The 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem had not yet taken place, but if the dating of Hebrews is 64-68 AD, then annihilation was nearer than any of them realized. The time to be renewed in their faith was immediate! If that was true then, it is even truer today for us and for America – and it is likely nearer than any of us imagine. How will any of us escape?
Go to My brothers and tell them. Those words are found in the 17th verse in the 20th chapter of John’s Gospel, and a case could be made that they are as significant as any other part of resurrection story. Many of us probably don’t recognize those words as belonging to the resurrection event much less see them as hugely significant. Yet, they are, and they are meant for each of us personally.
Did Jesus really suffer? If Jesus really suffered, was His suffering necessary? If Jesus really suffered, and His suffering was necessary, what does that mean to you? Get ready to be surprised.
If you were a Jew attempting to persuade Jewish Christians to come back to the Temple, and your appeal to the advantage of the prophets failed to do so, then the angels as intermediaries between God and Moses just might convince them to leave Christianity behind. If you were writing this letter, how would you convince them to remain faithful? As it happens, this is a terrific expose’ on apologetics and the identity of Christ.
William R. Newell wrote: Here at the beginning let us bow our whole being at this word, “God.” God has spoken! If God has not spoken then we are fools for trusting a lie. The question is not, Has God spoken, but rather, “How” has God spoken? Does He speak today as He spoke in the past, or does He speak in new ways through new personalities? Our eternal lives depend on the answer.
We can all be hall of famers. We can all reach a plateau where we join the great host of witnesses both to the pagan world and to Christendom. I don’t know about you, but I had much rather be in the hall of fame than the hall of shame. Get to know the players who will help you reach Hall of Fame status.