Think Carefully About This Jesus

In one paragraph

Pastor Blake preached through Hebrews 3:1-6, asking the congregation to consider Jesus carefully and completely, and showing why that matters for anyone tempted to settle for less. The passage puts Jesus alongside Moses, the greatest figure in Hebrew history, and argues that Jesus surpasses him the way a builder surpasses the house he built. The sermon closed with communion, letting the...

Read together

1. Psalm 34 opened the service with 'taste and see that the Lord is good'
2. Psalm 42 quoted to illustrate worshiping through hills and valleys, 'why am I discouraged, why is my heart so sad, I will put my hope in God'
3. John 14:2 quoted before a song to remind the congregation that this life is temporary and our real home is with the Lord
4. Proverbs 3:5-6 quoted before a song, 'trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't lean on your own understanding'
5. Hebrews 2:10 part of the ramp-up context showing Jesus was perfected through sufferings as author of salvation
6. Hebrews 2:11-12 Jesus who sanctifies and those sanctified are from one Father; He is not ashamed to call them brothers, with reference to Psalm 22
7. Psalm 22 cited as the source of 'I will proclaim your name to my brethren in the midst of the congregation'
8. Isaiah 8:17 cited as the source of 'I will put my trust in him'
9. Isaiah 8:18 cited as the source of 'behold, I and the children whom God has given me'
10. Hebrews 2:14-15 Jesus partook of flesh and blood so that through death He might render powerless the devil and free those enslaved by fear of death
11. Hebrews 2:16-18 Jesus did not help angels but descendants of Abraham, had to be made like His brethren to become a merciful and faithful high priest and make propitiation
12. Hebrews 3:1-6 the main passage preached, comparing Jesus and Moses and calling believers to consider Jesus the apostle and high priest
13. Numbers 12:5-8 God speaks from the pillar of cloud declaring Moses faithful in all His house, speaking mouth to mouth with him, used to show how highly Moses was regarded
14. Deuteronomy 18 Moses told the people to look for a prophet like himself, cited to show Moses knew his own unique standing
15. Matthew 16:13-18 Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus says upon this rock He will build His church

Talk about it

1. Blake read from Numbers 12 where God says of Moses, 'Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my household. With him I speak mouth to mouth.' Given how highly God spoke of Moses, what does it mean to you personally that Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses?
2. Blake said the Greek word translated 'consider' means to think all the way through to a definite conclusion, not just a passing thought. What does it look like in practice to consider Jesus that thoroughly and decisively in your daily life?
3. Blake described the apostle and high priest as two perspectives on the same person: Jesus brings the message from God to us, and Jesus makes a way for us to God. Which of those two roles do you find yourself leaning on most, and why?
4. Blake used the story of his brother being chased off his grandfather's land to illustrate the difference between a servant in the house and a son of the owner. How does that picture change the way you think about your own standing before God?
5. The passage ends with a big if: 'if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.' Blake said the writer of Hebrews is urging people not to drift back to what felt familiar or right before. What are the things that most tempt you to drift, and how does fixing your attention on Jesus help you hold fast?