From Glorious Light to Glorious Light
More Glorious!
Hebrews 3:1-6

† In Jesus’ Name †

May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, convince you that you are home, with them!

• Who gets the glory, the attention?

We started this sermon series on Epiphany, the day we celebrate that into Jesus presence the wise men from the East came giving Him presents, acknowledging Him as King.

We complete the series today, with the account of the Transfigurations—where into the presence of the glorified Jesus come Moses and Elijah—again with the responsibility of identifying Jesus as the chosen Messiah, preparing him for the journey to the cross, the grave.

In both of these historical accounts, we see the glory of Christ, in the manger where the shepherds were in awe, or as Peter, James and John stand on the mountainside,

I have found that there is something else these two events have in common. People are as interested, if not more, in those that come into the presence of God in Jesus, than they are in Jesus.

How many wise men? What kind of Gold did they bring and how much, what is the symbolism of that, and the myrrh, and frankincense.  All these questions while over in the corner lay the baby who would die to save the world! How did Peter know they were Moses and Elijah? I mean Peter didn’t offer to set up a tent for Jesus every night—but he had to offer it for the two Old Testament heroes.

And the voice of the father – interrupting their disappointment at the disappearance of the two prophets – telling them…”listen to my Son!” Or as our reading from Hebrews phrases it, “1Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession…”

Consider Jesus – or as it will say in chapter 12, look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

• Our tendency to false idols

Looking to Jesus first, or to use a reformation idea that is is “Christ alone” from which comes a justice that doesn’t condemn us for our sin. But that was hard for the Jews, who despite heroes like David and Daniel, prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah and priests like Samuel still considered Moses as the ultimate servant of God.

And the Book of Hebrews applauds him for that – honoring that he was faithful in his work as a leader of the people of God.

But he was still just a servant.

Yet he was the ultimate hero – and people idolized him.

There was none greater – it is in him they found hope, and they glorified the days of his being in charge, ignoring the scripture which showed he was a sinner just like us. So adamant were they about Moses, and to a lesser extent Abraham, that the writer of Hebrews has to make it clear – as God did – that Jesus deserves more glory.

We do the same thing today—whether it is entertainment figures- actors and musicians, sports figures, political figures, how many of them do we allow to become idols, agreeing with everything they sing or say or do—even if we know its immoral and unjust. We will justify their evil actions, dismissing them “because they aren’t as bad as…

And somehow, as we are glorifying our heroes, we miss the glory of God in Christ Jesus.

And if we miss that – we neglect this great salvation He offers!

• Christs faithfulness building the house

But while we make heroes out of house servants, the book of Hebrews tells us to look to Jesus, who is worthy of more glory! He is the one transfigured, He is the one whom the voice from heaven identifies as His Son, the one through whom he will save the world.

Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus isn’t just a servant in the House of God, but the one through who builds and maintains the house of God.

In doing acknowledging that Jesus is the builder, we see why Jesus is more glorious than Moses was, Here is what was said, “3For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.

Occasionally, I encounter people who claim the Bible does not teach that Jesus is God… this passage is one of the 40 or so I can use to counter their position. But this is why we look to Him.

He can do something to help us, for He is making us a part of the house, the home of God. And He does that faithfully making us part of His home – starting with rescuing us from the brokenness of sin. But salvation is only the beginning of the relationship, only the beginning of the home…. And that is important to realize.

That we are part of the Father’s house, His home is incredible, it is at the core of Christianity, hear the last verse again,

“And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

What confidence do we hold fast to? That Jesus leaves the mountain, heads to Jerusalem to die, to be buried, to rise again, that we are made part of the family, the house of God.

For He came and laid in the cradle, causing John to write:

¹⁴  So the Word became flesh and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14 (NLT2)

In order that He could cause us to be born again, and made our home in His presence.

There is nothing more glorious than this…to share in His glorious love…

And for that. He receives all glory, honor, and praise. AMEN!