Brought Again From the Dead Hebrews 13:20-21 Dan Brooks, Pastor Sunday Morning, April 5, 2015

Transcription

1 Brought Again From the Dead Hebrews 13:20-21 Dan Brooks, Pastor Sunday Morning, April 5, 2015 INTRODUCTION: Are we crazy? Have we lost our minds that we would assemble of our own free will on a morning like this and sing about eternal life and hope that is dawning, of a God who is making all things new through a man we call Jesus who supposedly is God come in flesh. Death and destruction lie all around us. Every day the reports stream in from around the world that people are exploiting one another, nations and ethnic groups and religious factions waging war against each other. Humankind seems intent on destroying itself. There is no peace. But here we are celebrating. Wearing our Easter outfits, probably got baskets at home with fake green grass and brightly colored eggs and chocolate bunnies. We just might be crazy. If that s all our celebration was about and amounted to, I would agree. And in truth, eggs and bunnies have nothing to do with the real meaning and substance of this day. Just a little under 2,000 years ago, a group of Hebrew Christians were being persecuted for their faith. The pressure on them to abandon their faith was so great, that God inspired an author whom we do not know to write a letter of hope, of encouragement, of exhortation lest they lose their faith and their way. He pointed them directly to Jesus. He reminded them that Jesus is superior to angels, to the great lawgiver Moses, to the high priests who had served Israel through the ages, and even to any other sacrifice offered for the sins of the people. Jesus the Christ is God s final and definitive word of revelation. For 13 chapters the Letter to the Hebrews rolls through the saving work of Christ describing how He shed His blood as the once-for-all sacrifice, dying on the cross, never to die again, in order that sinful people like us from the ages, from the nations, from every tribe and ethnic group, household and family might be saved. That our guilt-ridden, sin-laden consciences might be cleansed from dead works in order that we might know and serve the living God. Jesus saves! But this life-giving, life-changing truth does not bring to an end the present death and destruction of this age. And so the writer of Hebrews finishes with this prayer. Heb 13: Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I. A prayer of hope grounded in peace of God. A. Peace: (εἰρήνη) harmony, tranquility 1. meaning health, welfare, prosperity, every kind of good 1 B. The God of peace: He is the author and giver of peace, the author and giver of harmony and tranquility. 1. Only He has the power to put our world in its proper order. 2. We observed such violence three days ago! a. The wrath of God poured out upon the Son for the sins of the world! (1 John 2:2) b. It pleased the Lord to crush Him! (Isa 53:10) 3. He doesn t seem like a God of peace. 1 Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

2 P a g e 2 4. But on this day, the day of resurrection, God s righteous anger against our sin is spent. Jesus took it all and God is satisfied. The horrific sentence of death that hung over our heads for our sins has been pronounced and carried out on Jesus Christ. 5. And because God is just and the justifier of those who believe, we are pardoned of all, and declared to be righteous in the sight of Almighty God. 6. Ro 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 7. Out of this legal declaration of righteousness flows an eternal peace. 8. Because God is no longer hostile toward us He now bestows every kind of good, all that is necessary for lives of godliness and holiness. C. There is no peace with God apart from Jesus Christ. *This God of peace has acted powerfully for another purpose. II. A prayer of hope grounded in the power of God. A. His power is displayed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. B. A purpose is displayed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1. Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus a. Brought: (ἀνάγω) to lead, to carry, to take up b. In the Torah it is the terminology of God s redemption of Israel. 1) Ex 20:1 2 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 2) Dt 5:6 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. c. In the Psalms it is the terminology of God s rescue of the dying. 1) Ps 30:3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 2) Ps 86:13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 3) See also Ps 71:20 d. In the Prophets it is the terminology of God s special leadership. 1) Is 63: Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit, 12 who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, 13 who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. 14 Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. e. So in Heb 13:20 the God of peace is portrayed as the One who personally leads our Lord Jesus out of the realm of the dead. f. Wouldn t you have loved to see that! g. God the Father turned His back on His one-of-a-kind Son three days earlier as He hung naked and bleeding on the cross bearing our sin. h. But on this resurrection morning, God leads Him forth from the grave, triumphantly, victoriously, exultantly, and personally. 2. The Great Shepherd of the sheep a. In Isa 63 there is a reference to Moses who has been appointed by God as shepherd over Israel being led by God.

3 P a g e 3 b. According to Isa 63:11 14 he was led forth not as an isolated individual but as the shepherd of the flock. The entire people are specified as the object of God s leading. This is true of Jesus as well, who was led forth from the realm of the dead. Through him God has begun to lead his flock in order to make a glorious name for himself. That action will be complete when the flock of God is brought to an experience of celebrative rest (cf. Isa 63:14 LXX; Heb 2:10; 4:9). 2 c. Point: The fact that God brought again from the dead the Great Shepherd is an indication that He will also bring again all of His sheep. When we see Jesus emerging from the grave, it is God s signal that He is beginning the work of leading the entire flock of His people to eternal rest and glory! 3. Application: a. We wonder, don t we, if we will actually make it. We wonder, Who will intervene? b. Did you see the obituary that went viral this past week? Emily Phillips was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February. Her obituary begins with these words: It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day, but that s simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience. c. So... I was born; I blinked; and it was over. No buildings named after me; no monuments erected in my honor. But I DID have the chance to know and love each and every friend as well as all my family members. How much more blessed can a person be?... So in the end, remember... do your best, follow your arrow, and make something amazing out of your life. Oh, and never stop smiling. d. I went to the Florida Times Union to read the full obituary. What is conspicuously absent is any mention of heaven or eternal life, of spiritual realities, of God, or of Jesus Christ or the Good Shepherd or a resurrection. e. As it did in Emily Phillips home, so we ve seen cancer work its woe here. f. We ve seen disease of all kinds take our loved ones right out of our midst. g. We watch the horrific reports coming out of the Middle East where our brothers and sisters who name Jesus Christ as their Lord are mercilessly hewn down, beheaded for the testimony of Christ. h. Here we are in the relative comfort and security of this place still feeling our exposure! i. While many in this world think that we are the ones who have lost their minds, we re banking our eternal destinies on God s purposes and promises. j. This verse is part of the reason why! 4. The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates God s decisive intervention by which he acknowledged and ratified the cross of Christ as the means of the redemption of the human family There is no other name under heaven given among mankind whereby we might be saved! C. How did God bring out this Great Shepherd? 1. By the blood of the eternal covenant 2. covenant a. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. b. The terms of this covenant are recorded back in Hebrews 8:6-12 which is a quotation of Jeremiah 31:31-34 c. Je 31:31 34 (p. 660) 31 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my 2 William L. Lane, Hebrews 9 13, vol. 47B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), William L. Lane, Hebrews 9 13, vol. 47B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 561.

4 P a g e 4 covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. d. It is an agreement that the Lord will do 3 things: 1) Transform the hearts of His people. 2) Enter into a special relationship with His people. 3) Forgive the sins of His people. 3. Eternal covenant a. So it is a forever forgiveness, a forever transformation, a forever relationship with God. b. But the covenant only goes into force as one thing takes place. 4. By the blood a. by virtue of the blood b. Jesus death by shedding His blood on the cross was a covenant sacrifice. c. The blood was shed to secure the terms of the covenant forever. d. Zec 9:11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. D. Point: by virtue of this shed blood, God is bringing up from the dead the Great Shepherd in order that millions of others would not be left in their graves for all eternity. E. So there is something God has done in the past that has a present implication. III. A prayer of hope founded on the purpose of God. *Note: This is the purpose of the eternal covenant. A. God equips His people with everything good. 1. Equip: (καταρτίζω) The fundamental meaning is to put a thing in its appropriate condition, to establish, set up, equip, arrange, prepare, mend Everything good has reference to the gifts of God as the prerequisite for godly action Heb 2: [salvation] was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 4. Heb 13:9 it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace 5. Because God brought up from the dead Jesus our Lord, He now works in such a way that we are provided with everything good (παντὶ ἀγαθῷ). 6. Point: This means that we individually and corporately lack nothing that is necessary for life as God intended. B. God equips His people that they may do his will. 1. That you may do his will: (θέλημα) His desire 2. He isn t equipping you so that you can live your life as you choose, but rather that you can walk in faith, in obedience, and in submission to Him. C. God accomplishes His pleasure in His people. 1. Working in us that which is pleasing in his sight a. Pleasing: (εὐάρεστος) what is delightfully acceptable to Him. 1) It is my opinion that what is pleasing in his sight is equal to his will. 4 Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000). 5 William L. Lane, Hebrews 9 13, vol. 47B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 564.

5 P a g e 5 2) Ro 12:2 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable (εὐάρεστον) and perfect. b. The God of peace is at work in this assembly accomplishing what is pleasing to Him. c. It may not always look like it. There are things that we struggle to understand, that we struggle to overcome. There is doubt, there is often uncertainty, there is fear, but beloved of God, He is at work accomplishing all those things that He has purposed and that bring Him pleasure! d. Your salvation and deliverance from sin, your sanctification and progress over and out of sin, your peace, your blessing, your lasting joy, your eternal rest and everlasting reward are all bound up in these things that pleasure Him. D. God works through Jesus Christ. 1. Christ is the mediator of the grace and power of God as he shepherds this new covenant community! 2. Through His power to uphold the universe (1:3) 3. Through His blood that is saving us and cleansing us. 4. Through His eternal priesthood (6:20; 7:17) 5. Through His indestructible life (7:16) 6. This is why we are always looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (12:2). IV. A PRAYER OF HOPE REJOICING IN THE GLORY OF GOD. A. To whom be glory forever and ever 1. This resurrection, this promise, this purpose so overwhelms our hearts, that we like the author of this letter, say, You deserve all the honor we could give to you. And we never want to stop honoring You! 2. We were dead in our sins, but now we are alive! 3. Heb 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. 4. Heb 13: For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. V. CONCLUSION A. So we re not crazy and we haven t lost our minds. B. We ve founded our hope on the sure promises of God. C. We ve considered the testimony of the Word of God. We ve examined what it means that God brought again from the dead Jesus our Lord. D. We ve considered the alternatives that put all the pressure of salvation and securing life after death on us and we choose the way of faith and grace. E. The God of the Christian Bible who created us has intervened in our dark and sinful world through His Son, raising Him from the dead, securing the terms of the covenant through His blood.