Encouraging someone on the verge of leaving Jesus

I’ve been studying the book of Hebrews and it’s been encouraging. This epistle was written to encourage Christians who were on the verge of quitting on Jesus. When we know of brethren who are struggling in their faith and maybe find themselves on the verge of leaving Jesus, what has been our approach with them? What the Hebrew does is worth considering as we seek to encourage brethren. There’s a slow but steady progression the Hebrew writer uses as he seeks to encourage weary saints.

He speaks about the majesty of Jesus who is God’s last spokesmen (Hebrews 1:1-2), Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2), through whom the world was made (Hebrews 1:2), who is Deity (Hebrews 1:3), and who upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). He is the one who has made purification of sins and sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3-4). He is superior to all the angels (Hebrews 1:12). It is God the Father who calls Him God (Hebrews 1:8). He is eternal in nature (Hebrews 1:11-12).

In Chapter Two, there’s more direct language like, “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it…” The writer will become even more direct as the letter continues. He doesn’t beat around the bush about dangers and what happens if we do drift away. He says, “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…?” While his words intensify in chapter two, he provides encouraging words as well. In chapter two, for the first time he uses “Jesus.”

“This is the first place in this epistle where the author has referred to God’s Son by the name he wore as a man: Jesus. Until now the emphasis has been on his exalted status as Son. In this context, however, the author wishes to discuss the significance of his lowly existence for a while as a man. Using the Lord’s earthly name emphasizes this.” [1]

Why does the Hebrew writer spend time in chapter one emphasizing the exalted nature of Jesus and then speaking about His lowly existence for a while as a man in Chapter two?  Brother McClister in his commentary notes, “It seems that the original readers of Hebrews did not grasp all the greatness of Jesus. They knew that Jesus had lived as a man and had died, and they seem to know quite well that Jesus had been raised from the dead. This much was not apparently in question. However, Jesus’ existence as a man and his subjection to death possibly led some to think of Jesus as less than he is. They possibly did not fully appreciate what happened after Jesus was raised from the dead. They knew Jesus in his lowliness but did not fully know him in his exaltation and may have well thought that the former ruled out the latter. He (the writer) will explain in more detail how the death of Jesus in no way makes him inferior, nor does it imply that he is less than the reigning king at God’s right hand and God’s equal as depicted in ch 1. Jesus’ lowly death was, in fact, absolutely necessary to the attainment of his present position as high priest. He will return to the subject of the superiority of the Son, and our need to hear him, beginning in 3:1.” [2]

Some Final Thoughts for now. Do we fully grasp who Jesus is and what He has done for us? When we do, we will not leave Him or His teachings. How we view Jesus matters. The Hebrew writer wanted his readers to see the full picture of Jesus and what He has accomplished. Being reminded about who Jesus is essential for every Christian, especially those on the verge of leaving Him.

Let us all ask ourselves, “Am I paying much closer attention to what I’ve heard?” If not, let us stop everything else, repent, and consider Jesus, and pay even more closer attention to Him.

[1] A commentary on Hebrews David McClister page 104

[2] Ibid page 104