3.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• Jesus Christ has become our Elder Brother.
• As our brother, Jesus Christ is also our Worship Leader.
• Jesus leads the worship of the church, by:
  - bringing us together as his family.
  - leading us in our praises.
  - preaching God’s Word to us.
  - helping us.

3.2 Hebrews 2:10–18←⤒🔗

^2:10 For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

^2:11 For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,

^2:12 saying, 'I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.'

^2:13 Again he says, 'I will be confident in him,' and again, 'Here I am, with the children God has given me.'

^2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil),

^2:15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

^2:16 For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants.

^2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

^2:18 For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

© NET Bible

3.3 Jesus is our worship leader←⤒🔗

These days there is a lot of talking about church worship. What kind of music should we have? Who should do the prayers? How should the children be part of the worship? What should our church building look like?

These questions are important. But there is a much more important question. That is: Who is leading our worship?

The book of Hebrews was written to people who had many questions about worship. Most of these people were Jews who have become Christians. Many of them were persecuted and even kicked out of their families. They wondered if they were doing the right thing. Shouldn’t they go back to the Jewish way of worship? Shouldn’t they go back to the temple and to priests and animal sacrifices?

Over and over again, the writer of Hebrews tells these Christians, “Keep your eyes on Jesus! He is your High Priest. He is your worship leader. He is the final sacrifice. He is greater than the temple. The worship of the Old Testament was just a shadow of Jesus Christ!”

Today we should also remember this very important truth: Jesus Christ is the worship leader of his church. In the rest of this lesson, you will see how Jesus leads us in our worship meetings.

3.4 Jesus brings us together as his family←⤒🔗

At the beginning of our passage, we find this wonderful truth: Jesus has become our own brother. Yes, he is the Son of God and we are sinners. But he died so that our sins can be forgiven! Now we are clean and we are also children of God, his Father.

Jesus is our Elder Brother. He is “not ashamed” of us (verse 11). He is glad to have us as brothers and sisters!

Because Jesus is our Elder Brother, he takes responsibility for us. In verse 13, Jesus says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” These words come from Isaiah 8:18. When Isaiah said these words, he was speaking about himself and his followers. At that time, almost all the people of Israel were disobedient to God. But Isaiah had a group of people around him who listened to God’s Word. He took responsibility for them. That is why he called them his “children.”

In the same way, Jesus Christ brings us together around himself. That is what happens when we meet together as a church for worship. Jesus is there with us, as our Elder Brother. He leads us into the presence of God the Father. He says to God: “Here I am, and the children you have given me!”

Do not stay away from church on a Sunday. Jesus wants to meet with you there. He wants to bring you into his Father’s presence. If you have sinned in the week and you feel guilty, you should still go. Jesus Christ has paid for your sins. Through Jesus, God the Father accepts you. The Father wants you in his presence!

3.5 Jesus leads us in our praises←⤒🔗

What happens when the church goes into God’s presence? They praise him! In verse 12 of our passage, Jesus says, “In the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.” When we are praising God together as a church, Jesus is there with us. He praises God his Father with us.

If Jesus were not there, then our praise could never be good enough for God. But he leads us in our praises. That is what makes the praises of the church so beautiful to God.

We praise God when we sing his songs, and also when we pray. In our singing and praying, Jesus is leading us. That is why he told us to pray in his Name.

3.6 Jesus preaches God’s Word to us←⤒🔗

Hebrews 2:12 also says, “I will declare your name to my brothers.” This means that Jesus speaks God’s Word to us. In the worship meeting, we are not only speaking to God. God is also speaking to us. It is Jesus who preaches God’s Word to us.

How does Jesus preach to us? He gives us leaders to preach God’s Word to us. Then, when we hear the Word, he works in our hearts through his Holy Spirit.

That is why a pastor should only preach from the Word of God, the Bible. In this way he will help the people to know God better. It is very dangerous if a pastor is preaching his own ideas, and not the truth of the Word of God. Then he is not a true pastor. Then the church is not hearing the voice of Jesus Christ.

3.7 Jesus helps us←⤒🔗

In verses 16 and 18 of our passage, we read that Jesus helps us. Remember: Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God. He also became a human being, just like us. He knows exactly what we are going through. He knows how difficult life can be. He knows our temptations, because he also went through them (verse 18).

Jesus already took away our biggest problem: death! He died to free us from the power of death (verses 14–15). Now he is also helping us with our needs of every day. That is one reason why he wants us to meet together. When we meet together to worship, Jesus is there to comfort us. He is also there to make us strong against temptations.

This is how much God the Father loved us: that he gave his own Son to become our brother! When we come together for worship, our brother Jesus Christ is there to lead us