Sermon for Springfield Students 11.06.16-1

JESUS IS BETTER

Jesus is better than Moses

Big Idea: What I want us to see in our time together is that Jesus is better than our perception of our greatest heroes/leaders.

Recap: Last week we had a chance to hear about WHO Jesus is. The focus of the night was to consider the person and life of Jesus. You were asked the question “where is your calling from?” As you heard last week, someone that owned their high calling was Paul. His only way to live was to consider Jesus as better than everything else; there was no other option.

Intro:

Moses would have been like our modern day Santa Claus…

They both tend to get elevated higher than they should. People tend to not accept the truth that well when it comes to people they grew up loving. When you have a wrong view of Santa, then Christmas becomes something it was never intended to be. It becomes more about the creation, than the creator. So we end up reacting like these people on Christmas morning.

Take a look:

Video: Let’s watch this video…

In the same way Church when we elevate anything over Jesus, we tend to overreact to things that don't carry real value. The writer of Hebrews is going to address how considering JESUS helps with this as believers. Let’s dive into the passage!

Background: Hebrews is written for the Jews who were evaluating Jesus

The author of Hebrews is emphasizing one simple truth that is threaded throughout the entire book, Jesus is better! (Say “Jesus Is Better”) Judaism was no second rate religion. It was the best means of worship and devotion to God at the time. The commandments, rituals, and prophets all spoke of God’s salvation and the way by which they received forgiveness of sins. But this all changed once Jesus came.

BUT JESUS fulfilled the law and the prophets, conquering sin and death, and therefore breaking any barrier between God and humanity. Jesus’ resurrection provided forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life to all who believed and put their faith and trust in Him alone.

This was a radical shift for the Jews. Some did believe, but the struggle continued for them to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Many held on to the traditions of Judaism and therefore rejected Jesus as Messiah, referring often to the gospel as heresy. Some fell into a hybrid of believing in Jesus, yet practicing the same traditions as before. Hebrews tells everyone that Jesus is better, Christianity is superior, and Jesus is supreme over all!

Passage: Hebrews 3:2-4 (Say it 3x) (Broad Text Heb. 3:1-6)

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

3 Main Points:

1. Jesus is the Son of God, Moses was a servant of God. (1b-2)

“consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.”

1. Illust: Me moving to Nashville as a musician… I wasn’t really that good compared to everyone else in Nashville! Now I say I play as a hobby.
2. “Your perspective changes when your situation changes. The Jews were experiencing a major change because now Jesus is on the scene!”
3. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3

4. The people looked back to Moses as a leader because he was a great military leader, faithful servant, and prophet of God.

   1. “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth,” Numbers 12:6-8

   2. The Jewish people looked at Moses like their hero.

   3. Question: Does anyone here have a hero?

   4. Illust: My hero was Batman… *Batman could obviously take any other super hero, including superman! Moses is a real life Marvel super hero…
   5. He led their ancestors to the edge of the Promised Land and wrote the first 5 books of the Old Testament.

   6. The Jewish Christians were experiencing persecution during this period, therefore it would make sense that they are trying to make sure that Jesus really is the Messiah.

   7. Persecution and trials force us to make a decision of who we’re going to follow! We either choose what’s comfortable and familiar, or we choose to trust God and press on!

5. Jesus saves us from sin, Moses saved the Israelites from slavery (3a)

“For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses”

1. They were too devoted to Moses

   1. “Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me” - John 5:45-46
   2. 28 They heaped insults on him, saying, “You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!” (John 9:28-29)

   3. Question: What’s something that you are too devoted to above Jesus?

   4. Maybe it’s your boyfriend or girlfriend?

   5. Maybe it’s the amount of time you spend gaming?
   6. Maybe it’s the decisions you make when nobody else is around?

   7. Moses received credit for things that came from God

   8. “Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven” - John 6:32

   9. He deserves more…

   10. He deserves more praise because He has done more.

   11. He deserves more praise because He is more
   12. He deserves more praise because He is God.
   13. If they could convince the Jews that Jesus was better than Moses then Jesus must really be AWESOME!
   14. If you love sports then it would be like me telling you that Jesus is better than soccer, basketball, or softball!
   15. If you love shopping then it would be like me telling you that Jesus is better than the finest pair of shoes.
   16. It’s taking whatever you love or have idolized and saying that Jesus is better!

   17. Comparison…

   18. Moses

       1. Faithful to God (v. 2)
       2. Honor and Glory (v. 3)
       3. The house (vv. 3, 4)
       4. A servant (v. 5)

       5. Testimony to truth (v. 5)

          2. Jesus

       6. Faithful to God (v. 2)

       7. More honor and glory (v. 3)
       8. The builder of the house (vv. 3, 4)
       9. A Son (v. 6)
       10. The Truth (v. 5)

2. Jesus is the builder of the house, Moses was the house (3b-4a)

“as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)

1. Illust: I’m working on my house right now. It’s been a serious project! No joke, we’ve lived in a tent for weeks, showered outside for months, and even had moments where we didn’t have a restroom. It’s been wild! I will take credit for the work done on the house, but how could I say that I’m better than Jesus?! He created the materials for the house! He created my body to work on the house! He created my brain to be able to think about the repairs and projects! He IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS!
2. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. - John 1:1-3
3. because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. - Romans 1:25
4. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. - Colossians 1:16-17

Back to the Big Idea: What I wanted us to see in our time together is that Jesus is better than your heroes. Better than anyone you’ve ever looked up to and idolized. Jesus is better!

3 Walking Points:

Someone tonight needs to commit to one or maybe all of these walking points.

1. Recklessly Abandon Everything For Jesus

   1. Jesus is better than comfort or convenience
   2. Abandon means to turn the other way and keep moving
   3. What in your life are you holding on to that you’ve convinced yourself is better than Jesus?
   4. “If there is anything in your life that is not glorifying God then tonight is the night to let it go and recklessly abandon it for Jesus!”

   5. Acknowledge Jesus As Lord Over All

   6. Make Him #1, #2, #3…. And so on in your life. There should be no close second to Jesus.

   7. To make Him Lord is to make Him Master over ALL things, your future, relationships, family, friends, school, etc.
   8. He’s already the creator and sustainer of all, it’s time you make Him MASTER of all.

   9. Look to Jesus, Not Your Heroes For Your Identity

   10. Heroes and idols will always let you down, but Jesus is a faithful Savior that will always be there.

   11. Heroes and idols are temporary, but Jesus is eternal.
   12. Heroes are human and fail, but God is everything we know and feel about love! He is perfect!

Invitation:

“Why settle for _________ when you can have Jesus?”

Moses represents anything that you elevate more than Jesus. It could be your future, time, relationships, or your talents. Moses in this context is what they’ve always known or what’s comfortable, but why settle for what you’ve always known when you could live the abundant life found in Jesus?!?!?!