(13) Fixated on Jesus the Renewal of All Things - Hebrews 2:9-10 (p39f)

 

 

(13) Fixated on Jesus the Renewal of All Things - Hebrews 2:9-10 (p39f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

As a human being, Jesus was a suitable substitute for human beings (in a way that the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament never really were – Hebrews 10:4). As a human being, Jesus kept the law we could never keep and faced the penalty of death our sins deserved (Romans 6:23). As a human being, he could die. As God, his death was of infinite value. Of course as God Christ could not die (he died as a man, according to his human nature). It makes sense that the grave could not hold the Son of God, that he overcame death and hell.

 

Jesus tasted death, the writer to the Hebrews says, “for everyone.” All who are saved will be saved through the blood of Jesus. He died for all sorts of people, for Jews and for Gentiles and people of all sorts of different backgrounds, men and women, young and old, rich and poor. Jesus’ death was sufficient for the salvation of all – it was of infinite worth and power. But Jesus only paid the penalty for sin for his sheep, his people. He redeemed all those he intended to redeem by paying the price for their sins. His death is efficient for all who will trust in him, all whom he will effectually call to whom he will grant saving faith. His death did not merely make salvation possible for us. He tasted death for us. He died for us. He died our death. We died in him, that we might live.

 

What grace of God that we do not taste the death we deserve! What grace that Christ (God the Son) should drink the cup of God’s wrath to its very dregs. Praise God that there is none left for us! Jesus gives us the cup of salvation and blessing.

 

Song: The Power Of The Cross (Oh To See The Dawn) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P22lpnmgJbs

(12) Fixated on Jesus the Second Adam - Hebrews 2:8-9 (p36f)

 

(12) Fixated on Jesus the Second Adam - Hebrews 2:8-9 (p36f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

Don’t you think the Bible account of humanity and the world makes a lot of sense? It’s psychologically compelling. It seems to fit the realities we see around us. The nobility and depravity of human nature are what we would expect from Scripture. The creation is wonderful yet flawed, fallen.

 

How wonderful the New Creation will be when we see Eden restored – only better! Eden will be fulfilled, perfected. The earth will be full of the glory of God. The Garden will become a Garden City. The race of Adam will be a great multitude. All through the saving work of the Second Adam.

 

Further reading: Revelation 21-22

 

Song: Joy To The World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyciMYZq2-Y

 

(11) Fixated on Jesus the True Man - Hebrews 2:5-9 (p33f)

 

(11) Fixated on Jesus the True Man - Hebrews 2:5-9 (p33f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

Human beings have a higher status than angels in the sense that they are made in the image of God to rule the world under him. We are adopted into the family of our loving heavenly Father. Angels are awesome and powerful beings, but they are servants, ministers.

 

In our fallen world, we do not see all things subject to humanity. The world is out of sorts. We often make it worse, not better. But Jesus is a New and Second Adam, the Last Adam who will rule the world perfectly and put it to rights. Our destiny as human beings is fulfilled in him.

 

Jesus’ full and true humanity means he perfectly meets our needs as human beings. This is another reason to be fixated on Jesus. Jesus shows us who we were meant to be. By his death he restores us to the relationship with God for which we were created.

 

Song: Praise to the holiest in the height - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPBE5r3a0UA

 

(10) Fixated on Jesus our Great Salvation - Hebrews 2:1-4 (p30f)

 

 

(10) Fixated on Jesus our Great Salvation - Hebrews 2:1-4 (p30f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

Can you sum up the logic and application of these verses? What does the writer want his readers to do and not do, and why?

 

How can you pay more careful attention to God’s word and to the message of salvation in the Son?

 

What might distract us from this message or cause us to drift away?

 

Maybe there’s a verse or section from Fixated or from Hebrews which you want to underline or memorise or return to tomorrow or next week.

 

Give thanks for the greatness of our salvation: full, free, sure, clearly proclaimed, confirmed by God.

 

Song: How Firm A Foundation Ye Saints of the Lord - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmlyDwtv55Q

(9) Fixated on Jesus the Life-Giving Creator - Hebrews 1:10-14 (p27f)

 

(9) Fixated on Jesus the Life-Giving Creator - Hebrews 1:10-14 (p27f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

There is a great distinction between Creator and Creation. And (as God) Jesus belongs on the Creator side of that dividing line. With the Father and the Holy Spirit, he is the uncreated Creator God who alone is worthy of worship. God alone has life in himself and is the source of all being and life, sustaining all existence.

 

How does v13 describe our era of human history? Jesus is enthroned in heaven until God the Father has put all his enemies under his feet. Through the gospel, more and more of Jesus’ enemies are becoming his friends. And at last all his enemies will be subdued.

 

(Whenever we see the Bible quoting the Bible, it is no bad thing to go back and think what the passage meant in its original context and whether anything from that context apart from the actual verses quoted contributes to the quoter’s meaning).

 

Song: How Great Thou Art - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_dtbmVdQY4

(8) Fixated on Jesus the Song of the Angels - Hebrews 1:6-9 (p25f)

 

 

(8) Fixated on Jesus the Song of the Angels - Hebrews 1:6-9 (p25f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

Take some time to worship Jesus! What is there to praise and thank him for? How might these verses from Hebrews / today’s devotional inspire worship? Thank God for the peace which Jesus’ death in your place has won for you.

 

What other reasons have we seen so far in Fixated or in Hebrews to worship Jesus and him alone?

 

(What other things are you tempted to worship?)

 

(What would a life of worship of Jesus look like for you today / this week?)

 

(Reflect on v9. Do you ever think of Jesus as supremely joyful?)

 

Further reading: Philippians 2:5-11; Revelation 7:9-end

 

Song: Join All The Glorious Names - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdHoPwp07LM

(7) Fixated on Jesus the King - Hebrews 1:5 (p22f)

 

 

(7) Fixated on Jesus the King - Hebrews 1:5 (p22f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

The verse quoted here speak of the Davidic King as the Son of God. Psalm 2v2 refers to The Lord’s Anointed, the Messiah, the chosen and appointed King. Jesus fulfils the promises of a permanent Davidic King with an everlasting Kingdom. Jesus would have said, sung and prayed the Psalms. No doubt he prayed the prayer which God the Father encourages him to pray in Psalm 2v8 and he will indeed be given the nations. The progress of the gospel is an answer to that prayer which will culminate in the great multitude of all nations spoken of in the book of Revelation who will praise Jesus on the great final day.

 

Again, these reflections should remind us of the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus and encourage us to stick with him.

 

Jesus is, of course, in fact, in a totally different category from any human king, however great. By his very nature, Jesus is not just “a son of God” but The Son of God, God the Son by nature, by eternal generation or begetting. Even the best Old Testament kings (David and Solomon) were imperfect. Jesus is the perfect king who perfectly meets our needs.

 

Further reading: Psalm 72

 

Song: Jesus Shall Reign Where’re the Sun - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcHXOnKZ3ME

(6) Fixated on Jesus above the Angels - Hebrews 1:4 (p19f)

 

(6) Fixated on Jesus above the Angels - Hebrews 1:4 (p19f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

What do you think of as most powerful and glorious? In what ways is Jesus even better?

 

Maybe we don’t give angels much thought, but are there things which threaten to rival the supremacy of Jesus in our lives?

 

Further reading: Philippians 3:1-11

 

Father God, show me afresh the superiority of Jesus. Make me wholeheartedly devoted to him. Keep me from settling for less than Jesus. For his name’s sake. Amen.

 

Song: All I Once Held Dear - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxpPIa-BskY

 

A Biblical Theology of Trees / The Gospel according to a Christmas Tree

(You might like to look away now of you are coming to the Christingle service at Bodle Street next week)

(Service video: Bible readings from 21:43; Sermon from 26:58 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rMZsYAuT2w )

 Readings:

Isaiah 11:1-9

John 15:1-17 - Jesus said:…

 

A Biblical Theology of Trees / The Gospel according to the Christmas Tree

Trees are mentioned in the Bible more than any living thing other than God and people.

The story of the Bible could be told as the story of trees:

The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Genesis

And trees of life in Revelation 22.

And a “tree” stands at the centre of the Bible and of human history

 

[Picture of a fir tree]

 

Old fashioned preachers sometimes uses to start their sermons by saying: “My text for today is taken from…”. My text for today is taken from: Hosea 14:8 – “I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.”

Some versions say a fir tree.

(Some versions something slightly different)

What might it mean to liken God to a green pine tree?

Maybe it is a symbol of strength or stability. 

Some trees can also be very long lived. 

But the verse seems to link with the idea of growth. Perhaps the thought is linked to the ever green nature of the tree. God is supremely alive. He alone has life in himself. And he can give life and fruitfulness. 

[Picture: Decorated Christmas Tree]

Like a decorated Christmas tree, we can sometimes look pretty impressive. But a tree that has been cut off from its source of life is dead, dying and heading for the dump. 

And the Bible tells us that by nature we are spiritually dead, dead in our sins. Without Jesus we will perish. 

[Picture: Dead Christmas Tree]

But God loves to bring life out of death. 

He promised a shoot from the stump of David: a new king who would reign for ever. 

[Pictures: stump; shoot from a stump]

Jesus spoke of himself as a seed that would die and rise again and produce much fruit. 

The Bible calls the cross a tree. On the cross, Jesus took the curse we deserved. He died that we might live. His cross is a tree of life to us. 

By trusting in Jesus, we can have new life. Remaining in Jesus and having his words remain in us, we can be fruitful. 

* * * 

Dave Crofts – The Story of Trees - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyPTemfeCH8

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-is-the-significance-of-trees-in-the-bible-why-did-jesus-die-on-a-tree.html

3, 2, 1 – (longer 5:43 minutes version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf94J3xGlOs

The Christmas tree points us to God, to heaven

 The historical origins of / traditions about Christmas trees / Christmas tree decorations see e.g. https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/trees.shtml 

12 symbols of Christmas for kids - Free printable stuff: https://ministry-to-children.com/free-printable-christmas-book/

A star or angel on the tree

Boniface cutting down an oak tree sacred to Thor

Martin Luther putting candles on a tree to suggest Jesus the light of the world

Douglas McKelvey, Every Moment Holy volume 1 (Rabbit Room Press, 2019) offers liturgy for putting up Christmas decorations etc. (p127) and for setting up a Christmas tree (p129f) - cutting down, sharing our house, cross, out stretched arms / branches, ever green, sparkle and glitter implies Christ the King enthroned in glory, star   

Colin Buchanan – The King of Christmas – “Let the Christmas tree remind you of the one who trusts the Lord…” cf. Psalm 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3UknJaPSL0

Andrew Wilson, God of All Things: Rediscovering the Sacred in an Everyday World (Zondervan, 2021) chapter 23: Trees: The Cross of God p147-151

James B. Jordan, Through New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World - chapter 7: Trees and Thorns - Trees as precious / God manifest at trees / Trees as ladders to heaven / God's Grace - p81ff

There is some discussion of trees and Christmas trees in this article from James Jordan: https://theopolisinstitute.com/the-menace-of-chinese-food/?fbclid=IwAR1ikTdLaBMMYs4XjC8E7jpeY5EVWDLYsYvXLZmQfp_wk2Uao1S20qwHhVw

If I owned it, I would have looked in the IVP Dictionary of Biblical Imagery too. 

(5) Fixated on Jesus and his Finished Work - Hebrews 1:3 (p16f)

 

 

(5) Fixated on Jesus and his Finished Work - Hebrews 1:3 (p16f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

Let’s give thanks for the finished work of Christ. He paid the price for sin in full. And so he could cry out from the cross: “It is finished!” (John 19:30) – “Complete! Accomplished! Achieved! Done!”. As the hymn puts it: “All that is needful hath been.” There’s nothing more We need to DO because CHRIST has DONE it all. We receive his finished work with the empty hand of faith. We bring our sin; he brings full and free purification. 

 

We’re reminded of the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice in the Communion service: he “made there by his one oblation of himself once offered a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world;”.

 

John assures us that “the blood of Jesus, his [God’s] Son purifies us from all sin”. He “purifies us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 10)

 

Song: It is finished! The Messiah dies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAdzDk43YRU

(4) Fixated on Jesus the Powerful Word - Hebrews 1:3 (p14f)

(4) Fixated on Jesus the Powerful Word - Hebrews 1:3 (p14f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

It’s a staggering thought, isn’t it, that the vast universe and everything in it is sustained by the powerful will and word of Jesus. Every sub-atomic particle moves at his direction. All the winds and waves do his bidding. Innumerable plants and animals owe their existence to him. And this infinite God loves and cares for you and me. If he can sustain all things, we can trust him to sustain us too. He is more than powerful enough to keep us going as his people and to get us safely to glory.

 

One way of summing up the message of Hebrews would be to say that Jesus is supreme and sufficient therefore we should stick with Jesus. We could have no more powerful Saviour. Jesus is all we need. May we prize him and stick close to him.

 

Song: Thou Whose Almighty Word - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iUYYir9ujY

Leo Tolstoy on Social Media

 Tim Stanley (Whatever Happened to Tradition? p56) suggests that Leo Tolstoy's 1882 description fits present day social media rather well: "We were all then convinced that it was necessary for us to speak, write, and print as quickly as possible and as much as possible, and that it was all wanted for the good of humanity. And thousands of us, contradicting and abusing one another, all printed and wrote – teaching others. And without noticing that we knew nothing, and that to the simplest of life’s questions: What is good and what is evil? We did not know how to reply, we all talked at the same time, not listening to one another, sometimes seconding and praising one another in order to be seconded and praised in turn, sometimes getting angry with one another – just as in a lunatic asylum." (A Confession, p8)

Epiphany Joke

 Did the Wise Men say to the baby Jesus: "Just to be clear, these gift are for your birthday and for Christmas!"?

(3) Fixated on Jesus the Glory of God - Hebrews 1:3 (p11f)

 

 

(3) Fixated on Jesus the Glory of God - Hebrews 1:3 (p11f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

Jesus the Light is God shining forth – the radiance of the glory of God. He is Light from Light. True God from True God. The Son is fully God, of one substance with the Father. The Son is all that the Father is except Father. He is eternally begotten of the Father, not made.

 

Jesus is the invisible God made visible. Jesus could say to his disciples: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:9, 17) As John says, “No-one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” (John 1:18)

 

Jesus is the incomprehensible God made known. Of course we can never know God fully, but its wonderful that infinitely great as he is, we can know him truly in Jesus. Let’s praise God that he has revealed himself to us personally. May we delight in knowing God in Jesus Christ and seek to know him better and better until that day when we see him face to face and know him more fully, even as we are fully known.

 

Song: O Come All Ye Faithful - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8dgI4-bVPU

(2) Fixated on Jesus the First Word - Hebrews 1:2 (p9f)

 

 

(2) Fixated on Jesus the First Word - Hebrews 1:2 (p9f)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

It is indeed striking that Christianity is not first of all about the teaching of Christ, but about Christ Himself. We are not introduced, ultimately, to a philosophical system or to ideas or principles, but to a Person. The Word is made flesh, human, that we might know him personally, not just know about him. We need Jesus, not just the information or insight which Jesus could bring. Jesus does not offer us merely education or lifestyle tips, but Himself, his life. The joy of heaven will be more than “enlightenment”. It will be to be with Jesus. He is the sum and centre of our faith.

 

As we think of Jesus as the Word of God the Father, it is helpful to think of Jesus as the self-expression, the communication of God. He perfectly translates the Father, and in this case nothing is lost in translation. The Son is all that the Father is except Father, and vice versa.

 

Summary: Jesus is the origin and goal of the universe. He is before and above all things.

 

It is an even more striking thought to recall that these great things are true of Jesus the God-Man even as he is a baby lying the manger.

 

See also John 1:1-18; Colossians 1:15-18

 

Song: See Amid The Winter Snow – “Lo, within a manger lies / He who built the starry skies;”

https://hymnary.org/text/see_amid_the_winters_snow

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPgo-UfyJgc

021 Oak Hill School of Theology ‘Ears to hear: Discerning God’s Voice in Scripture’ - a way into TIS ‘The Theological Interpretation of Scripture’

 4 videos of lectures: https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/events/school-of-theology-2021

(1) Fixated on Jesus the Final Word – Hebrews 1:1-2 (p6ff)

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

 

That’s a useful contrast / summary, isn’t it?

Old Testament to New Testamnet / prophets to Jesus =

Promise to fulfilment

Provisional to final

Partial to complete.

“Jesus is not the replacement of the Old Testament, but he is its resolution.” (p6)

 

See further: Matthew 5:17-18; 2 Corinthians 1:20

 

Prayer:

 

Father God, thank you for the Old Testament, which so wonderfully prepares us for the coming of Jesus. But thank you above all for Jesus Himself, your Son, your full and final Word to humanity. Help us to listen to Him. Amen.

 

Song: You’re the Word of God the Father (Townend) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atxCPCHz5Oc

 

Christmas talk ideas / resources etc. (repost)

 Here's a list of some old ideas, videos, all age talks etc. which I might add to / update. Your ideas most welcome! https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-talk-ideas-gimmicks-sermons.html

December and Christmas Services 2021

 https://www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/december-christmas-2021/

Tim Chester, Fixated - introduction

 

Fixated: Advent Meditations from the Book of Hebrews

Tim Chester

10 of those, 2020 ISBN: 9781913278953 73pp

https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26683/fixated

 

What things might you be said to be fixated on / engrossed by / obsessed with?

What are your first thoughts when you wake up?

Or your day dreams?

What are you distracted by?

 

What do you consciously devote your time and energies to?

What do you pursue?

How would an independent outside observer with access to a video of all your life (your mobile phone and your bank account) assess these things?

 

How’s your celebration of Christmas?

In what ways is Jesus involved? Or side-lined?

 

Introduction

 

Do you have Christian heroes who inspire you to wholehearted devotion to Jesus? Who? How?

(Maybe you should think about reading some Christian history or biographies – see e.g. https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/christian-life/biography)

 

What do you find helps or hinders your devotion to Jesus and your keeping going in the Christian life?

 

Key Bible verses: Hebrews 12:1-3 (Suitable for memorisation?)

 

Song: By Faith We See The Hand of God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rYiZRj0FbA

 

Do you feel like you’re consciously, actively running the Christian race?

What sort of pace do you feel you are going at? Why?

 

Are your thoughts fixed on Jesus? (Hebrews 3:1)

How could we increasingly fix them there? Or help one another to do so?