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"No Shortcuts" by Duane Brush
Hebrews 5:1 For every cohen gadol taken from among men is appointed to act on people’s behalf with regard to things concerning God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and with those who go astray, since he too is subject to weakness. 3 Also, because of this weakness, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor upon himself, rather, he is called by God, just as Aharon was.
5 So neither did the Messiah glorify himself to become cohen gadol; rather, it was the One who said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”[Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7]
6 Also, as he says in another place,
“You are a cohen forever,
to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.”[Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4]
7 During Yeshua’s life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions, crying aloud and shedding tears, to the One who had the power to deliver him from death; and he was heard because of his godliness. 8 Even though he was the Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings. 9 And after he had been brought to the goal, he became the source of eternal deliverance to all who obey him, 10 since he had been proclaimed by God as a cohen gadol to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.
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There is an interesting verse at the end of Luke 2 that says: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52, emphasis added). Jesus grew; He fully embraced His humanity. He became like us, even accepting the limitations and restrictions of our physical being.
“Growth” describes a progression from childhood to maturity. The writer of Hebrews expressed it this way, “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (5:8-9, emphasis added). Learning, like growth, is also a process. Jesus’ suffering was instructive; it uniquely qualified Him to make atonement for our sins and secure forgiveness and the hope of eternal life for all who trust in Him.
Jesus is both the “Son of God” and “Son of Man,” the "God-Man." As such, there is no one else so qualified to secure our redemption, to be our ultimate High Priest before the heavenly Father. It was a hard road to Calvary, but there could be no shortcuts on the road of salvation.
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Hymn for Today: "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" by Charles Wesley
1. Hark, how all the welkin rings,
“Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
2. Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say,
“Christ the Lord is born to-day!”
3. Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d,
Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!
4. Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus! Our Immanuel here!
5. Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
6. Mild He lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth.
7. Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
8. Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.
9. Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;
Stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.
10. Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the life, the inner Man:
O! to all thyself impart,
Form’d in each believing heart.
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Thought of the Day: Philippians 2:8 he humbled himself still more
by becoming obedient even to death —
death on a stake as a criminal!
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Please Pray: For developing Christian leaders in Costa Rica.
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by becoming obedient even to death —
death on a stake as a criminal!
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Please Pray: For developing Christian leaders in Costa Rica.
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