Consider
Jesus the Apostle and High Priest
The keynote to the Epistle to
the Hebrews is “consider Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Messiah.” It admonishes us to set our heart on Him.
"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the
Apostle and High Priest of our confession" (Hebrews 3:1).
The word “consider” (katanoeo)
literally means, “to direct one’s whole mind to an object,” to immerse
oneself in it and hence to apprehend it in its whole compass” (TDNT).
In order to grow spiritually, we must
fix our mind on Christ. It is imperative that
we consider carefully and understand fully the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The word “consider” is
formed from the root of the Latin word for “star” and originally means to
contemplate with the idea of a quiet, patient, persevering concentrated gazing in order to
study the stars.
The writer of Hebrews admonishes his
readers to gaze upon Jesus and contemplate Him, therefore increasing our knowledge,
devotion, and faith in Him. What does he
wish for us to “consider?”
He wants us to see the significance
and thoroughly weigh the evidence of Christ’s superiority over the prophets, angels,
and the patriarchs of Israel. Because of the
greatness of His person, the effectiveness of His redemptive work will be pleasing to God
the Father.
The writer of Hebrews is addressing
Christians calling them “holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling” (v.1).
Believers in Jesus Christ are saints. We are “holy brethren” in our standing
with God because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are holy in Christ. It is
Jesus who makes us holy. The word “holy” in this verse is emphasizing our
position in salvation. We have been “set
apart for God.” Christian believers are
saints, set apart ones. Sainthood does not
take place in some distant future. The
believer is already a saint because He is “in Christ.” This perfect standing with God should be the
greatest incentive to make every effort to live a godly life before Him (Phil. 3:14).
He has made a perfect propitiation for
the sins of His people (1 John 2:21; 4:10). The
believer is holy because God has made him so (Heb. 2:11).
We “share in the heavenly calling” because God “is bringing
“us” to glory” (2:10). We
share in Jesus Christ (Heb.3: 14; Eph. 5:30). We
are “partakers of a heavenly calling” (Heb. 4:14; 10:23). “The call comes from heaven and is to heaven
in its appeal,” says A. T. Robertson.
Jesus Christ is both “The Apostle
and High Priest” of Christians.
Jesus is “The Apostle”
because He was sent by God the Father to be His spokesman and revealer (Heb. 1:1-3; Jn.
3:17, 34; 5:36, 38; 6:29; 8:42; 10:36; 11:42; 13:3; Matt. 17:5; Deut. 18:15, 18). Because He is God’s ambassador, we need to
consider carefully and fully understand what He has revealed to us about a right
relationship with God.
Jesus is also our great High Priest
(Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14). He represents God
before men and man before a holy God. “As
an apostle, He is close to me; as Priest, He is close to God.” “God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself” (2Cor. 5:19).
Christianity is Christ. Therefore it behooves us to contemplate and
meditate on Him. Lord Jesus, will I see you
today?
The Lord is not ashamed
to call us His brethren (Heb. 2: 12). May we
never be afraid or embarrassed to call Him our Lord and Master (Matt. 10:32-33).
God has done something marvelous for
sinners. Because of our vital union with
Christ, He has imputed to us His righteousness. We
are partakers of the heavenly calling. “What
He has, we have. Where He is, we are. He is the Holy One of God; therefore, we are holy.
He has been made higher than the heavens; therefore, we are partakers of the heavenly
calling.”
No passing glance of Christ will do. Understand and learn the lesson that God wants to
teach you. “Consider attentively and
thoughtfully the Apostle and High Priest of our confession Jesus” (Wuest Expanded
Translation).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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