“Long ago… God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”
— Hebrews 1: 1-2
The Old Testament was second-hand; the New Testament, especially the gospels, was first-hand.
You’ve heard people say, “Those were the good old days,” when water came into the house in a bucket and the bathroom was out in the yard. Mama cooked on a wood stove and dad’s office equipment was a telephone and now things have really changed.
Someone has said there are three societies in history: the first was agriculture, the second was industrial, and the third was electronic.
Might I add a fourth? We’re in the early stages of artificial intelligence, an extension of the electronic age.
Each of the Old Testament prophets had a piece of the information puzzle. Isaiah spoke about holiness, Jeremiah about judgment, Ezekiel and Daniel about sovereignty, Hosea about faithfulness, Amos about social justice, Micah about hope, and Malachi spoke about unfaithfulness.
But the sermon on the mount in Matthew ends with people astonished by Jesus.
“ ... for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”
— Matthew 7: 29
Jesus was offering them first-hand, insider information. And now we’ve made the jump from Matthew 7 to Hebrews 7.
“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
— Hebrews 7: 17
Each of those prophets had pieces of the puzzle. They spoke for God, leaving a large gap in the puzzle.
In Matthew 7, Jesus speaks for God, but in Hebrews 7, as a priest, Jesus speaks for us. The chapter compares Melchizedek (a mysterious priest-king from Genesis 14: 17-20) with Jesus Christ.
Melchizedek is described as “without father or mother,” symbolizing an eternal priesthood. Jesus has always and will always speak for us.
“This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.”
— Hebrews 7: 22
As fully God and fully human, Jesus alone is able to speak for both sides of our faith relationship.
Early in my pastoral career, I was preaching, with two translators, to the Taramuhara Indians in Mexico.
I spoke English to a translator who spoke English and Spanish, and he translated for another translator who spoke Spanish and Portuguese, who then passed the message on to the Tarahumara Indians who spoke only Portuguese.
“Therefore, (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
— Hebrews 7: 25
Right now, Jesus is praying for you. Fully human, he knows your struggles, your doubts, your hopes, and fully God, he brings them before the Father with perfect love and understanding.
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga.
