A Hope-Inspiring Vision

Hebrews #11: an exposition of Hebrews 5:1-10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 22, 2014.

Intro:
There is nothing worse, nothing more depressing or soul-crushing than the loss of hope.  If there is hope then you can endure most anything.  As long as there is a light at the end of the tunnel you can press on.  The small struggling band of believers in Rome where huddled around the dying embers of their once vibrant hope.  They came to faith with great enthusiasm believing that Jesus was indeed the Christ and that a new day was dawning.  After multiple setbacks, after the sting of family rejection and state sponsored persecution hope was all but gone.  Many had in fact walked away from the faith.  Others were close to doing the same.  Maybe they were wrong.  Maybe Jesus wasn’t the Christ.  Maybe the rabbi was right.  All they knew for certain was this is not what they thought it would be.  In the rush of new-found faith they flourished.  Their hearts were full, their confidence undaunted; but, over time confidence waned.  Their hearts became burdened and their faith was failing.  With love, patience and yet firmness the writer of Hebrews pleaded with them to remain faithful.  Having warned them of the peril of unbelief and the need for whole-hearted trust the writer pointed them again to Jesus, God’s final and ultimate revelation.  Our text this morning is found in Hebrews chapter 5 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Hebrews 5:1-10

Life in this fallen, broken world is a struggle.
Being a child of God doesn’t change that.
There are times of great struggle and intense trial.
Yes, there are days of sunshine and joy but also periods of dark clouds and heartache.
This world is not our home.
This is an alien environment.
We are pilgrims here our home is elsewhere!

The biblical writer, steeped in Old Testament theology and symbols, pointed the struggling congregation toward a very familiar image.  He pointed them to the High Priest.  It was an impressive sight.  Once a year, the Day of Atonement, the High Priest in all his finery with great pomp and ceremony took the blood of the lamb and entered behind the veil into the presence of God.  There he stood as the people’s representative and offered sacrifice for the sins of the nation.  Through that act the sins of the people were “covered” for one year.  It was a high and holy day.

Exodus 28 prescribes the garments to be worn by the Priest.  Garments filled with spiritual significance.  He first donned a linen tunic.  Over this was placed a blue robe.  At the bottom of this robe were pomegranates woven from blue, purple and scarlet yarn.  Intermittently there were golden bells that rang with his every move.  A richly woven multicolored sash held the robe in place.  Next came the apron-like ephod, woven of golden threads, finely twisted linen, and blue, purple and scarlet yarns.  The shoulder pieces of the ephod each bore a large onyx stone, set in gold.  The names of the 12 tribes were engraved on the stones, 6 on one and 6 on the other.  Then fastened to the front of the ephod with golden chains was the breastplate.  The breastplate was a 9 inch square tapestry of gold, blue, purple, scarlet and linen that bore 4 rows of 3 stones, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes of Israel.  Finally the Priest was crowned with a turban of linen, bearing a plate of pure gold with the Hebrew inscription, “Holy to the LORD.”

More impressive than the sight of these priestly garments is the spiritual significance they declared.  The Priest entered the presence of God bearing the weight of Israel on his shoulders and carrying them near to his heart.  It was an inspiring sight.  A sight that buoyed and inspired the heart of every Jew but the writer of Hebrews points beyond that mere shadow to the reality behind it all.  He pointed to Christ, our great High Priest!

As we work our way through this text we are reminded of the fact that…

Thesis:  Hope, in times of great testing and severe trial, is found in Christ our sympathetic, delivering, uniquely qualified High Priest.

There are 2 things I want to call to your attention.

  1. In times of great stress you need a vision that inspires hope.  (5:1-4)
  2. The glory of Christ provides the ultimate hope-inspiring vision.  (5:5-10)

Conclusion:

  • Troubled, burdened, hope gone?  Look to Christ!
  • You faith almost gone?
  • You want to turn back?
  • Look to Christ your sympathetic, delivering, uniquely qualified High Priest.
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