I think I'll increase the frequency of posting back to near what I had it - since, upon some suggestions, I've slowed down, the level of interaction has dropped off. And since the point of it is for some dialogue, I'll resume posting 3-5x/week and see if that helps us out:)
For today's NIV reading, click here: Hebrews 2:10-18
Several suggestions as you read this: look for the meaning attached to Jesus' suffering and death. What about this particular passage helps us understand why His death was important, necessary and helpful; what did it accomplish or enable? What did it do to/for Jesus' role as a priest?
Also notice the amazing ways our relationship to Jesus is described...phenomenal!
Your thoughts...
1.29.2011
1.21.2011
Hebrews 2:5-9
It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8 and put everything under their feet.”
In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (NIV 2010)
Here we glimpse the tension between God's will/plan which has been promised and begun, but has not fully happened...yet! Specifically, the author reflects on Psalm 8 to remind us that God's plan is for the world to be led according to God's will through His people (we should probably think of passages like Genesis 1:26-31 as well as Psalm 8). The tension comes when they and we realize that isn't really the case right now. It may be partially true, but there is injustice, falsehood, poverty, violence, slander, hate, evil, etc. So...Hebrews 2:8!
There is good news however, even now: though we don't see things already fully played out as God promised they would be, we see Jesus who went through His own time of injustice, evil, etc. but now has been raised, is crowned and has experienced God's victory and sits now ruling over creation until God's plan is accomplished fully (the timing of which only the Father knows). Victory has come in part and is promised to come in full. As my daughter says, that's when God will 'unbury us for the party.'
Your thoughts on this passage and what it means...
Matt
a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8 and put everything under their feet.”
In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (NIV 2010)
Here we glimpse the tension between God's will/plan which has been promised and begun, but has not fully happened...yet! Specifically, the author reflects on Psalm 8 to remind us that God's plan is for the world to be led according to God's will through His people (we should probably think of passages like Genesis 1:26-31 as well as Psalm 8). The tension comes when they and we realize that isn't really the case right now. It may be partially true, but there is injustice, falsehood, poverty, violence, slander, hate, evil, etc. So...Hebrews 2:8!
There is good news however, even now: though we don't see things already fully played out as God promised they would be, we see Jesus who went through His own time of injustice, evil, etc. but now has been raised, is crowned and has experienced God's victory and sits now ruling over creation until God's plan is accomplished fully (the timing of which only the Father knows). Victory has come in part and is promised to come in full. As my daughter says, that's when God will 'unbury us for the party.'
Your thoughts on this passage and what it means...
Matt
1.06.2011
Hebrews 2:1-4
1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (NIV)
So, we've had some time off. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year (especially Christmas). Back to this letter/homily.
Hebrews 2:1-4 is the first of many small (though they grow in length as the letter moves along) passages of encouragement and instruction. Here, the author prods, pushes us, even demands us to pay 'careful attention' to what we have heard God speak to us in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Since Jesus is supremely God's Word, far better than anything ever heard (though it continues and fulfills what God has spoken before), it must be taken seriously. Notice that our tendencies to 'drift away' are a result of not 'paying attention' to this Word. In some ways, we could say that every conceivable weakness in the church can be traced back to this...do each/every one of us pay 'careful attention' to Jesus? This is far, far more relevant than a WWJD sort of thinking, which puts the emphasis on what we think Jesus would do. This is about an active, living, consistent and humble relationship of listening to Jesus who is raised, living and ruling. How do you (or not) do this? What works? What doesn't? What's frustrating? What's fruitful? What's joyful?
Your thoughts, questions, etc.
So, we've had some time off. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year (especially Christmas). Back to this letter/homily.
Hebrews 2:1-4 is the first of many small (though they grow in length as the letter moves along) passages of encouragement and instruction. Here, the author prods, pushes us, even demands us to pay 'careful attention' to what we have heard God speak to us in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Since Jesus is supremely God's Word, far better than anything ever heard (though it continues and fulfills what God has spoken before), it must be taken seriously. Notice that our tendencies to 'drift away' are a result of not 'paying attention' to this Word. In some ways, we could say that every conceivable weakness in the church can be traced back to this...do each/every one of us pay 'careful attention' to Jesus? This is far, far more relevant than a WWJD sort of thinking, which puts the emphasis on what we think Jesus would do. This is about an active, living, consistent and humble relationship of listening to Jesus who is raised, living and ruling. How do you (or not) do this? What works? What doesn't? What's frustrating? What's fruitful? What's joyful?
Your thoughts, questions, etc.
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