What is your image of God? When I say “God,” what’s the first picture or image that comes to mind?
I had an interesting experience this week at the pantry. Kentucky is an unusual place theologically for me. In Minnesota, it’s easier. For the most part, everyone is either Lutheran or Roman Catholic. And, even if they’re no longer active or don’t attend a church, as you talk to people you still get a sense that the embedded theology - the belief systems that are deeply and almost unconsciously embedded - come from Catholic or Lutheran roots.
Kentucky is different. Here there is more of a hodge-podge of belief systems that come from the traditions of those who emigrated here - such as the Scotch-Irish, who were often Presbyterian. Or the German Lutheran. But, some of the belief systems here seem much more home grown. And that what I ran into this week.
As you know, we’ve been holding a healing service on Wednesday mornings before the start of pantry. In conversation with that group, we decided to add a simple service of holy communion once a month. This week was our first communion service. As it came time to distribute communion, I offered it to one of our pantry regulars and he refused. Which is completely his decision. But, after worship was concluded, he felt the need to explain, I think, his refusal to me. So, he mentioned that he’d grown up as a “hardscrabble Baptist.” A hard scrabble Baptist.
I came to learn that hardscrabble was not simply an adjective describing a tough Baptist life. But, instead, that this was a particular division in the Baptist church - at least according to him - that does not believe in the New Testament. Which explained why he refused communion. And the more we talked, the more I learned that hard scrabble Baptists believe that only the Old Testament, or the Hebrew scriptures, are valid because, as he said, they come from God. Whereas, the New Testament comes from man.
This was a new one for me. Thank you, Kentucky! However, as we spoke, I couldn’t help wondering what his image of God was. Because if one only believes in the God of the first testament - a God that appears to be a pretty angry and violent God (and I have thoughts on that to be shared another time). If he believes in the God of the first testament, what must his image of God be. And, connected with this, how does he find hope?
This is what the writer of Hebrews is up to. Now I haven’t preached the first two sermons in this series to you, so, my apologies if this is at all repetitive. But the community to which the letter to the Hebrews is written is an expatriate community of Greek or Hellenistic Jews. Far from home. Yet, still bound nostalgically to their native land and even to the sacrificial religious system that was still functioning in the temple. Not yet destroyed.
The challenge this Hebrew community of faith was facing was one of apathy. Longing for the religious system of their youth, their faith was becoming empty. People were drifting away. Their congregation was losing its sense of vitality. Gosh, have you ever experienced this?
So, the writer of Hebrews is trying to jump start their imagination. To provide them with different images of Christ. To get their imaginations going and, particularly, to expand their understanding of who Jesus was. And why Jesus mattered.
So, in the first week of our readings, we heard a “high” Christology. That sounded much like the Jesus of John’s gospel. That in former times, God spoke through the prophets. But, that in these times, in this new age, God speaks to us through God’s Son. God’s heir. God’s co-creator. Someone who is the exact imprint of who God is. So that, finally, we begin to truly understand the nature of God.
Then, in the second week, we heard a “lower” Christology. About Jesus as pioneer. Keeping with our Kentucky theme - Jesus as Daniel Boone. Paving the way for us. Going before us. Our brother. Our human brother. Who knows what it is like to live our life. To experience our joys. To weep with us in sadness. To understand us fully. Just as Israel’s high priest understood the Jewish people.
Do you see the skill of the writer? How he seeks to connect Jesus to the religious system the Hebrew community was nostalgic for. A system of sacrifices, led by a human high priest, called and appointed by God to make sacrifices on behalf of the people. Sacrifices that were to atone for the sins of the people.
It is this image - Jesus as high priest - that the writer to the Hebrews expands on in today’s lesson.
Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. -Hebrews 4:14-5:10 NRSV
So what was a high priest? Because we hear the title “priest” different images may come to mind. Some good. Some, perhaps, not so good. But the high priest was not simply like a priest or a pastor in today’s church. The high priest in Israel had a specific role. And identity. The high priest was called specifically by God. Set apart. From generations of other high priests. To act in a specific role. One in charge of all things pertaining to God. And, specifically, to offer gifts and sacrifices on behalf of the people for their sins.
Yet, even though set apart, the high priest was not immune from sin. He was as human as you and I. Subject to human weakness. Needing to sacrifice on behalf of himself as well as the rest of the people. It was this weakness - this human-ness - though, that made him sympathetic to the people.
Yet, it is, in a way, like being a pastor. Called by God. Feeling unworthy. Struggling as you do between my saint and the sinner sides. Often looked upon as a leader and example, and knowing that there is likely no bad thought that you have had that I haven’t. No mistake that you’ve made that I haven’t. Yet, understanding your struggles. And what it means to be human.
This is why the writer to the Hebrews names Jesus as the “great high priest.” Because like the high priest of old, he, too, was called to the position of Son by God. Called and appointed to serve God’s people. To incarnate. To become human. To experience what it is that we experience. Our joys. Our sadness. Our wins. Our losses. Our struggles. Everything that we experience. Everything that is human. And then to invite us to approach him boldly in prayer. To Share our joys. Our sadness. Our wins. Our losses. Our struggles.
This is the importance of the incarnation. God knows who we are in Jesus. God knows who we really are. And has sympathy for us. And, then, opens the door for us. Through Jesus. Who became the sacrifice. For us. For you. And for me. Becoming the source of life and salvation for you and I, and all who believe in him.
May you reflect on this. May it spark new life in you. May it jumpstart your imagination. And, may it rekindle your faith. In God. And in the love God has for you and for all people. Amen.
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