Consider Christ Jesus, The Apostle

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" Hebrews 3:1

We are given an exhortation here from the author of Hebrews to consider Christ Jesus. He first tells us to consider Him as the Apostle. Apostle is a word that almost all believers have heard, but perhaps do not have an understanding of. The word Apostle, which we use in our English Bibles, comes from the Greek word apostellos, which means one sent out as a representative. A term we would more have an understanding of in this sense would be ambassador. We send an ambassador to another country who has an understanding of their country and our own to represent us. For a few moments let us consider in what capacities Christ Jesus can be thought of as not just an apostle, but THE Apostle.

THE PERFECT AMBASSADOR FROM GOD
An ambassador has to be someone that has a good understanding of the place they are representing. The apostles went out from Christ after being taught by Christ. Christ did not call and then send. Christ called and then taught, and then sent. He taught them the Gospel and gave them an understanding of salvation before sending them. We would not send someone unto another country that had only been a part of America for a few days. We would make sure that they had been here a good many years before they were selected to represent us. Then the country where we sent him could trust his opinion to be that of the country he was representing. Often we have fears, and rightfully so, of someone misleading with information that they believe to be true but is not. God is outside our understanding left unto ourselves we cannot know Him. In the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God. But God has been revealed unto us by Christ Jesus. God has sent Him unto us that through Him the world might be saved. But how do we know that this is true? Because Christ is God Himself. We have no need to worry that God might still be angry with us because Christ has taught us something wrong without knowing better. Christ has a full and thorough understanding of God the Father because He and the Father are one! If you are a follower of Christ then rest assured that you are at peace with God. We do not have the promise of a simple man speaking His own mind, no this promise has been given to us by God Himself. No ambassador was ever suited more for a job than Christ Himself was in representing God for the world.

THE PERFECT AMBASSADOR FOR EARTH
Another characteristic that is very important to being a good ambassador is a knowledge of the place that you are going. Clearly, we would not send an ambassador to a Spanish speaking country if he could not speak Spanish. I use a language barrier because it is the most basic, but the same goes for customs and manners of society. They must be able to understand them as a people and culture. Christ became man and was one in the same even as we. But not only was Christ fully man, but He remained fully God. Christ is omniscient and also the creator. He knows completely what man consist of. Ambassadors do not fully and completely understand the nation they are in. But Christ does more than that, He understands us better than we understand ourselves. God is the only being in the universe that understands fully His every thought and action. Christ not only understands Himself but us as well. We have no need to ever doubt what He teaches us because He knows exactly what we are in need of. God has sent Christ to us and sent Him to become us and we have no need of ever being lead astray. Christ knows us inside and out, better than any of us ever could. We do things constantly without being able to understand the real reason why we acted in such a manner. Down to our deepest and most root causes of action, thought, and desire is known unto Christ. Christ does not only reveal God unto us, but He shows us ourselves as well.

SENT FROM GOD THE FATHER
One thing that separates Christ Jesus from the apostles is that the apostles were sent from God the Son. Christ Jesus is the one that sent them into the world. Christ was sent from God the Father. He was also not sent from Jerusalem, or any other earthly city. The apostles were sent out into the world, but this world was where the originated from. The change was not nearly as drastic for them as it was for Christ. I often think about our great missionaries, and especially those of the past, and what they gave up for Christ. So many had easy lives without many trials and hardships yet they gave them up to follow Christ's call. I remember reading Adoniram Judson's biography and the letter he wrote to his father in law asking for his permission to take his daughter to another land. He does not use gentle words but bluntly describes the hardships that they would surely face and asked that in spite of all that, he would let her go for the cause of Christ. I was amazed that knowing what would lie ahead they gave up their easy lives in America to travel to the savage lands of Burma. But how was it with Christ? Christ was in the midst of a joy and happiness within the Trinity that had last through all eternity. He was in Heaven being sung to and praised by the countless multitude of saints and angels. Then, suddenly, He is brought to earth in the form of an human child. God Himself had put on humanity, He had made Himself even lower than the angels. What condescension is this! Do not let that simply pass by. Stand amazed at the event of the birth of Christ! The magnitude of this single moment in history is absolutely amazing. Some missionaries give up wealth, and houses and family and we are inspired and even astonished by it. If ever a missionaries story was inspiring or encouraging to us to give up what we have to spread the word of God. Consider Christ! He gave up everything that was offered to Him in Heaven. Eternal happiness, eternal joy with the Father and the Holy Ghost. We speak of Christ's birth as if were nothing. Simply just another event in the course of human history. How amazed and absolutely astonished we should be at every consideration of God taking the form of a worthless creature as man.Clearly we see that Christ is not just simply another apostle. No, as the author of Hebrews tells us Christ is, without doubt, the greatest Apostle. He is the Apostle. Marvel at the Apostle, Christ Jesus!

Consider Christ Jesus

Hebrews 3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus"

There is no better place to start a study on things to be considered than on Christ Jesus. No other object more deserves to be meditated upon than the God incarnate. We often think that a phrase such as "consider Jesus" is a plea that believers say to unbelievers. That if we could only bring someone to think about the character and person of Jesus that they would come to love Him and trust Him for salvation. While it is true that we should everyday display Christ to the world with our words and actions in a way to make them step back and consider Him, that is not the intent of this passage.

Why Was Hebrews Written?
There is not a lot that is known of the reason why this unknown author wrote this book. But some things seem evident from how this book describes the people the author is writing to. They were undergoing extreme persecution and the temptation to deny their faith or turn back under the law was growing. Verse 10:32 clearly shows that this was occurring "call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions". The authors plea is that they would not turn but be like those who helped him during is time in prison. Verse 10:34 "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." They took joy under persecution. The authors intent is to create a mindset and stir an emotion in their hearts that no matter what circumstances come upon them they will not deny the faith but instead take joy under any circumstance.

The Rewards of Knowledge.
The part that seems somewhat strange is the authors way of trying to keep them from turning back. Instead of giving them lists of warnings with dangers attached to them, even thought there are a couple warnings, most of the time is spent telling them about Jesus. The author fully expects that simply having a deeper understanding of Christ is more than enough for them to continue in joy under the deepest strain. So all the author plans to do is say, "if you think angels are great, if you think prophets are amazing, if you think Moses was the best, then you have not fully understood Christ". It is not just the authors plea in chapter 3 verse 1 to consider Christ, it is more or less the plea of the book. He is describing Christ so that those who believe will understand that they have joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is simply knowledge of Christ that will make us endure. He says in 10:34 that they knew of a better substance in heaven that awaited them. They knew Christ! They had considered Christ and found that nothing in this world could compare. As Paul said in Romans 8:18 "sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us".

My plea is that we take time to consider Christ as believers everyday. Knowledge of His beauty and glory is what gives us strength and joy. The next couple posts will be considerations of Christ within the context of chapter 3 of Hebrews. Focus on thinking about Him as The Apostle, our High Priest and better than Moses. Consider the blessings that are found in Him in these ways and praise God for His goodness unto us!

Consider Consideration

A discussion on consideration is the reason that I started a blog. I just have not had the opportunity or time to deal with it until now. My plan is to take a look at a number of portions of scripture that tell us to consider something. There is an idea that is popular of late that a true Christian experience is based on emotions and have no need rational thinking. But as John 4:23 says "the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." True worship is done with our heart and our head. How are we to worship in truth that which we do not understand? Christians should be a people that are thoughtful, that meditate, that deeply consider life.

A PLEA TO CONSIDER,

Why consider? Consideration gives us a greater understanding of a topic that we probably think we already know. The final and chief end of consideration is to know God more fully. All that is in our life, everything we know and see is from God. Considering anything should ultimately lead us to think of God in some aspect. And to know God is to enjoy God. This is my plea to make us take a deep consideration of God, that we should enjoy God more. It is impossible for those who can see God truly for who He is and not love and take enjoyment in Him. And I will assure you that if you would give consideration to God you will find a delight that is so wonderful that you will never be satisfied with anything else. The name of my last blog was called "Ravished with Delight". This is taken from a quote by Thomas Watson that says "the more we enjoy God, the more we are ravished with delight". This quote is absolutely true. When we see and know God, we find enjoyment, and the delight we find in that enjoyment is so beautifully ravishing that our hearts will never be the same. Also there is never anything that will ever be unlovely to us in God. The more we understand of His complexity the more lovely He becomes. There are no impurities in God, there is only wonderful perfection. No matter at what angle you look at Him, or how you turn Him like a diamond to inspect from all sides, He is wholly glorious. Each crevice thoroughly inspected will only grow our delight. Never fear that intense inspection of God will diminish how wonderful He is to you, true knowledge of Him will make our joy grow all the more.

HOW TO CONSIDER,

Most of us know the basics of what it means to meditate on something. Distraction is always the biggest concern. If we do not allow ourselves to let the world go away for just a little while the we can never deeply consider anything. But, I also say with concern with Thomas Manton " to a distracted mind no place is solitude; the very closet is a market place". Please do not think that being alone means that your thoughts are focused. "Scattered rays heat, but burn not. When the beams of the sun are contracted in a burning-glass, a narrow place, then they fire; so when our thoughts are more particular and set, then they warm the heart, and return to us with advantage." (Thomas Manton). How do we know when we have meditated enough? I will leave you with one last thought from Manton. He is speaking directly about creation but I think it applies to all meditation "This is the least respect you owe God to wonder at his works; and till your hearts be thus heightened, your thoughts have not been ponderous and serious, nor sufficiently exercised.” We will know that we have meditated long enough when we are left in awe and wonder at our glorious God. Do not be satisfied with anything less.

Brief look at what I plan to talk about

      - Psalm 8:3 the heavens

      - Proverbs 6:6 the ant

      - Matthew 6:8 the lilies

      - I Corinthians 1:26 your calling (ESV)

      - II Timothy 2:7 scripture

      - Hebrews 3:1 Jesus

      - Hebrews 10:4 one another 

and probably more, these are verses that all directly use the word consider in context and they will the focus of my blog for the next few posts.