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Before Sunday

October 11, 2009

Proper 23

Psalm 90

Amos 5:6-7; 10-15

Hebrews 3:1-6

Mark 10:17-31

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son…” Hebrews 3:5-6a

The author of Hebrews encourages his readers, those “holy brothers… who share in a heavenly calling” to “consider Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). The author is building an argument for the supremacy of Jesus, first over the angels (chapters one and two) and now over Moses (chapter 3). This consistent and clear affirmation of the unique supremacy of Jesus Christ is not only the hallmark of the epistle to the Hebrews, but also the hallmark of the entire New Testament. Such an affirmation was not made in a culture where there were no competing religions. The first century world of the Roman Empire was rife with myths, cults, spiritual traditions, and all sorts of religious worship, all clamoring for the attention of the would-be disciple. Nevertheless, this clear and compelling proclamation of the supremacy of Christ came through the early Christians with power.

And yet today, many are fascinated with a “new” understanding of Jesus, one that alleges to “expand” and “broaden” the Gospel message. In his work, The Future of Christology, Roger Haight expresses his delight in this new understanding:

The new conception, should it arise, would not subtract from Jesus, but would allow Christians to imagine other religious mediations as potentially on the level of Jesus. In effect, this new understanding would be saying that we Christians, through Jesus, have learned about what God is doing in the whole world through various religions (page 193).

First, such a conception is not at all “new”. It was squarely in the face of the author of Hebrews, and has constantly challenged the Body of Christ throughout the ages. What is unique, however, is the capitulation of Christian scholarship to this form of syncretism, claiming it to be a positive and helpful development in Christianity, though Holy Scripture consistently denounces it and Church history reveals it to be a dagger in the heart of the Gospel in any generation that embraces it.

Second, it does indeed leave much to the imagination. Christians may now “imagine” how other religions relate to and compare with Christianity. Instead of putting forth the truth claims of Christianity and comparing them historically and logically with the truth claims of other religions, all is melded into one religious stew. I dare say that a faithful Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, or Moslem would be equally offended at such an arrogant mis-representation of their faith!

Third and finally, it simply does not present us with the true Gospel. The Jesus that is “one among many” is simply not the Jesus of the Gospels, where He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) It is not the Jesus of the apostolic preaching of Acts, where “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is not the Jesus of St. Paul, who boldly claims, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

So we find the author of Hebrews describing Moses as a faithful servant “in” God’s house, but Jesus as “over” God’s house through His unique status as Son.

It is not simply enough to acknowledge such a truth. The demons do the same, but tremble (James 2:19). This understanding of the supremacy and uniqueness of Jesus must capture our hearts, impassion our souls, and fill us with love and gratitude. What an amazing Savior! What a glorious Lord! As we prepare for worship this Sunday, may our hearts be filled with thanksgiving for who Jesus is – the one and only Son of the living God, who alone can take away our sin, dispel our fear, and heal our brokenness. – Marc Robertson

A Prayer

Almighty God, who sent Your only-begotten Son to be the sole provision for our salvation, place in our hearts such a spirit of thankfulness and praise for this gift, that in entering Your house for worship, we may find our joy multiplied by all the many benefits provided us through Your most gracious Son, Jesus Christ. In whose Name we pray. Amen.