Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – Tuesday of Holy Week - 2021

March 30, 2021

Text: Hebrews 3:1-19

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

The author of Hebrews warns us, dear friends, not to take our salvation for granted, not to be “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”  For we have a treasure that was given to us as a free gift at our baptisms, and we “have come to share in Christ,” partaking of His mercy, His salvation, His eternal life, inheriting all good things from the Father, “if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

The author cites the Psalmist, who remembers and laments the disobedience of the children of Israel in the wilderness under Moses, their “rebellion,” their going “astray,” their putting God “to the test.”  We must pay heed to the Scriptures, how the Word of God shares with us concrete historical examples of those who hardened their hearts and did not enter God’s rest.

Rather than repeat their tragic example, we must follow Jesus: “the apostle and high priest of our confession,” for He is the New and Greater Moses, the one who not only leads us out of our slavery to sin, but who is worthy to take us into the Promised Land.  For He is also the New and Greater Joshua, completing that which Moses could not do.  For Jesus doesn’t merely deliver to us the Law, but He also provides us with the Gospel in His flesh and blood.  He offers forgiveness even to those who stray and return, to those who rebel but repent, to those who harden their heart, but later hear the Word of God and are restored to baptismal grace.

As the author of Hebrews reminds us, those who “fell in the wilderness” were denied entry into the Promised Land because of their disobedience were ultimately “unable to enter because of unbelief,” that is, because of their lack of faith.  They rebelled instead of repented, because they did not have faith in the Word of God that Moses brought to them.  They disbelieved the Law, and so they also disbelieved the Gospel.  The Scriptures did not take root in them like a seed in good soil, because they refused to allow it to germinate.  They rejected the gift of the Word, and so rejected even the faith that was also a gift.

Let us take their example to heart, dear friends.  Let us hear the Word from the Word Made Flesh, and let it take root in us, drawing us especially this Holy Week to our Lord’s cross, to the Promised Land of forgiveness, life, and salvation by His blood – even as He is the very High Priest who makes atonement for us.

For as great as Moses was, “Christ is faithful over God’s house as a Son.  And we are in His house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.