“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 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. And we are His house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”
Hebrews 3:1-6 ESV
The letter to the Hebrews is a great lead-in to Lent. By the start of the third chapter, the writer has confirmed Jesus’ supremacy, His position as God’s only Son, His role as Creator of the universe, His place at God’s right hand, His achievement as the Founder of our faith, and His superiority to the prophet Moses, which for the Jews was a hard, if not impossible, act to follow (see Hebrews 1-2).
The letter to the Hebrews has much more to say as well. It exhorts us to be mindful of God as He speaks to us. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.’ … But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. … For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 3:7-8, 13; 4:15-16 ESV).
As we begin Lent next week, our thoughts are drawn to what God has done for us in Jesus through His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus has become “the Source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9b ESV). “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14 ESV). This is the saving work we honor and stand in awe of during Lent.
Jesus has done it all for you and for me. Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2b ESV). He is our Lord and Savior, our Victor over the powers of darkness, our Shepherd who leads us unto life eternal.
This is the Jesus we set our eyes on during Lent—God’s Son who has been faithful in all things.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead us to the cross of Jesus and find there the eternal life He offers. In His Name. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on February 23, 2022
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Reflection Questions:
1. How is it possible to harden our hearts against God?
2. Why is it that Jesus is “counted worthy of more glory than Moses”?
3. Do you do anything special or unique during Lent to acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice for you?