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Tim brought us the Word on 21 October. He preached from Hebrews 5 verses 1-11. Maybe the language in this passage is hard to understand. The language in Hebrews may be unfamiliar to us, but to to the people of the time it was clear as it was about Jewish traditions and culture. The writer of the letters (who we now believe was not Paul) is trying to get across juest who Jesus was and what he did. He is borrowing from the tradition but Tim’s reading finishes on the fact that this is difficult to understand.

Ever been for a job interview or applied for a particular job? Tim reflected on the day he saw a particular job advertised in a paper that could have been written only for him. (He also asked “When was the last time any of us bought an actual physical paper copy of a newspaper?”). The job description could only apply to him as it was a unique set of skills that he had at that point in his working life.

This passage in Hebrews is in effect the job description of Jesus. Jesus is the only one that ticks all of the boxes. Who helps you when you are in trouble? Who can you turn to when you want to make amends? The Jewish people had a sacrificial system. Jesus was the sacrifice for us.

Have you noticed how one or two people in a work area emerge as the people that everyone confides in? They are the people who rise up to be the “high priest” in that area. Someone to chat to, someone to go to. These are the folks for ehom this occurs naturally and organically and not because of their job title or the role they are given. This is route one for the High Priesthood, someone who has experienced something of what life can throw at them.

The passage in Hebrews is all about Jesus. Exodus 28 sets out the old requirements for priesthood , for standing in the gap. The responsibility and the humanity experienced by Jesus leads him to understand our weaknesses. Hebrews 5 verse 10 shows Jesus as “designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” This quoting from Psalms sets the requirement. Jesus in the words of the writer of Hebrews is a perfect priest. Through Christ’s obedience he was made perfect. As Jesus lived as a human and went to the death on the cross on our behalf, his obedience shows how he was perfectly qualified . He was saved after death on the cross. He had to share in the experiences of those he served.

Jesus became fully human although some struggle with this particular concept. He felt real human pain, cried real tears and died on the cross.

The writer in introducing Melchizedek. This and the appearance in Genesis chapter 14 are his only references in the Bible.He is the high priest and king of Jerusalem and his name means King of Justice. He comes with bread and wine! He is a Messiah figure. Jesus is not a traditional high priest, he’s not a Levite. Instead he is of the eternal order of Melchizedek, a priest forever.

Imagine the Jewish Christians receiving this letter. It validates who Jesus is! He is without sin, a priest forever, creating an order of salvation forever. He’s superior, perfectly qualified and the account in Hebrews connects with the audience it is aimed at. The writer talks about Jesus being one of us, flesh and blood, emotional and independent. The cross would break us as it broke him. The humanity of Jesus is never in doubt. Can a tortured, bruised, broken human be the one who carries us to God? Of course he can.

Jesus offered up prayers and supplication as any priest would. We are all called and chosen to work with him. We respond to God’s call to live out our faith. As Jesus stands in the gap for you and me, it is important for us to stand in the gap for the wider community. Through him we might approach the throne of Grace.

Is He qualified? Can He do the job? You bet he can. Tim shared the story of a man who did not believe in the fact that God would choose to be human and walk the earth as Jesus, with all of human fraility. He refused to go to church with his family, and stayed home for services. He was sat at home when he heard a sound like snowballs hitting his house. Going outside he saw a flock of birds had flown into the windows at the side of his house. He tried to entice them with food and with treats into his warm barn to recover, he tried to chase them in but none would go. They simply didn’t understand he was trying to save them. He stood there thinking “if only I was a bird, I could talk to them, show them, make them understand.” Suddenly he realised what he was being shown and sank to the ground. Crying “ Now I understand!”

This was broadcast by Paul Harvey on an American radio station, here’s a version  where someone has added some animation.

https://vimeo.com/149931982

Johnny and Tim provided the music today. Tim led worship and brought us the Word from Daniel 6:1-27. This is the last in the highlights of the Old Testament that we have been exploring.

It’satrap. A play on words but a true statement none the less.

Sirius was king of Persia, a known historical figure. Tim showed slide of Sirius cylinder in British museum. Part of history. The Bible says that he appointed Darius yet no reference in historical documents. It does however demonstrate that Gods people at this point are far from home.

The fact we don’t find mention of Darius elsewhere doesn’t matter. The story is being told to God’s people to encourage them in a time of oppression. It’s a book of prophecy and encouragement. Reminds Tim of Joseph. Like Joseph in Pharaoh’s court, Daniel finds his way to the heights of Darius’s civil service. The satraps or chief officials are all jealous of each other. They seek to undermine each other. They want Daniel out because Daniel is going to be a prime minister. They need some false news. They dig for dirt and can’t find anything , nothing to tweet, Daniel is an example of one who is faithful, incorruptible. There’s a steady faithfulness here of a man walking with God. It’s why this story is told. Jesus said teach people to be disciples and to follow. Daniel did this. God just asks us to be faithful. Two ways to interpret this trap being set. One view is that you are only allowed to worship Darius, another is that Darius is the only one who can pray.

It’s a clever trap. It can’t be repealed.

Daniel doesn’t question or doubt, he simply continues to pray with quiet faithfulness . He bows to Jerusalem, perhaps this builds on Solomon’s prayer dedicating the temple he built in Jerusalem.   Daniel prays towards this place . And Jerusalem was the place God chose. The temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Yet those in exile turn to the city in hopefulness and longing. Daniel does this without hiding it . He opens the shutters of his room and prays openly. He simply continues what he has done every day. Looking for God to return the to Jerusalem. Jesus in the sermon on the mount instructs us not to be showy but simply to pray in private .Daniel’s pattern of prayer seems to match what Jesus asks people to do. The most faithful pray-ers that Tim has encountered he reflects are those who do this in the quiet and without fuss. When do you pray? Where do you go? On the commute? After the kids have gone to school? Have you found that place? We’re all different but we need to work into our daily routine a pattern like Daniel.

The satraps go and tell the king and reminds Darius he can’t change his mind. Darius hopes that God will save Daniel and tells him this.

Darius fasts and is unable to sleep. He has a worst time of it than Daniel. Daniel is in with the lions but has faith God will keep him safe.

Daniel is saved and Darius punished the satraps. The writer seems to enjoy the satraps getting their punishment. Remember though this is not necessarily God’s view but that of the writer, a member of a downtrodden and abused people. Despite a sentence of death and the clear example, the lions were hungry and capable of killing. God is in control. The future is his. In Darius there is the similarity to Pontius Pilate, both powerful men unable to save the victims of false charges. Both were at private prayer, and both powerful men tried to save those falsely accused. Tim shared some pictures from the catacombs showing imagery drawing the same comparisons. We see the power in Jesus the Risen one. God shows up to take care of his faithful people. Hebrews 11 references the tale of Daniel. The disciples obey God rather than men, continuing to preach when they get out of jail. People notice this faithfulness in Daniel and Darius the mighty king shares v26 and v27, coming to the same understanding of the faithfulness of Daniel.

“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”