The Reset - Being Inspired by Jesus

Good morning. That wasn't that cheery, but we'll let it go. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

I don't know about you, but one of the family gatherings we had at Christmas, we had some crackers, Christmas crackers.

I think they're going out of fashion. Everyone thinks it just goes in the bin and it's an ecological waste.

But in this moment, we had crackers and we had particularly inspiring Christmas cracker jokes.

That was a joke. I don't know if you caught any of these. Three of them stood out for me.

What do you call an old snowman? Water. Very good, very good. We obviously bought the same pack.

What, what, why does Santa Claus go down the chimney? It soots him. I know, I know, I know. It gets worse.

So what never eats Christmas dinner? The turkey. It's stuffed.

And the last point of pain that I'll give you this morning, well, maybe not, I'm about to speak,

but the last joke would be, what do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a detective?

Santa Claus. I know, I know. Forgive me, forgive me. Yes. So no wonder when you have jokes like that

and after Christmas, you're kind of ready for something new, a new chapter. And actually,

this is a period of reset, Twixmas, as Emma said to me this morning, a moment when we start to think

about the year gone and we consider the year to come. And so a natural moment to think about

what would I hope for in this coming year. And it's certainly what happens if you are on any social

media or if you're looking on YouTube or I think on adverts, on television as well, if you're streaming,

is that there's so many people now selling what's next for your next chapter, a reset,

reset. One that I read said, five minutes to transform your life. Maybe Jesus can do that,

but I think the 50 press-ops it was recommending a day probably wouldn't. Another one that I got an email

said, are you ready for an adventure that will change your life? Dot, dot, dot. Would you like to swim 10K

in a river? No, I don't think so. We'll skip that one. We'll skip one. But a sense of reset,

reset. And it's actually quite remarkable as psychologists and neuroscientists analyze the

body, the brain, the gut, and how we have a natural capacity for reset. Overnight, our bodies are

resetting so many of our systems that even emotionally, overnight, things often change for us and we can get

fresh perspective. And a psychologist recently said to me, it normally takes one and a half days if you have

that sort of sting of irritation and anger for an interaction, one and a half days. Normally,

you're then in a position to take a fresh perspective. Lots of different sense of reset.

And of course, an ultimate reset that we know in Jesus. A reset with a life knowing forgiveness

and grace and grace and a new chapter. So as we, this morning in Twixmas, pause, it's a moment for us to

consider what kind of reset might we want with God as we go into the new year. And Hebrews is really a

resetting book. The author is a new year. And there's a consistent theme of clarifying, being clear,

stating the truth of Jesus. It's resetting for them as they start to fall back into Old Testament ways,

under pressure, the truth of Jesus. Essentially, there's two themes. Jesus is God. And secondly,

Jesus is the source of salvation. And by the grace of God, as it says in chapter 2, verse 9,

that Christ experienced death for us and it is through the wisdom of God that such a death saves

humankind. And that's what we're going to explore a little this morning. Now, in Hebrews,

there are lots of verses that will be familiar to anyone who's been a Christian for any long period of time,

such as in chapter 2, verse 5, what is man that you are mindful of him? Chapter 4, verse 12,

for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates

even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. In chapter 11, now faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see. In chapter 12, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin

that so easily entangles and let us with perseverance run the race marked out for us.

As I read that, it reminded me that in university, I used to wear this Christenton sport t-shirt that had that verse

on the back and I sort of intentionally sat near the front of a large lecture theatre so my fellow students

could see those words. And I think, as I look now, I think I'm slightly embarrassed about my boldness,

but also quite impressed by my boldness about trying to tell people about Jesus, both at the same time.

So as we consider what new fitness regime we might be taking on board,

what new way of operating with our families we think might bring health and flourishing,

let's really consider what the Holy Spirit might be nudging us to do as a reset with God.

And I just want to share three themes from these verses that Margaret read to us.

Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus as the source for salvation.

And Jesus sets us free.

So why don't we just pray and let's just pause before God.

Allow the Holy Spirit to stir our hearts.

Our Lord, we come before you

and ask that you would use this moment and this time to speak to us.

Stir our hearts.

Tune our ears to you.

And I pray that only what you want to bring to life would land today from what I share.

You would guide these words, Holy Spirit.

And meet with us.

In your name, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

So the first theme, Jesus as the Son of God.

So this whole book is really this reset, this narrative,

that states clearly Jesus is God,

not just a prophet.

And the writer makes this abundantly clear at the very beginning,

at the start of chapter one, with these words.

In the past, God spoke to our forefathers,

through the prophets, at many times and in various ways.

But in these last days, he's spoken to us by his Son,

whom he appointed heir of all things,

and through whom he made the universe.

The Son is the radiance, God's glory,

and the exact representation of his being,

sustaining all things by his powerful word.

After he provided purification for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven.

This might sound like pretty standard fare if you believe in the Trinity,

but this, it was a very clear statement of the sovereignty of Jesus,

a recorrecting of those at this time who were falling back into traditional Jewish practices.

Jesus is the exact representation of God,

his statement.

And what I really noticed is that there are some Christian writers today

who are very compelling,

very quite inspiring writing,

but actually are just starting to write out Jesus from the story

and have a compelling narrative about spirituality and seeking God,

but without this simple truth that we believe in this church,

that Jesus is God.

And through his death, through his resurrection,

we find forgiveness for our sins

and the promise of an eternity with God.

Well, let's just consider what that might mean for us

and take a moment to consider what is being stirred in you

as you hear this clarification of who Jesus is.

The second theme,

Jesus as the source of salvation.

So the word salvation is used seven times here in Hebrews,

it's six in Acts,

five times in Romans.

And so it is clearly part of the narrative of correction

of the access to God is through Jesus,

made possible by his death and his resurrection.

What stands out for me,

particularly in verse 10 is a reference to suffering.

It was fitting that God,

for whom and through whom everything exists,

should make the author of their salvation perfect

through suffering.

So in here is the narrative of Jesus being fully God,

but fully human.

And you can read throughout the gospel

of the suffering that Jesus experienced.

What I really noticed,

particularly as I read this,

is that it isn't Jesus kind of going to the motions

of being human.

It's not Jesus suddenly anesthetized

or cushioned by the Holy Spirit,

but truly encountering physical,

emotional suffering.

In the same way that the Old Testament priest

would sacrifice an animal

as an atonement for their own

and the people's sins

and do that repeatedly,

we see here Jesus becoming that ultimate sacrifice

to break the power of sin and death

and give us access to forgiveness,

grace, healing, and purpose.

And we see this predicted so clearly in Isaiah,

Isaiah 53, 5.

But he was pierced for our transgressions.

He was crushed for our iniquities.

The punishment that brought us peace

was on him.

And by his wounds, we are healed.

I remember as an altar server

in the Catholic Church

where you would ring the bell at key moments,

set up the altar, carry candles,

and set up and sort of pack down

of a mass in the morning

that we at Easter would do the

Stations of the Cross

and around the church that I was in

in Cheltenham

were really vivid depictions

of the journey from Jesus being arrested,

arrested, accused, hung on the cross

through to resurrection.

And these bold pieces of art

we would reflect on as we walk around.

I remember even then being struck

by how this individual suffering

for Jesus was an expression

of love for us.

These verses in Hebrews

are a statement that salvation

is in, through, and with Jesus.

That Jesus is the Saviour

and there's no other name

by which salvation occurs.

We see that repeated in Acts 4 and Acts 2.

And this is described later on in Hebrews,

Hebrews 7:26

chapter 7, verse 26.

Such a high priest

meets our need.

One who is holy,

blameless, pure,

set apart from sinners,

exalted from the heavens.

Unlike the other high priests,

he does not need to offer sacrifices

day after day

for his own sins

and then for the sins

of the people.

He sacrificed for their sins

once for all

when he offered himself.

Let us pause,

take a moment and consider

what we're noticing,

what the Holy Spirit is prompting us

as we consider about Jesus

paying the price

for our sins

and that promise of salvation.

So the third theme

that stood out for me

that I just want to share

is this idea of being set free

by Jesus.

And in verses 14 to 18,

we see Jesus identifying

with our humanity.

Not ashamed to call us brothers

and sisters

that we are children of God.

And it really is

the new covenant.

It's like a new testament

to the love,

grace and involvement

of Jesus in our lives.

And then it's explicit.

Freedom here

from sin,

death and the devil.

And death is clearly identified

as the fruit of sin.

And this promise

of the possibility

of an eternal life

with God

through forgiveness.

And so

we see Jesus

in the Gospels

saying the devil

is a murderer,

a liar and thief.

And later in Hebrews,

we read this challenge to us

about our maturity,

about discerning.

inner spirit.

From chapter 5,

verse 12.

In fact,

though by this time

you ought to be teachers,

you need someone

to teach you

the elementary truths

of God's word

all over again.

You need milk,

not solid food.

Anyone who lives on milk,

being still an infant,

is not acquainted

with a teaching

about righteousness.

but solid food

is for the mature

who,

by constant use,

have trained themselves

to distinguish

good from evil.

I remember a friend of mine

who did work

in banks

said that the tellers,

you know,

the people working

at the tills

in banks

wouldn't get,

spent a lot of time

looking at counterfeit money.

but they handled

the real thing

so much of the time,

almost the moment

they put their hand

on something

counterfeit,

they could tell.

I think it's a good

analogy for us

to sense of how

we're engaging

personally,

closely,

intimately with God

so we can spot

sooner the tricks,

traps,

and lies

of the enemy.

So we read

in verse 16

that Jesus

is faithful

and merciful

high priest

in God's service.

He's proven

to be faithful

and trustworthy

to us.

And so for me

there's evidence

that Jesus

would pay the price

for us.

Suffer,

die,

to be risen again

is such a bold

commitment to us

that we can be assured

of God's involvement,

care,

faithfulness,

desire to support

and intervene

in our lives

in the now.

As you read

in Matthew 7, 9,

which of you

if your son

asks for bread

will give him

a stone?

How much more

will your father

in heaven

give good gifts

to those

who ask them?

And what's clear

in these verses

is Jesus

shares

in our suffering.

The readers

of this letter

at this time

are facing

persecution

and suffering

and there's

an encouragement

to know

that they

can connect

with a living God

who also suffered

and can understand

their struggles.

And I think

the same for us

as we face

challenges,

as we face

wrestles,

as we face

pain,

that actually

we can turn

to a God

who can understand,

guide us

and response.

One of the books

I read through

as I was preparing

for this this morning

was written

by Raymond Brown.

He used to be

the principal

of Spurgeon's

College

in London

which used to

train

Baptist ministers.

Jesus.

And at the end

of his notes

he just wrote

this line

I want to share

with it.

The one who endured

the world's greatest

suffering,

the bearing

of human sin

and separation

from God

and yet triumphed

is certainly

able to help

anyone

who turns

to him.

He's able

to do

far more

for us

than we would

ever dare

to pray about

or even

think about.

So as we are

in this

liminal

stage

I heard that

on Lectio

this morning

and thought

I think I know

what it means

but I'd better

look it up

to be sure.

This in-between

stage

of Christmas

and New Year

as we're thinking

about

what has been

and we're thinking

about what's

to come

let's just

take a moment

to pray

and seek

God's hand

on our lives

where we most

need the Holy

Spirit's

assistance

involvement

wisdom

grace

healing

touch

let's just

pause

and then

we'll pray

together

Holy Spirit

we ask you

would meet

with us

as we

pause

before you

in this

moment

on this

morning

we thank

you for the

promises

in these

verses

that you

are a God

who cares

demonstrated

by your own

sacrifice

on earth

demonstrated

by your gift

of forgiveness

demonstrated

by your involvement

in our lives

now

we ask

Holy Spirit

that you

would

speak to us

Lord

you'd respond

to the prayers

and the calls

of our hearts

that we are

holding right now

for breakthrough

in our families

for strength

to face

challenges

for peace

and repair

in relationships

for healing

touch

of the living

God

for inspiration

for the next

step

in our lives

to know

your love

and your

peace

in a deeper

and more

profound

way

than ever

before

there's a

blessing

later in

Hebrews

and I know

we normally

do a blessing

at the end

and it will

but I wanted

to read this

to close off

this moment

may the God

of peace

who is with

the blood

of the eternal

covenant

brought back

from the dead

our Lord Jesus

that great shepherd

of the sheep

equip you

with everything

good

for doing

his will

and may he

work in us

what is pleasing

to him

through Jesus

Christ

to whom

be glory

forever

and ever

and we pray

this in Jesus

name

Amen