WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.880 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.988 --> 00:00:03.848 Day 61 00:00:04.020 --> 00:00:05.580 Immersed in Hebrews. 00:00:08.100 --> 00:00:11.850 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. 00:00:12.090 --> 00:00:16.110 Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 00:00:16.560 --> 00:00:20.130 Remember those in prison as if you were there yourself. 00:00:20.550 --> 00:00:26.430 Remember also those being mistreated as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. 00:00:29.055 --> 00:00:33.195 The book of Hebrews was sent to Jewish believers who were facing 00:00:33.195 --> 00:00:35.565 persecution for their faith in Jesus. 00:00:36.705 --> 00:00:41.325 Some were tempted to leave the believing community and return to Judaism in order 00:00:41.325 --> 00:00:43.455 to escape their mistreatment and pain. 00:00:44.475 --> 00:00:49.005 It's likely that the recipients of this letter lived in Italy, perhaps even Rome. 00:00:49.635 --> 00:00:53.055 The author whose name is not given, sends greetings to them 00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:55.155 from the believers from Italy. 00:00:55.695 --> 00:00:59.025 That is people they would likely have known, but who were now 00:00:59.025 --> 00:01:02.655 living abroad, probably displaced from Rome by persecution. 00:01:03.495 --> 00:01:07.485 This also makes it likely that the terrible suffering they had experienced 00:01:07.485 --> 00:01:12.705 earlier was instigated by Emperor Nero, who was known for persecuting 00:01:12.705 --> 00:01:15.465 Christians, especially in and around Rome. 00:01:16.425 --> 00:01:18.975 It was probably Nero who ordered the executions of 00:01:18.980 --> 00:01:20.985 the apostles, Paul and Peter. 00:01:22.140 --> 00:01:26.190 Since these Jewish believers may have lived near the center of power in the 00:01:26.190 --> 00:01:31.080 Roman Empire, they would have been prime targets for the next wave of persecution. 00:01:32.460 --> 00:01:36.930 But in this new wave of persecution, Christians who were also Jews 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:38.760 seemed to have an easy way out. 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:43.110 The Roman authorities had recently begun to make a distinction between 00:01:43.110 --> 00:01:45.090 followers of Jesus and Jews. 00:01:46.305 --> 00:01:50.715 Judaism was a legal and protected religion in the Roman Empire. 00:01:51.345 --> 00:01:55.455 Jews who had come to believe in Jesus could return to that protective umbrella 00:01:55.665 --> 00:02:01.215 if they identified themselves as Jews only walking away from their faith in Jesus. 00:02:01.965 --> 00:02:05.745 In response to this situation, the author of Hebrews argues 00:02:05.745 --> 00:02:07.185 that there's no going back. 00:02:07.965 --> 00:02:11.985 All of Israel's history was leading up to the great salvation that 00:02:11.985 --> 00:02:14.205 had now finally appeared in Jesus. 00:02:15.150 --> 00:02:19.770 The author insists the old system under the law of Moses was only 00:02:19.770 --> 00:02:24.840 a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come through. 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:29.730 Jesus believers could participate in a far better covenant with 00:02:29.730 --> 00:02:31.980 God based on better promises. 00:02:32.850 --> 00:02:37.650 In fact, the Lord Jesus himself announced this great salvation of the new covenant, 00:02:37.890 --> 00:02:40.170 and the old covenant was now out of date. 00:02:40.845 --> 00:02:44.925 So believers need to stand firm in their faith hanging onto everything 00:02:44.925 --> 00:02:46.815 that had come to them through Jesus. 00:02:48.255 --> 00:02:52.485 The author makes the case for all this by using a specific literary form. 00:02:53.505 --> 00:02:56.985 The book of Hebrews consists of four messages, much like ones 00:02:56.990 --> 00:02:58.305 given in a Jewish synagogue. 00:02:58.980 --> 00:03:04.350 In fact, the author calls the book an exhortation, the same Greek term, 00:03:04.350 --> 00:03:08.460 used for the word of encouragement given by Paul Ann Barnabas in the 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:10.500 synagogue of Antioch, of Pisidia. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:15.960 In this form, the speaker would first bring a teaching from the scriptures 00:03:16.170 --> 00:03:19.410 and then apply it to the present day situation of the listeners. 00:03:20.220 --> 00:03:24.900 So Hebrews alternates back and forth four times between teaching and application. 00:03:25.815 --> 00:03:30.195 First, explaining truths about Jesus from the scriptures, and then urging 00:03:30.195 --> 00:03:32.415 the people to respond to these truths. 00:03:33.315 --> 00:03:37.125 Since the recipients were familiar with the scriptures and traditions of Israel, 00:03:37.635 --> 00:03:42.765 the author's message presents four key themes each built on a Jewish tradition. 00:03:44.685 --> 00:03:48.945 God's son is greater than the angels and the messages they delivered 00:03:49.335 --> 00:03:50.985 the laws of the old covenant. 00:03:52.305 --> 00:03:57.915 Jesus is God's greatest messenger, superior even to Moses and Joshua, 00:03:58.155 --> 00:04:01.785 and he offers an even greater rest and peace than they offered. 00:04:02.985 --> 00:04:08.955 Jesus is our true high priest superior, even to Aaron and his priestly family. 00:04:10.795 --> 00:04:16.155 The followers of Jesus must be faithful just as God's people of old were 00:04:16.155 --> 00:04:18.825 faithful, even in the face of suffering. 00:04:20.055 --> 00:04:23.485 These messages were collected and then sent out like a letter. 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:29.760 So Hebrews ends the way any ancient letter would with personal news, greetings, 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:33.870 and information about when the sender next hopes to see the recipients. 00:04:34.710 --> 00:04:39.750 Of course, the sender also hopes that when that time arrives, the recipients will 00:04:39.755 --> 00:04:44.760 all still be following Jesus together, proclaiming our allegiance to his name, 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.030 the book of Hebrews. 00:04:53.550 --> 00:04:57.270 Long ago, God spoke many times and in many ways, to our 00:04:57.270 --> 00:04:58.890 ancestors, through the prophets. 00:04:59.550 --> 00:05:03.570 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his son. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:08.220 God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through 00:05:08.225 --> 00:05:10.560 the Son he created the universe. 00:05:11.490 --> 00:05:15.780 The son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character 00:05:15.780 --> 00:05:20.400 of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. 00:05:21.495 --> 00:05:25.485 When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the 00:05:25.485 --> 00:05:27.765 right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 00:05:28.665 --> 00:05:32.835 This shows that the son is far greater than the angels, just as 00:05:32.835 --> 00:05:37.905 the name God gave him is greater than their names for God never said 00:05:37.910 --> 00:05:39.855 to any angel what he said to Jesus. 00:05:40.665 --> 00:05:42.855 You are my son today. 00:05:42.855 --> 00:05:44.685 I have become your father. 00:05:45.195 --> 00:05:49.545 God also said, I will be his father and he will be my son. 00:05:50.565 --> 00:05:54.915 And when he brought his supreme son into the world, God said, let 00:05:54.915 --> 00:05:56.985 all of God's angels worship him. 00:05:57.645 --> 00:06:02.325 Regarding the angels, he says he sends his angels like the winds, his 00:06:02.325 --> 00:06:07.755 servants like flames of fire, but to the sun, he says, your throne, 00:06:07.785 --> 00:06:10.395 oh God, endures forever and ever. 00:06:11.025 --> 00:06:13.155 You rule with a scepter of justice. 00:06:13.275 --> 00:06:15.645 You love justice and hate evil. 00:06:16.290 --> 00:06:20.940 Therefore, oh God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of 00:06:20.940 --> 00:06:23.370 joy on you more than on anyone else. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:30.180 He also says to the son in the beginning, Lord, you lay the foundation of the earth 00:06:30.510 --> 00:06:32.430 and made the heavens with your hands. 00:06:32.970 --> 00:06:35.940 They will perish, but you remain forever. 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:38.610 They will wear out like old clothing. 00:06:39.090 --> 00:06:43.200 You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. 00:06:44.085 --> 00:06:46.125 But you are always the same. 00:06:46.695 --> 00:06:47.925 You will live forever. 00:06:48.825 --> 00:06:53.325 And God never said to any of the angels sit in the place of honor at my right 00:06:53.325 --> 00:06:58.125 hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet. 00:06:59.235 --> 00:07:03.705 Therefore, angels are only servants spirits sent to care for people 00:07:03.705 --> 00:07:05.205 who will inherit salvation. 00:07:07.365 --> 00:07:10.665 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, 00:07:11.025 --> 00:07:12.765 or we may drift away from it. 00:07:13.485 --> 00:07:17.745 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and 00:07:17.745 --> 00:07:21.885 every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 00:07:22.635 --> 00:07:26.775 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation 00:07:26.775 --> 00:07:30.675 that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself, and then delivered 00:07:30.675 --> 00:07:32.475 to us by those who heard him speak? 00:07:33.465 --> 00:07:37.905 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and 00:07:37.905 --> 00:07:41.325 various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose. 00:07:42.405 --> 00:07:45.645 And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future 00:07:45.645 --> 00:07:47.055 world we are talking about. 00:07:47.745 --> 00:07:52.005 For in one place the scriptures say, what are mere mortals that you 00:07:52.005 --> 00:07:56.025 should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him 00:07:56.865 --> 00:08:00.345 Yet for a little while, you made them a little lower than the angels 00:08:00.825 --> 00:08:03.135 and crown them with glory and honor. 00:08:03.525 --> 00:08:06.105 You gave them authority over all things. 00:08:07.275 --> 00:08:10.965 Now, when it says all things, it means nothing is left out. 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:14.940 But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:19.740 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:21.600 a little lower than the angels. 00:08:22.230 --> 00:08:27.030 And because he suffered death for us, he is now crowned with glory and honor. 00:08:28.050 --> 00:08:34.320 Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone, God for whom, and 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:39.060 through whom everything was made chose to bring many children into glory. 00:08:39.870 --> 00:08:42.750 And it was only right that he should make Jesus through his 00:08:42.750 --> 00:08:46.980 suffering, a perfect leader fit to bring them into their salvation. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.020 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same father. 00:08:52.560 --> 00:08:56.220 That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters 00:08:56.700 --> 00:09:01.230 for he said to God, I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. 00:09:01.680 --> 00:09:04.080 I will praise you among your assembled people. 00:09:04.935 --> 00:09:07.755 He also said, I will put my trust in him. 00:09:08.265 --> 00:09:11.535 That is I and the children God has given me. 00:09:12.675 --> 00:09:16.665 Because God's children are human beings made of flesh and blood. 00:09:17.055 --> 00:09:22.395 The son also became flesh and blood for only as a human being could he die. 00:09:22.935 --> 00:09:27.675 And only by dying could he break the power of the devil who had the power of death. 00:09:28.560 --> 00:09:32.400 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives 00:09:32.400 --> 00:09:34.260 as slaves to the fear of dying. 00:09:35.400 --> 00:09:38.070 We also know that the son did not come to help Angels. 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:40.740 He came to help the descendants of Abraham. 00:09:41.670 --> 00:09:45.900 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like 00:09:45.900 --> 00:09:50.310 us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and 00:09:50.310 --> 00:09:52.440 faithful high priest before God. 00:09:53.250 --> 00:09:57.390 Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 00:09:58.275 --> 00:10:02.445 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able 00:10:02.445 --> 00:10:04.455 to help us when we are being tested. 00:10:06.345 --> 00:10:09.195 This concludes today's Immer Reading experience. 00:10:09.315 --> 00:10:10.365 Thank you for joining us.