Tuesday-Clear

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

Hebrews 7:14

When it comes to windows, I only like clear ones. I’ve never met a window that I didn’t want to be clear. The idea of windows that you can’t see through is just a waste of time and money to me. Windows must be clear. Period. At least that’s the way I want them.

Living in Florida, there’s no need to keep an ice scraper in the car. But when the car windows are covered with dew, I immediately get to work. Quickly pulling one of those rubber squeegees out from beside the driver’s seat, I get to work. I wipe down all the windows so they are clean and clear.

If you ever have the chance to be in a car that I’m driving, you’ll see this in action. When something flies on the windshield, I immediately turn on the wipers to get it off. And if that doesn’t do the trick, I’ll quickly add windshield washer fluid to help clean it off. This is why I’m also constantly on the alert to make sure that there’s plenty of windshield wiper fluid in the car.

Yes, I’m more than just a little bit over the edge when it comes to windows being clear. And don’t get me started on mirrors!

The writer is also really focused on being clear too. Not about windows or mirrors, but about Jesus. He’s been telling the Hebrews that Jesus is their priest, but he wasn’t born into the family and tribe where all other priests come from.

Under normal circumstances, this makes all the sense in the world. The law clearly says that all priests will come from the tribe of Levi. So, when it came to Jesus, there was a problem because he was from the tribe of Judah[1].

So, the question for all the good and God fearing Hebrews is, how can this be? The writer gives us two very important and strong answers.

1. God always planned for a different priest. That’s why he’s been spending so much time writing to the Hebrews on Mr. M. There was a prophecy for a priest forever that was in the order of Melchizedek[2]. Mr. M. came way before the regular priesthood, and God’s savior was going to be like him – not from the tribe of Levi.

2. God is their priest. Yep, you heard me correctly. While all the other priests throughout human history were people just like you and me, God’s savior was going to be both a priest and God at the same time. Did you see that he refers to Jesus as our Lord? That’s exactly the same title given to God the Father.

It couldn’t be any clearer. The writer is telling the Hebrews that Jesus is our Lord. The one and only God Almighty. The one who’s descended from Judah is God from all eternity past.

This, ladies and gentlemen, can only mean Jesus. With great care and clarity, the writer is reminding the Hebrews that Jesus was and is The Lord God Almighty. He uses the exact same words that other Bible writers use when referring to God the Father[3] and God the Holy Spirit[4]. Nothing could be clearer.

You might be thinking to yourself, “OK, I get why this is important to the Hebrews in the first century who were going through persecution. But what’s the big deal for us today? Does it matter all that much.

The short answer is that you can bet your boots that it’s important for you and me today. If Jesus wasn’t God, then you can just about throw out all of Christianity into the trash can. Only God could pay the price for our sins. If Jesus was just a man, then he’s also a sinner just like you and me. And we’re still in our sin[5].

Remember this when those two nice looking, clean cut young men come knocking on your door in their white shirts and black ties. Or those other people who always come in pairs, carrying their Bibles and bringing up the end of the world.

The most important question to ask them, or anyone else, is who is Jesus? Is he fully God[6]? Is he fully man[7]? This separates Christianity from every other religion or faith in the world.

So, let’s be clear. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners[8]. And that covers everyone. We’re in desperate need of forgiveness, being made whole again before God. And it’s in response to his sacrifice, we’ll receive his power to live in this life. We’ll want to live each and every minute in newness of life[9].

Noodling Questions

• Name three things that you always want clean and clear. Explain why.

• Why is so important that Jesus is Lord be so clear to everyone?

• List three other things that must be clear about Jesus.

[1] Matthew 1:2, Luke 3:33

[2] Psalm 110:4

[3] Matthew 1:20,22 – there are just too many references to put here

[4] Acts 5:9

[5] 1 Corinthians 15:17-22

[6] John 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8

[7] Romans 1:2–4; 1 John 4:2–3

[8] 1 Timothy 1:15

[9] Romans 6:4