I am venturing into the the world of podcasts, and I would like to share my first one here. Ok, its not quite as professional as I want it to be, but I needed to get my feet wet and test the waters. The content is what’s most important to me, but fine tuning it is also important. I will be working on getting better sound and so forth. If you’d like to follow my podcasts, you can through Spotify. I have also added a Podcast link in the Header of my page. I’d also appreciate any feedback on the context.

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/s010EPqxJBb

The main emphasis of the book of Hebrews is the High Priestly ministry of Jesus.
The words priest/priests appear a combined 34 times in the epistle, which is more than any other New Testament book, even more than any of the gospels which speak often of the priests who opposed Jesus.

Hebrews is very much the New Testament counterpart to the Old Testament book of Leviticus, where priest & priests are mentioned a whopping 155 times combined.

Though the main emphasis Hebrews is Jesus’s priesthood, there are other themes that are woven throughout the epistle, and often these themes lead back to an emphasis on Jesus’s High Priestly ministry. One such theme is the new creation. At the outset of the book of Hebrews, we find that Jesus, the Son of God, is also the creator of all things.

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. ~ Hebrews 1:10.

Not only is Jesus the creator of the physical cosmos as Hebrews 1:10 states, but he is also the one who has brought about new creation through his death and resurrection. The new creation is forever tied to Jesus’s priesthood because he has a Priesthood that will never end.

In Hebrews 3:1, Jesus is said to be the Apostle and the High Priest of our profession. In 12:2 he is the author and finisher of our faith. The words apostle and author are related to the truth of the new creation.

In chapter 2 the author of Hebrews mentions “the world to come, whereof we speak.”

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. ~ Hebrews 2:1-5

The word spoken by angels is a reference to the dispensation of the Law and the prophets, in which the angels were the mediators between God and man. Paul speaks of this mediation in his letter to the Galatians. 

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.  ~ Galatians 3:19

Christ is the promised seed mentioned by Paul in Galatians, and he is the mediator through whom God has now spoken to us, and whose mediations will continue forever in the world to come.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds… ~ Hebrews 1:1-2

Notice the reference to Jesus as being the heir of all things. That is new creation language. Jesus is both the one by whom God made the worlds and he is the heir of all things in the new creation. Consider the following from the book of Romans:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

God’s new creation in Christ has begun, and it has begun with us who believe the gospel. Our salvation from sin and becoming new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) is the first fruits of the new creation of the world to come. In chapter 6, the author of Hebrews mentions those who have tasted of the powers of the world to come.

We don’t fully grasp now what is in store for us who believe, but we can indeed taste it!

Consider the apostle John’s take on this: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. ~ 1 John 3:1-3

In Colossians Paul brings together Jesus’s glory in the cosmos creation, with Jesus’s redemptive work which brings about the new creation.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ~ Colossians 1:12-20 

In the forward of her book, Being God’s Image (authored by Carmen Joy Imes), J.Richard Middleton points out that the Bible affirms that this world we live in is good (though fallen), and that God intended to reclaim the world through the death and resurrection of Christ, to bring about a new creation- not just for believers (2 Corinthians 5:17), but for the entirety of heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1).

With this in mind let us consider Paul’s words in Romans 8 after he says were are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) ~ Romans 8:19-25 TNLT

In Ephesians, Paul says that we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. ~ See Ephesians 1:13-14

Notice that Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance (remember what we have read about inheritance so far). The word earnest comes from the Greek word, arrabón, and its usage is that of earnest-money, a large part of the payment, given in advance as a security that the whole will be paid afterwards.

I like that definition, but the one that really got me from another Greek source, was an engagement ring! Have you ever thought of the Holy Spirit as an engagement ring from Jesus as the promise of the eternal marriage we will have with him? Go ahead and say it with me, “GLORY!!!!!!”

Being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise in Ephesians, and being led of the Holy Spirit of God in Romans, are both said in view of the coming of God’s new world (i.e., the new creation) in which God is glorified, and righteousness will forever rule! And this theme is woven throughout the book of Hebrews, thus are to persevere in faith, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus in the presence of God is our hope of a glorious future, for we are his house (his household, his family forever) if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. ~ Hebrews 3:6

New creation has begun, and we have received the Holy Spirit who gives us a foretaste of the glory that is to be revealed in us when Christ returns.

Whereas in the creation of the physical cosmos, man (who was the crown of God’s creation) was created in God’s image on the 6th day, in redemption, Jesus, who is the exact image of God’s glory is the beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14). This does not mean that Jesus is created, but rather, new creation begins with him. The heavens and the earth is his creation, and the redemption of it is his as well, and thus there will be a new heavens and new earth even as we are now new creatures in Christ, and Christ in us is the foretaste of future glory for all God’s creation.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. ~ Matthew 7:15-23

This truly is a sobering section of scripture. When the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is surveyed, we find Jesus teaching on the things that truly matter such as putting away sins (symbolically described as cutting off your hand and plucking out your eye), praying to be seen by the Father and not by men, fasting unto God and not unto men, giving as unto the Lord and not to be seen by men, etc.

Jesus gives these examples of what true faith in God is really all about, and does so in contrast to the hypocrisy of appearing religious (or spiritual) before men. It is in this context of real faith in God, as opposed to religious hypocrisy that we read the warning against false prophets, whom Jesus describes as coming in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are devouring wolves.

In particular, Jesus points out the corrupt fruits of these false prophets. If we have listened to Jesus’s previous words in his sermon on the mount, it doesn’t take long to determine what the bad fruit of false prophets actually is. Their motive is hypocrisy, and they are seeking to be seen as men rather than God. They want to draw men to themselves rather than draw them to Christ. They are a tree of corruption, and they do not produce the fruit of a pure and meek disposition that seeks only to please God.

Jesus condemns their fruit by saying, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. ~ v 21-23

Now, it’s not really clear to me if Jesus is referring to those who follow false prophets, or if he is referring to the false prophets themselves, when he says, then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. I tend to think it applies to both. False prophets are self deceived, and those who follow them are deceived because they don’t consider their fruit as Jesus points out.

The claims of prophecy, casting out devils, and miraculous works is not spiritual fruit. False prophets deceive with these claims. Real fruit consists of our devotion to God and how we treat other people as the sermon of the mount repeatedly addresses. Although there will be some who claim to have done such exploits when they stand before Jesus, it will carry no weight. Only those who know him will enter the Kingdom of God.

The sad truth is, those who are deceived by false prophets will also attempt to prove they should enter God’s Kingdom because of these claims. Yet Jesus knows them who walk with him, and when we walk with Jesus’ prophecy, casting out demons, and the miraculous things pail in comparison to him. When Jesus is at the center, the heart will truly praise and rejoice in the Lord if a miracle happens. When our tree produces corrupt fruit, we boast in prophecy and miracles as if we are something. Therein lies the difference.

I find it interesting that in the two verses prior to the introduction to false prophets which come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are devouring wolves, Jesus says, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ~ v. 13-14 

Jesus himself is the straight gate and narrow way, and when we follow Jesus our devotion to God is sincere from the heart, and there is no boasting or self gratification in the spectacular exploits that false prophets pervert to deceive others with. However, when authentic exploits are experienced, those on the straight path will boast only in the Lord!

A common belief among some Christians is that the Old Testament saints went to a place in the regions of Hell, a placed reserved for the righteous after they died. I recently came across a video that was promoting this view. The person who had made the video said, “according to the Old Testament, everyone who died whether they were righteous or not went to Sheol, a place of darkness and stillness.”

Is this correct? No it is not!

According to the scriptures, Enoch was translated by God because he walked with God and pleased God, and Elijah (who did not die) was taken up into Heaven by a chariot of fire in a whirlwind ~ 2 Kings 2:11. When Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared together and talked with him regarding his crucifixion that was soon approaching.

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. ~ Luke 9:30-31

If we know that Elijah went to Heaven, and we do because the scriptures tell us so, it ought not be hard to understand that Moses also went to Heaven because Moses walked with God and was the one through whom God gave the law. Moses did not go back to the dark regions of the underworld after appearing with Elijah and talking with Jesus, because Moses was never there! Instead, Moses remained in the presence of God in Heaven, where he had been since his death. Moses was often in the presence of God while on earth, how much more was he after his death!

When Jesus gave the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was taken to hell and Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s bosom where he was comforted. Abraham was not in the torment, or flames, or darkness.

When Jesus was challenged by the Sadducees, who didn’t believe in the resurrection, Jesus told them, “as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” ~ Matthew 22:31-32

This infers that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all alive in the presence of God and not in some dark place in the underworld. When Abraham died, the Bible says Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. ~ Genesis 25:8

When Isaac died, the Bible says, Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. ~! Genesis ~ 35:29

When Jacob died, the Bible says, when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. ~ Genesis 49:33

There is no evidence anywhere in scripture that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were somewhere in the dark abode of the underworld from the time of their death until after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are always spoken of in view of God’s Kingdom and God’s covenant after their deaths. In response to the centurion’s faith in Matthew 8, Jesus declared that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. ~ v. 11

It makes no sense to think that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were in the dark regions of the underworld while their memory was being honored by Jesus and God. If Elijah made it into Heaven (and he did), we can be assured Abraham did as well, and so did Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, and all the saints that walked with God under the Old Testament.

We also have further evidence in the New Testament when the writer of Hebrews speaks of the faith of the Old Testament saints and refers to them as a great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 12:1. In chapter 11, the writer of Hebrews expounds on the faith of the Old Testament saints. Consider the following from Hebrews 11:

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. ~ Hebrews 11:8-16

Blessings…

John’s gospel places much more emphasis on Jesus’s personal (one on one) ministry. Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the synoptic gospels) tend to place emphasis on Jesus’s public preaching and teachings ministry, and his healings and miracles.

In fact, there are 37 references to preaching in the synoptic gospels. This includes the preaching by Jesus, John the Baptist and Jesus’s disciples. There is mention of preaching in the book of John. We do have references to Jesus teaching in all 4 gospels. Now, I would consider Jesus preaching in John 7, where we read, In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) ~ v.37-39

In my opinion, that was preaching, but John doesn’t use the word preach to describe it. Either way, my point is, John’s gospel is different in that it’s personal. For example, the emphasis of the synoptic gospels after the resurrection of Jesus is that his followers take the gospel to the nations, however, the emphasis in John, after the resurrection, is that we would know of a surety that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ~ John 20:30-31

Also. John has more emphasis on individuals seeking to know who Jesus is, or enquiring of him rather than crowds coming to hear Jesus preach/teach, and be healed by him as in the synoptic gospels.

In John 1 we have Nathanael encountering Jesus and saying, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel (v. 49). In John 2, we have Jesus attending a wedding and turning the water into wine. The scripture says, When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom (.9).

The servants knew ~ that’s the personal touch that John is emphasizing.

The individual relationship (i.e., the intimate knowledge of who Jesus is ) is one of the big themes in the book of John. All the gospels reveal that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and Lord of glory, but John shows it on a more intimate level. For example, in Matthew you get the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus addressed the multitude. In John you get Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night (John 3).

In John 4 Jesus sits and talks at the well with the woman of Samaria. In John 5, the man at the pool of Bethesda is healed. In John 6, Jesus teaches in such a way that it drives away those who are not committed.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life ~ (v .66-68).

I could go on, but I hope you get the picture. The beauty of the gospel of John is that is more of an intimate gospel in which we come face to face with the God in the flesh!