The Story of Hebrews continues...
1 -- The Setting of Hebrews
2 -- The Cast of Characters
3 -- The Context at Corinth/Ephesus (13:22-25)
4 -- Closing Clues (13:1-19)
5 -- The Main Takeaway (4:14-16; 10:25-31)
6 -- Remember the Good Times (5:11-6:2; 10:32-39)
7 -- The Impossibility of Repentance (6:3-8; 10:26-31)
8 -- The Rhetorical Strategy of Hebrews
9 -- An Eternal Priest (Hebrews 5, 7)
10 -- The New Covenant (Hebrews 8)
11 -- A Better Sacrifice and Sanctuary (Hebrews 9-10)
12 -- The Cheering Witnesses (Hebrews 11)
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1. "I feel like I have a good sense of the heart of the sermon" (4:14-10:18), Tertius said, "and the very end of the sermon that is like a letter's end (13:1-25). And the exempla will clearly urge them to faithfulness (chap. 11). But it feels like we need something between the examples of faith and the letter ending. Something to help the bird land."
"That seems right to me too," Apollos agreed. "I think we want another mild warning. Not one as strong was we have made earlier. Something that will gently put in context the suffering they are experiencing right now."
"What about something more relating to paideia and training? We hinted a little that way back near the central warning of the sermon." Tertius asked.
Apollos thought for a moment.
"I'm thinking perhaps something to do with the Lord's discipline," he finally said.
"Yes, I can see that," Tertius said. "Maybe even tie in the proverb about the Lord's discipline" (Prov. 3:11-12).
"Excellent," Apollos agreed. "We will liken their current suffering to the discipline of a father. Discipline is like training for a race, which fits well with the sense that they need to keep running even though they are getting tired."
"Yes," Tertius continued. "You cannot run a race unless you have trained. The Lord's training is the discipline that makes sure they can finish the race, as brother Paul once put it to the Corinthians here" (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
"Those whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, the proverb says." Apollos continued. "The discipline can be like correction, but it is much richer than that. It is direction. It is preparation for the future. It is training."
"It will help them get over their weak knees" (12:12), Tertius said with a smile.
"Yes, and their feeble hands."
2. Apollos thought I little more.
"We are very close," he said. "I think perhaps a stern warning goes here. Perhaps start with the negative example of Esau."
"Esau? How so?" Tertius asked.
"They are worried in part because of what the synagogues of Rome are telling them--that they need to participate in their meals for atonement now that the temple is destroyed."
"How does that connect to Esau," Tertius followed up.
"Well, Esau sold his birthright for a meal," Apollos said. "They are tempted to abandon Christ for a meal that they think is needed for atonement."
"Got it," Tertius said. "We will urge them not to be like Esau, who sold his birthright--his right to be the child of God--for food" (12:16).
"And he couldn't get it back," Apollos said very seriously. "He tried to find a place of repentance, but he couldn't" (12:17).
"That's so scary," Tertius said. "It's like he knew with his head what he needed, but it simply wasn't possible.
"I do want to sober the Romans up," Apollos agreed. "If they abandon the living God at this point, I don't think they will ever be able to come back. Their head might know better, but their hearts will be hardened."
3. "Now for the grand finale," Apollos continued after another pause.
"Are we going out with a thunderclap?" Tertius asked.
"Yes," Apollos answered. "Let's picture two mountains: Mt. Sinai and the heavenly Mt. Zion."
"You're reminding me again a little of Paul. Remember the letter he wrote to the Galatians? The Sarah and Hagar allegory."
"Indeed," Apollos said. "An allegory something like that but perhaps more comprehensive."
"So how will you set it up?" Tertius asked.
"They have two mountains in front of them. First, there is the mountain of the old covenant, which is earthly. We'll liken it to Mt. Sinai where Moses received the Law" (12:18-21).
"And the other mountain," Tertius said, "the one you're calling Mt. Zion? Isn't that the earthly Jerusalem, which is now in ruins?"
"Ah, but that's the key move of the allegory," Apollos responded with excitement. "The earthly Jerusalem was never the truest Jerusalem. Just as the true tabernacle is in heaven, the true Jerusalem is in heaven" (12:22-24).
"Ah, I get it," Tertius smiled. "You've already hinted at that when you've talked about Abraham. He was seeking a heavenly homeland (11:16). We don't have a city that remains here (13:14)."
"Exactly," Apollos agreed. "They have not come to Mt. Sinai, which was no doubt an awesome sight."
"They were terrified at it," Tertius added. "Man, even if an animal touched it, they had to put it to death! Even Moses was scared" (12:20).
"So imagine how much scarier it would be not to heed the voice of the one who is speaking to them now from heaven" (12:25).
"And how much more glorious is the heavenly Zion!" Tertius added. "You can picture the tens of thousands of angels in festive assembly" (12:22).
"Not to mention all the firstborn children of the Father throughout all of history" (12:23), Apollos agreed.
"And Jesus" (12:24), Tertius finished. "I can't wait to see Jesus."
4. "Let's end then the sermon part of the letter here with a look to the final judgment and restoration of
the world," Apollos said next.
"I want to quote Haggai," Apollos continued. "God is not just going to shake the earth. He is going to shake the whole creation--skies and earth included" (12:26).
"What will be left?" Tertius said nervously.
"Of course the highest heaven cannot be shaken, the new, heavenly Jersualem we have just mentioned," Apollos explained.
"Whew," Tertius said. "You made me a little nervous there. I get confused between the true heaven and the created heavens."
"God will shake the created heavens and earth," Apollos said, "so that the unshakeable will be all that remains" (12:27).
"Will there be a new heaven and earth?"
"No doubt," Apollos said. "Perhaps the heavenly Jerusalem will come down to the new earth."
"What a picture!" Tertius exclaimed.
"It is going to be beyond our greatest imaginations," Apollos agreed.
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