham who had won in the battle. One of the kings was Melchisedec. He was a king of Salem, Jerusalem today. Genesis 14:18 says like this. “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.” In the ancient times, a king used to take the role of priest too. The story that Melchisedec came for Abraham was nothing special. However, the story of Melchisedec and Abraham newly progressed.
According to Genesis 14:19, 20, Melchisedec blessed Abraham. “ and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.’” After this blessing, Abraham gave him tithes of all. Some make this verse as a basis of tithe but this story says much more fundamental thing in Christian than tithe matter.
Melchisedec was the priest of the most high God. Of course the priest of those days was different from the high priests in Jerusalem temple who had strong religious power. There was no a temple and law in Abraham’s times. At the time Abraham left Chaldean Ur, the cradle of Mesopotamian civilization and settled in Palestine, the religious tradition of Judaism was yet to be established. However, the author of Genesis describes this Melchisedec as the priest of the Lord God whom Israel worshipped. It was because the God of Melchisedec was the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth. The God of Melchisedec and the God of Abraham was the same God at the point of the creator of the world. The important point here was that this Melchisedec was the priest of a universal religion before formation of Judaism, a certain form of religion. He was a priest at the universal level, exceeding a certain religion.
The fact that Melchisedec blessed Abraham meant Abraham’s submitted to Melchisedec. Melchisedec was the only king to whom Abraham bowed down among many kings who came to Abraham. Abraham couldn’t but bow down to Melchisedec for he was a high priest to serve the most high God. Now the author of Hebrews is explaining the fact that Jesus is the successor of the priesthood of Melchisedec to whom Abraham bowed down and be blessed. It says that Jesus Christ is the high priest to whom even the Jews the descendents of Abraham should bow down their head.
The subject of redemption
However, we have to consider a huge gap between a high priest and Jesus. The comparing point is the role of a high priest and Jesus’ official life. Jesus was born into a laborer’s family not from a high priest family. John the Baptist was from a priest family. Jesus didn’t have the authority to perform a sacrifice. Jesus lived in the middle of secular world rather than a temple which was related to sacrifice. Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God by walking along with his disciples, in a market, by the riverside and in the desert. He healed the sick and sometimes argued with the teachers of the law. He lived his official life in this way for 3 years and eventually died on the cross. The most responsible people in Jesus’ crucifixion were the high priests. At this point of view, Jesus was not a high priest but rather a person attacked by them. Why does the author describe Jesus as a high priest, even as the omnipresent and universal high priest?
First of all think about the duty of a high priest. Verse 1 correctly explains the role of a high priest. “Every high priest is selected from men and is appointed to represent them in the matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” There are two key points here.
First, it is redemption. The role of a high priest is the redemption of worshipers. The reason for necessity of redemption between God and man is that man’s sin becomes the greatest stumbling block that separates man from God. Modern people feel bad when they hear that they are sinners. On the contrary, they think they are not innocent or rationalize themselves thinking that everybody lives the same life. Here sin shouldn’t be considered shameful, harmful or immoral. All these are the result of sin not sin itself. Sin is much fundamental and ontological power. The Bible points out the origin of man’s sin through the story of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Such teaching explains the reason why man’s life is fundamentally divided. Despite our every effort to live righteously we go the way of separation internally. Our body and heart cannot keep a complete peace. This is the result of sin. Man’s life that doesn’t identify with God of perfect peace cannot but eventually go to the way of self-dissociation. When we are forgiven by God we can unite with God, the perfect peace. This is the meaning of ‘redemption’.
However, Israel’s high priest expected God’s forgiveness through the sacrifice but Jesus directly declared forgiveness to the people. Because of the crowd, the friends of a paralytic brought him right in front of Jesus by breaking the roof. Jesus saw their faith and said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." (Luke 5:20) Jesus was able to proclaim the forgiveness of sin for he had been identified with the rule of God. Likewise Jesus is the true high priest at the point of redemption.
Perfect sacrifice
Second, the role of high priest was offering a sacrifice. Animals like cow, sheep and dove were offered as a sacrifice in Israel’s worship service. They tried to get redemption from God through the blood of animals which substituted for man’s sin.
However, Jesus offered himself differing from the high priests who offered animals. Jesus crucifixion is rightly the ultimate sacrifice. Such explanation may not give you a sense of reality and you may even think it is a little old-fashioned idea. The fact Jesus crucified on the cross itself is not important. The cross is a result. The word that Jesus became a sacrifice means he thoroughly obeyed to God. Look at verse 8. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” The word that Jesus obeyed God’s word means he identified with the kingdom of God. Even though man is endowed with personality and ability to learn, he is not able to completely identify himself with God. For his own will is always at work. Different from the other people, Jesus had a complete obedient heart. He completely obeyed God’s love, his salvation plan and his rule. As a result, he was crucified on the cross.
Jesus’ obedience and his crucifixion, the result of his complete obedience was the perfect sacrifice. So we don’t need to give a sacrifice through the animal’s blood. Jesus Christ is totally different level of high priest, became a sacrifice by himself. He is rightly our savior. He is the savior who unites us who once were separated from God with the God of perfect peace.
The source of eternal salvation
The author says in verse 9. “…and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. “ Now Jesus Christ became not only staying at the point of redemption but also became a main character of salvation. What does this mean? How is Jesus able to be the subject of salvation and a source of salvation? Isn’t salvation possible from God only? The answer to this question is that Jesus was made ‘perfect’. To be perfect signifies his resurrection. Perfect and ultimate life is resurrection. Resurrection, a perfect life, happened through Jesus who was with imperfect body like us through perfect obedience to God in order to identify with God’s rule. Now Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to those who obeyed Jesus.
I say again that Christian faith is focusing on the incident that happened to Jesus Christ, crucifixion and resurrection. It is to entrust our entire destiny on him from the present life and to the life after. For those who live like this, Jesus is the source of eternal salvation.
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