Out of the shadows and into Christ

As we are walking through Hebrews, it is important to remember the immediate audience of this book – the Hebrews. They were commonly known as Jews or Israelites, and the recipients of the Letter to the Hebrews were written predominately to Hebrews who have converted to Christ and others curious about Christ.

These Hebrews came out of Judaism, so they were very familiar with the Levitical priests and high priests and the tabernacle. Much of what God gave to the Hebrews in the Old Testament served as a shadow of the better/greater reality in the New Testament – Jesus Christ!

The letter to the Hebrews calls them and us to leave the shadows and pursue the greater - Jesus Christ.

Read Hebrews 8

Verse 1 is such a wonderful summary for us. It reads – Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest (Jesus), one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.

· Jesus is the true high priest · Jesus is the true minister · Jesus is seated next to God in the true tent

Verse 3 – the earthly priests (shadow) offered gifts and sacrifices (shadows); thus it is necessary for this priest (Jesus) also to have something to offer. What did Jesus offer? (Read Hebrews 7:26-27)

Verse 5 – the earthly high priests and all that they did served as a shadow of the heavenly things – a heavenly high priest – Jesus! A heavenly sacrifice – Jesus! The tabernacle is fulfilled in Jesus! Jesus is the true mediator between God and man!

Verse 6 – Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is BETTER since it is enacted on BETTER promises.

Jesus Christ is the better hope of the better covenant enacted on better promises.

· Let us leave the shadows (Hebrews 6:1-3) and pursue Jesus Christ. · Let us take care (Hebrews 3:12) lest there be any of us in the shadows and let us pursue Christ. · Let us fear (Hebrews 4:1) lest there be any of us who seemed to have failed to reach rest in Christ. · Let us pay much closer attention to what we have heard (Christ), (Hebrews 2:1)lest we drift away from Him and back into the shadows.

Do not put your faith in the temporary shadows, but believe and trust Jesus Christ. · Our hope is not in people. Our hope is in the Person – Jesus Christ. · Our hope is not in performance. Our hope is in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. · Our hope is not in pleasures and passions. Our hope and pleasure is found in Jesus Christ. · Our hope is not in possessions. Our hope is in belonging to Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:18 - …as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient (temporary shadows), but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Prayer – Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Application For the Lord says – (Jeremiah 6:16) – Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

Jesus is the ancient of days. Look and ask for Him! Jesus is the good way. Walk in Him! Jesus is rest for your soul! Praise Him!