Jesus is Better - Hebrews Week 14
This week’s study
is a solemn reminder of God’s holiness, as well as a joyful reminder of our access
to God in Christ Jesus. The passage starts like a scary movie talking about
darkness, gloom, and a blazing fire referencing humanity’s approach to God, but
turns into hope in Jesus Christ. Therefore, during this study, do not be afraid
to feel the weight of God’s holiness and the seriousness of what it means to
reject the gift of salvation. Then, realize the complete opposite feeling of
hope because Jesus brought us into fellowship with God.
Do you have any
strange fears? What are they?
Has there ever been
anything that you were once afraid of, but you now enjoy? How did it change?
The
Point:
Endurance finds its completion in an unshakable kingdom.
Hebrews
12:18-29
18 For you have not
come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a
tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers
beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure
the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be
stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble
with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23
and to the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God,
the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to
Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a
better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is
speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on
earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At
that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I
will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once
more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken — that is, things that
have been made — in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and
thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our
God is a consuming fire.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 12:18-29
*To understand the significance of Mount Sinai, it will be helpful to read Exodus 19-20 and Deuteronomy 4-5.
Study
Notes
WEEK 14 NOTES:
Hebrews 12:18-29
Hebrews 12:18-29 is
one of the most straightforward and powerful passages in all of Scripture. The
author begins by detailing the contrast between access to God with and without
Christ. He looks back at a moment when God displayed His presence to the people
on Mount Sinai. The people reacted in such complete fear they wanted God to
stop talking.
They caught a
glimpse of God, realizing the vast chasm between God’s holiness and their
insignificance. They understood that a mere human could not approach God. As a
matter of fact, they were even afraid to touch the Mountain where God revealed
Himself as an all-consuming fire. We are reminded here of how unworthy we are
to be close to God. The gloom in the passage shows how destructive and
dangerous it is to attempt connection with God through our own merit.
As the author
continues, the tone turns from fear to hope when he mentions another mountain
where God dwells, Mount Zion. The reference to Mount Zion points forward to the
work of Jesus on the cross and the Kingdom of God. This is where we are made
worthy by His blood. Mount Sinai is where we see God’s holiness and our
inability to touch the mountain. Mount Zion is where we experience the work of
Jesus and gain access to the Kingdom of God.
The idea of access
to God is a recurring theme in Hebrews, but this passage reveals a practical
and emotional perspective on what that access truly means. Without Jesus, God
is untouchable, and we are left in fear. However, through Christ, we experience
freedom, joy, and fellowship with God. We can now approach Him with excitement
and anticipation, eager to draw near to His presence.
In application, the
message is clear: without Jesus, God will consume us. Therefore, do not reject
Jesus. Simple! There is coming a day when God will shake the universe and
anything impure will fall away. The only thing left will be God’s unshakable
kingdom. All who are part of His kingdom experience the presence of God and all
His blessings.
The chapter ends
with a clear response for the people of God. We must be grateful for an
unshakeable kingdom and reverently worship God. Reverence, in this context,
means approaching God with humility, understanding He is holy, and we didn’t
earn a spot in His kingdom. We are unworthy to be close to God, but here we
are, sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
QUESTIONS
FOR DISCUSSION
Is there a
difference between fearing God and being afraid of God? What is it?
Does the way God is
described on Mount Sinai change the way you view God? Explain.
Will you share a
time when you felt the distance between God’s righteousness and your
unworthiness?
What does it mean
to worship God with reverence and awe (verse 28)?
How can we
cultivate a more reverent attitude in our worship practices?
END
Hebrews
12:18-21
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
When we catch a
vision of God’s holiness, we can regard many things in our lives as holy. When
we lose a sense of God’s holiness (as many have), then we lose the realization
that anything is holy or unholy.
In this latter
case, we also lose a sense of our own sinfulness, our need for God’s grace, and
the desperate plight of our culture.
Unless we grasp
God’s holiness, we will no longer be “amazed” at His amazing grace.
John Newton in his
hymn, “Amazing Grace” said: “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace
my fears relieved.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Mount Zion points
forward to the work of Jesus on the cross.
This is where we
are made worthy by His blood and gain access to the Kingdom of God.
Let’s read on:
Hebrews 12:25-29
Hebrews
12:25-29
25 See that you do
not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused
him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who
warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has
promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are
shaken — that is, things that have been made — in order that the things that cannot
be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom
that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with
reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Without Jesus, God
is untouchable, and we are left in fear.
Through Jesus, we
experience freedom, joy, and fellowship with God.
We can now come to
Him with excitement and anticipation, eager to draw near to His presence.
