We can rely on Jesus as the faithful landlord who manages the home in which we reside. This world is a place ideally suited for the kinds of creatures we are. There’s no reason to doubt that our experience of life goes on after our death in a home that is also designed by our creator to suit the kind of creatures God has made us to be.
Jesus is Claimed to be Fabricator and Furnisher (3:3–4)
In early Jewish teaching, Moses was highly praised and honored. The following text from the extra-biblical book titled Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) is typical of the great acclaim accorded to Moses.
From his descendants the Lord brought forth a godly man, who found favor in the sight of all and was beloved by God and people, Moses, whose memory is blessed. He made him equal in glory to the holy ones, and made him great, to the terror of his enemies. By his words he performed swift miracles; the Lord glorified him in the presence of kings. He gave him commandments for his people, and revealed to him his glory. For his faithfulness and meekness he consecrated him, choosing him out of all humankind. He allowed him to hear his voice, and led him into the dark cloud, and gave him the commandments face to face, the law of life and knowledge, so that he might teach Jacob the covenant, and Israel his decrees. (Sirach 44:23b—45:5)
Hebrews claims that Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses (3:3). There are several senses of the word “house” in this passage. The word house could refer to the structure in which someone lived, even if that is a tent, perhaps equivalent to our terms “house” and “home.” It could also refer to a family group, a tribe of people, as in the expression, “the house of Jacob,” or “the house of David.” There’s also the expression “house of God,” which was a way to refer, first, to the tabernacle—the portable tent for worshipping God as nomads—and, secondly, to the temple in Jerusalem. Finally, it could refer to the church (1 Tim 3:15; 1 Pet 2:5 ; 4:17). Jesus is worth more glory than Moses to the same extent that the builder of a house is honored over the house.
A few years ago I listened in on a discussion about the basketball abilities of Michael Jordan. These two older guys were talking about the superhuman feats Jordan could accomplish, for which he rightly has been called Air Jordan. But what they were saying was that Jordan was able to run down the basketball court, jump, hang in the air, and do a slam-dunk—and make that leap from half-court line. The younger kids in the room were trying to correct them that Jordan jumped from the free-throw line, but they insisted it was from half-court. Moses was like Michael Jordan for the Jews. His feats became legendary and came to be glorified as superhuman. Yet, you could have Michael Jordan and Moses in the gym, but when Jesus enters, it’s Jesus’ “house”. Hebrews is saying, as great as Moses was, Jesus is worthy of even greater glory and honor.
Jesus is Comparatively Greater as the Son of the Founder (3:5–6)
Once again in these verses we have the grammatical construction that signals comparison: “Moses, on the one hand, was faithful as a servant. Christ, on the other hand, as a son.” Notice that comparison functions by praising the person or object to be compared. Then the comparison is made by showing how the other person or object is even greater. What that means is, Hebrews doesn’t denigrate what God did through Moses. But the author does praise Jesus by saying, as great as Moses was, Jesus is even greater. Hebrews makes the comparison that Moses is described as a servant, someone who is a mere attendant to religious ceremony. Jesus is also faithful like Moses, but he is faithful as God’s son.
Here the analogy subtly changes and the followers of Jesus become the house. Notice the conditional statement: “We are his house, if we should hold firm.” The main idea in Hebrews is that the early people of salvation history often did not hold fast, they did not possess the inheritance they were given, they did not enter the rest promised to them—because of unfaithfulness and disobedience. Hebrews says, there’s no guarantee here for you. Don’t be like them. You need to hold tight, give firm allegiance to Christ, don’t give up.
Suann used to work for a family business. It was a business started by a woman who was passing the business on to her very capable daughter. The son in the family was a nice guy, probably quite intelligent, but he wasn’t the front office person. He handled the finances and payroll behind the scenes. I got the benefit of going along with Suann to the annual Christmas party, which was always at a posh restaurant around Providence, RI. It was interesting to watch the family interact with the employees. Even though the son had what seems to have been a minor role in the family business and perhaps a lower spot on the organizational chart, you knew that he enjoyed a higher status than heads of departments. I enjoyed talking with him about the interests we shared. But the point is this. A son, who has a small part in the family business, has greater influence than the hired employees. In the same way, Jesus, God’s son, has a greater role in God’s unfolding of salvation history than God’s servants.
We miss the point, however, if we only think of Hebrews as elevating Christianity above Judaism. That’s not the point at all. The point is, humans have a poor track record for living faithfully to God. That includes religious people of past centuries. Now we have our own generation to think about. Will future generations look at us and think, “They really dropped the ball in their generation. That was the time when Christians became a minority, when the Bible became an antiquarian curiosity, when people of faith allowed or contributed to violence in the world, when people searched inwardly for meaning and only found an imperfect self.” We must hold tight not just to tradition for the sake of tradition but to the reality of God’s work in the world, that work that brings hope to the human heart.
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When we, as residents of a heavenly home, think about the role of Jesus being like that of Moses, God’s faithful prophet, we realize that Jesus is to be honored even greater than Moses. Jesus is like the architect of the heavenly house and is more than a servant like Moses. Jesus is the Owner’s son and heir to the heavenly estate.
Building houses for poor people is a noble cause. Each one of us, however, works everyday building a house. It could truly by called a habitat for humanity. George Fox, in now famous words, described how we are to live in this world, as people who are leading the way to the heavenly call.
This is the word of the Lord God to you all, a charge to you all in the presence of the living God; be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your life and conduct may preach among all sorts of people, and to them. Then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one; whereby in them ye may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you: then to the Lord God you shall be a sweet savour, and a blessing.1
1. Fox, “Journal,” vol. 1 in Works, 289. Accessed: March 14, 2008. Online: http://dqc .esr.earlham.edu/toc/E12877488A-000.
Arriving at the Destination (3:7–11)
In any type of mission, voyage, or quest, loyalty to leadership is crucial if there is to be success. We’ve heard stories of sea voyages to distant lands. Day after day, the sailors get farther from their homes without knowing if they are getting closer to their destination. When supplies begin to run low and members of the crew begin to grow sick and even die, there begins the talk of mutiny. The crew loses confidence in the captain, and they want to turn back. The day finally comes when they can’t take it any more. They take over the ship, kill the captain, and turn to head for home. The tragedy is, of course, that the destination was within reach, and they aren’t able to survive the return trip home.
We can imagine the wagon trains that made their way west in those days of the American frontier. It must have been grueling, day after day, rattling across the prairie, winding through mountain passes, fording streams. In the morning, pack up the wagons and begin the day’s travel. Travel for a few hours, and then have to stop