He has spoken to us by His Son

 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1,2 NIV

The writer of Hebrews wants his readers to know from the start that God has communicated with man according to His own terms. As he opens this letter he is speaking in the past tense. In the past God spoke and He has spoken to us. Of course this letter is intended for those of the Jewish persuasion, but certainly useful for us today as well.

These first two verses show the process that God used to communicate with man. First it was with the prophets, but in His final interaction with humanity it is through His own Son that He chooses to reveal His will for mankind. Jesus also explained his mission this way in the parable of the vine growers, in Luke 20:9-18. (Read this Parable)

What the writer of Hebrews is getting at is that God had spoken to man in many ways and those He sent weren't listened to. His final effort to communicate with man was through His Son. In Luke chapter twenty Jesus was directly confronting the spiritual leaders of the Jews with the fact that if they refuse to listen to the Son what they have, will be taken away from them. They were none to impressed with that Idea .

So, as the writer of Hebrews is introducing the purpose of the letter it is obvious that he wants his readers to know that obedience to the Son is mandatory. He is the heir of all things. The universe was made through Him. These statements about Jesus display His power and authority. When Jesus came it was to speak on behalf of His Father. He wasn't merely a servant sent with a message like the prophets were, He was the direct heir of the owner of the “vineyard”. He came to claim what was rightfully His.

This brief declaration in the first two verses sets the tone for the entire letter, Jesus is what we have been looking for. Jesus is the answer.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

The Bread of Life

 Read John 6:26-69

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:36 NIV

In the passage in John chapter six Jesus says I am the bread of life twice and I am the living bread once. Jesus makes these statements while talking with a Jewish audience. They were asking him to show them a sign. They said that their forefathers had eaten manna from heaven and were looking for Jesus to show them a similar sign. Jesus then goes on to explain to them that He is the bread from heaven, the bread of life eternal. Those that partake in Jesus will never hunger or thirst again. He lets them know that just as God had provided for their forefathers in the desert, He is now providing living bread in the form of Himself.

The jews didn't like it because He said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." NIV They knew that he was the son of Joseph and Mary so they just couldn't fathom how he could possibly claim to be from heaven. They only saw Jesus through very human eyes. They were blind to the works of God that they were being exposed to.

When Jesus says, “This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." NIV He explains to them what he meant and yet they did not understand. Many of them found it to hard to comprehend and quit following Jesus.

It is truly amazing as many times as Jesus used parables, examples, scripture and analogies to help people comprehend the significance of His coming to earth, they could not see who He was. It just shows us the limits of human comprehension at times, especially as it relates to spiritual matters. Our minds can be so finite.

Many had left Jesus after this particular lesson. But those closest to Him stayed, as well as did those that had understood Jesus teachings.

When we read about Jesus we see that he uses all the tools at His disposal, to teach those around Him. We also see the same from the apostle Paul. Obviously Jesus and Paul had great success in reaching people with the good news. But there were always those that would not accept the teaching and would walk away.

Lets learn from Jesus and from Paul to use every tool at our disposal to teach the gospel. Lets also learn that persistence pays off and there are those that will understand and respond. But we must also realize, that despite our best efforts there will be those that will not believe and they will turn and walk away.

Keep on keeping on.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman