Laurie is a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament Studies at the University of Durham in England. She earned an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Seattle, and she is an ordained PC(USA) minister.
Okay – so let’s have some fun. You know there is an election going on in my home country right now, and I’m imagining the book of Hebrews like one big election argument for sticking with Jesus. It goes like this: Imagine a press conference, The writer of Hebrews holds forth for his candidate, Jesus — the Son of God and the only one worthy of your worship. Reporters fire questions.
The Scotsman:
Are you actually trying to suggest that Jesus is the only heavenly figure worthy of our worship? Won’t that offend the angelic constituency?
Hebrews:
No offense to angels, they have been faithful messengers since the dawn of creation. But let’s keep some perspective here. Jesus is not created, angels are created. Angels are by nature creatures. Jesus is by nature, well, God — their Creator.
The Scotsman:
Even so – they are admittedly higher than humans – so can’t they have, say, 10% of the popular worship vote?
Hebrews:
Again, all due respect to the angels, but name me one who has willingly — willingly being the key here — humbled themselves and lowered themselves below human beings? (Silence) That’s right, Jesus humbled himself to serve humanity. No self-respecting angel would dream of doing that. And for this reason, Jesus has been exalted above the angels. Jesus went 100% of the way down and he’s been exalted 100% of the way above the angels — and He deserves 100% of people’s worship.
The Times:
Another question. One of your campaign slogans is “Jesus works harder for you.” Now that seems pretty gutsy given the long list of hard working AND longsuffering servants of God through the ages — names like Moses and Joshua come to mind.
Hebrews:
That’s a great question. You have to understand that saying that Jesus works harder for people isn’t taking anything away from Moses or Joshua. They were – are – both heroes of the faith. If you pay attention — we’re not taking anything away from the leaders, we’re actually warning people not to be like their followers. It’s an election year — the time is right now — the choice has to be made today — who will you listen to? Who will get your worship vote? The choice is obviously Jesus — don’t miss it.
The Times:
So what if people agree that Jesus’ nature makes him eminently more qualified than angels, and his leadership as the Son of God means that he is better qualified to lead than either Moses or Joshua — can he really get people to listen to him? Can he really attract the sort of allegiance that is essential to lead people into the presence of God? Your candidate can draw the crowds but can he actually get anything done?
Hebrews:
Well, let’s talk about that. Let’s say for the sake of argument that you can have the perfect Son of God and there is still a chance that he can’t get the job done — He can’t get people to really listen, to really draw near to God. He doesn’t have the pulling power. In that case, we’re not talking about messengers or prophets any more, now we’re talking about priests. It is the priest that opens the way for the people to approach God. And we are confident that Jesus is superior to any of the numerous high priests that have faithfully served before him. In fact, we’d be so bold as to say Jesus is the only priest who can do this.
The Independent:
Whoa! Those are weighty claims! ANY high priest. We’ve been doing some fact checks on Jesus’ lineage and what we’ve turned up is actually very disturbing. Jesus isn’t from the line of Aaron on his mother’s side. Wouldn’t that, right there, disqualify him as High Priest?
Hebrews:
Well, let’s talk about Aaron, let’s talk about the qualifications for office that have been established since the time of Aaron for high priests. You know, things like being able to sympathize with weakness — check. Tempted in every way like we have been — check. Distinguished among the competition by his ability to deal gently with sinners — check. So, now let me finish here, finally, high priests do not appoint themselves — check. In every category established by Aaron, Jesus is completely qualified to fill the role of High Priest.
The Scotsman:
But surely the point is — there have always been plenty of qualified persons in Israel who could have been priests but weren’t because they didn’t come from the line of Aaron, they weren’t Levites. So how can you claim some sort of special “Son of God” status for Jesus when it was God who set up the rules about the priesthood in the first place? Aren’t you violating core ethical principles with these claims?
Hebrews:
WE are appealing to the readers with the maturity and dedication to continue beyond the headline and the first paragraph of faith. And we trust that our supporters aren’t lazy and easily distracted from what is right in front of them. If all that our opponent’s supporters want of faith is the sensational and the sound bite, they’d be better off not buying into this election at all.
But let’s be positive, let’s proceed with the confidence that they are still reading and want more than a momentary taste. We’re not in this for the momentary flash of glory — we are in this for the long haul — with diligence and yes, love — because we know that God rewards patient endurance.
The Guardian:
That sounds like another empty campaign promise to our readers …
Hebrews:
Stop right there — there are no empty promises on this campaign. Every promise God has made is certain. Placing hope in Jesus Christ is reliable, it is better than reliable, it’s a hopeful anchor in turbulent times. You can follow Jesus right into God’s presence, As long as God is God, that promise is certain.
The Independent:
In which case Jesus’ qualifications as a high priest STILL have not been answered. If God is so sure and certain and can’t go back on his promises, what is he doing putting forward a candidate for high priestly duties that throws the original criteria out the window? How can we trust the priesthood of someone who isn’t descended from Aaron?
Hebrews:
Can anyone name the first priest who received offerings from Abraham — the one who was both king and priest?
The Times:
Uh, Mel, Mel something …
Hebrews:
Write this down: M-E-L-C-H-I-Z-E-D-E-K. Google him, and what do you find?
The Times:
Uh, let’s see here — King of Salem — mysterious figure — Abraham gave him 10% of his possessions. That’s about it, no genealogy, no information about parents, no indication as to when his priesthood began or came to an end. And your point would be?
Hebrews:
Melchizedek was so great that Abraham gave 10% to Melchizedek, which means that Melchizedek is greater than Aaron even, I mean, Aaron and all the Levites descended from Abraham — so in a way, even Aaron and the Levites gave 10% to Melchizedek! So the original promise holder is giving service to an even earlier priesthood, ordained by God!
Wouldn’t you agree that if this campaign can demonstrate that Jesus, as God’s Son, is in the order of Melchizedek, then not only is Jesus more qualified than the whole line of Aaron’s descendents, but that at the same time, God has fully kept his word both to Abraham and to Aaron and, most importantly, to us?
The Scotsman:
We can agree, but this whole Melchizedek thing is a bit policy heavy for our readers …
Hebrews:
Then just quote this: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6) — all the credentials Jesus needs. There never has been, and never will be, anyone more qualified for appointment to the priestly duties than Jesus. He is God in nature and character, He is the faithful Son over the whole house, He is able to lead people into the Sabbath rest that comes from drawing near to God, He has all the right qualities to be a priest. He is chosen by God and people can TRUST that choice AND God’s promises.
The Independent:
Right, right, but what about Jesus’ actual experience — has he passed the “High Priest” test? After all, the Levitical high priests have years — and I mean ages — of experience.
Hebrews:
The elaborate tabernacle and the sacrifices were part of the old and Jesus is about the new. There was an important time and place for the old, but it was temporary, it was a shadow. It is time for the new to replace the old.
Case in point, the high priest had to repeat the sacrifice for sin year after year after year. That’s a LOT of blood covering lots of sin, including the sins of the high priest. That’s a lot of inefficiency. But what if there were a high priest who could clean up this old system? What if there were a high priest who could open the way to God once and for all — permanently — doing away with the shadow and the temporary and bringing in the real thing and the eternal? Because that is the right kind of experience – the kind of experience Jesus has.
The Times:
We get your first point – you can’t just have experience – you have to have the right kind of experience, and Jesus is the high priest with the right kind of experience. But to permanently open the way, the sacrifice has to be perfect. No high priest is going to be able to pull a perfect sacrifice out of thin air. You’re talking about a miracle worker. It’s impossible.
Hebrews:
It’s not impossible if the high priest is without sin and he is willing to give his own life, his own blood for the sacrifice. That is the essential second point. Jesus doesn’t simply have the experience, he also provides the sacrifice.
The Independent:
That’s a pretty lofty claim for someone with only three years of public ministry that ended with an execution.
Hebrews:
Three years of public ministry that ended with the cross and the resurrection, and a seat at God’s right hand. No other candidate for your worship is going to top that. That’s the experience that uniquely qualifies Jesus for worship.
Jesus is the only High Priest – who has sacrificed his own blood for the forgiveness of sins;
Jesus is the only one whose innocent sacrifice of blood can cleanse humans of sin once and for all;
Jesus is the only candidate for your worship who has shed his own blood to open the way to God;
And Jesus is the one who can cleanse our conscience and free us to walk boldly and with confidence into the very throne room of God.
This is why Jesus will succeed in leading God’s people to a permanent, eternal rest where others have failed. This is why Jesus is exalted as the Son.
This is why the angels worship him — as should you.
Moderator:
Our debate is almost over. Any closing remarks?
Hebrews:
The choice is yours to make.
• Will you draw near to God with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith, with confidence that your hearts and bodies are washed clean?
• Will you hold on to the hope that you have professed in Jesus Christ?
• Will you spur your friends on to vote with their actions — to live with love and good deeds?
• Will you gather together this week in your local caucus meeting in support of Jesus Christ — the Son of God — the only one worthy of your worship?
Don’t throw away your confidence my friends, it will be richly rewarded when Jesus returns and is fully inaugurated into his kingdom and begins to reign.
Laurie Wheeler is a Ph.D. student in New Testament studies at Durham University. Currently living in Scotland, she is a member of the Presbytery of Seattle.
