HeBrews: A Better Blend
The word panorama is one that brings to mind wide-open views and vistas. I think of standing on the edge of a scenic overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and looking out over the beautiful mountains. No matter which way I turn I see mountains and trees and beauty.
I am also reminded of the time I stood on top of Mount Megiddo (Har-megiddo or Tell Megiddo) in the land of Israel and looked out over the Jezreel Valley. This is the area where the final battle will be fought that will usher in the end of the world, as we know it. I could see lush and fertile fields in the valley below where cotton and other crops were being grown. These scenic overlooks provide a panoramic or comprehensive view of the beauty of God’s creation.
While the panoramic views I described above provided incredible sights in a big-picture kind of way, it was impossible to pick out small details in each place because of the distance between those details and me. Detail is sacrificed for scope in a panoramic view.
Today we are going to have the opportunity to take a panoramic look at our entire Hebrews Bible study in the space of only a few wonderful verses in Hebrews chapter 10. We will be able to look at the entire scope of our study, but not the intricate details. These five verses from Hebrews 10 incorporate the Better Priest, the Better Tabernacle, the Better Covenant and the Better Sacrifice. Let’s take a look at them.
Read Hebrews 10: 19-23 NIV:
9 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
There is so much in these verses, but I want us to focus on one particular word in verse 9. When I researched the meaning of the original Greek word used here for confidence in verse 9 and again later in the chapter in verse 35, I got as excited as if you had offered me a double blended strawberry Frappuccino with extra whipped cream on top from Starbucks.
The Greek Word is parresia and it means “freedom in speaking. Confidence or boldness, particularly in speaking. Especially in Hebrews and 1 John, the word denotes confidence, which is experienced with such things as faith in communion with God, in fulfilling the duties of an evangelist, holding fast our hope, and deeds which imply a special exercise of faith. Parresia is possible as the result of guilt being removed by the blood of Jesus Christ and manifests itself in confident praying and witnessing. (Zodhiates . p.1660)
This confidence the writer of Hebrews speaks of is one that is not gained because of anything you or I have done. Rather it is a confidence that is available to us because of what Jesus accomplished when He died on the cross. Because of His death, you and I now have a ‘come anytime’ invitation into God’s presence. We don’t have to stand outside God’s throne room in fear of entering His presence. We can boldly throw open the door of the throne room through prayer and be accepted into His presence any time we desire it. He is our Daddy, our Abba and He is pleased when we desire to be with Him. So, do not fear Him, but rather go boldly and in confidence into His presence wearing your ALL ACCESS badge that was given to you by Jesus.
MEDITATION MOMENT: Truth be told, very few of us are totally comfortable witnessing to others. We fear we will not do it right or be ridiculed. Parresia gives us the confidence we need to speak in boldness and tell others what Jesus has done in our lives. I want to be faithful to share Jesus with others. How about you?
