Why stay with the Christian faith?  That is the question the writer of the Book of Hebrews is answering.  The Jewish Christians were under pressure to return to Judaism and the author is encouraging them not to drift away, to stay the course. 

              A natural question is “why”?  Why go through suffering and persecution?  Why lose our homes and all of our possessions?  Why not take the easy way and go back into what is more of a comfortable area? 

              The first and major reason that is given to the Jewish Christians is that what they have now with Jesus is much better than what they had without Jesus.  The first reason, then is that Jesus is better.

              Have you ever heard of Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis? He was an Austrian doctor who headed up a clinic in Vienna.   In 1847, a friend and fellow surgeon died. In the autopsy, he discovered that he had the same disease as one of his patients.  He then advocated that surgeons wash their hands before they do surgery.  The death rate dropped from 13% of the people down to 2%.  We can be thankful today that he discovered this for it is much better to have a surgeon with clean hands than one who has hands dirty from another operation.

              But the people in his day did not know, nor did they believe, that disease spread by germs.  It wasn’t until Louis Pasteur promoted the idea that it began to take hold. In 1867 Joseph Lister published a paper that encouraged that practice.  We all know washing our hands is much better today.  So Jesus is better.

              This is a tough sell in our world today.  We can have better butter, better cars, better insurance, but a better Christ?  It makes us sound arrogant.

              But those who have known Christ have known the ‘better” that I speak of.   Many of you have testified publically or privately to me the changes that have come into your life since you gave your life to Jesus.  And I tell you, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, don’t go back.  Don’t go back no matter the pressure, no matter the sacrifice.  Don’t go back.  Why?  Because Jesus is better.

              The writer of Hebrews was speaking to a Jewish Christian audience.  Many people forget that Jesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and said that He was the Jewish Messiah.  The early church was made up of mostly Jewish Christians and only later became dominated by Gentiles. 

              As the pressure mounted on these Jewish Christians, the author of Hebrews compares the old Judaism with Christ.  I am going to sketch over these.  Someone may have a Sunday School class in which they go into greater detail.  But I want to share with you the facts that the writer of Hebrews gives to his audience to show to them that Christ is better.

              The first fact is that Jesus has a better name than angel. 1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? (Heb 1:1-5). The word “angel” means messenger.  Which is the better name?  Messenger or son?  Which word carries the most weight with you? 

              Angels were held in high esteem.  Some Jews believed that God used angels to help deliver the Ten Commandments to Moses.  But Jesus is better than the angels.

              Not only is the name Son better than angel,  but to sit on the throne is better than serving the throne.  13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Heb 1:13-14).  Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, the angels are out working.  This is used by the author of Hebrews to show that Jesus is better than the angels.

              Jesus is also worthy of more honor than Moses. 1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Heb 3:1-6).

              Moses was revered as the receiver of the law.  His trip up Mount Sinai and his encounter with God made him the top prophet of them all.  But as much as Moses was honored, and God never says he received too much honor,  Jesus was worthy of more honor.  Why?

              Because Moses helped build God’s house.  Jesus was the Son who rules over God’s house.  Who is worthy of greater honor?  The contractor or the Son?  Which is worthy of more honor?  The preacher who talks about following Jesus or the Jesus that you follow?  Moses just couldn’t compare with Jesus.

              Not only that, but Jesus is greater than the Levitical priests.  The writer goes on to compare the priesthood of Levi with the priesthood of an obscure priest in the Bible, Melchizedek.

              The priests were very important people.  The whole nation honored the priests.  One of the many ways they honored them was to give the priests ten percent of all they had.  When Israel came into the land, the Levites were not given any land, but were to be housed and supported by the other eleven tribes.  This was given to them so they could concentrated on their priestly duties. 

              The father of the Jewish nation was Abraham.  He was the father of the Levites.  Notice what happens when he meets Melchizadek even before the Levites were born.

           1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace”. 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest for ever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. (Heb 7:1-10).

              Notice that Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek.  Not only that, but Melchizedek gave him a blessing.  Verse 7 supports the main point.  And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.

           Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizek, not the Levites.  Where the priesthood of the Levites had a beginning and and end, Psalm 110:4, which is quoted here, speaks of an eternal priesthood based on Melchizedek.  Which is greater?  The one who serves for a short time or the one who serves forever?  Jesus, the author contends, is better than the priests of Israel because his priesthood goes on forever.

              Jesus also is the mediator of a better covenant.  I won’t go into any detail here, but this is the basis for the words “Old Testament” and “New Testament.”  “Testament” is understood as “agreement”, “covenant.”

              What makes the new covenant better than the first is that the new covenant clears our conscience.  The old covenant meant sin and sacrifice as a cycle of human existance.  Guilt, forgiveness, guilt, forgiveness kept going.   14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Heb 9:14). 

              But the new covenant gave us the promise of all sins forgiven through the one sacrifice.  We don’t worry about spiritual death, we concentrate on serving the living God.

              But not only did Jesus bring a better covenant, he was a better sacrifice.  The sacrifices of the priests were done every day.  Jesus died once for sin and it was finished.               11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. (Heb 10:11-12).

           So let’s summarize this.  The writer of Hebrews is telling the Jewish Christians, don’t go back to Judaism.  Jesus is better.  He is better than the angels, better than Moses.  His priesthood is better than the Levites, his new covenant is better than the old covenant and his sacrifice is better than the one’s given by the Jewish priests.

              Why go back into that?  Jesus is so much better.  Trust Him.  Don’t drift away.  Stay the course!

              For the Gentile Christians, which includes most if not all of us, we have our own set.

              Why go back to a religious belief that teaches you have to be good to be loved and accepted by God when Jesus loves and died for sinners?  Which is better, to have to work for your salvation or to be given it as a gift?

              Why go back to religious beliefs that focused on the outward when with Jesus he is working on your heart?  The old way paid great attention to what you wore, how often you attended church, how much you put in the offering, the honor you paid the religious people.  But Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit that works inside to bring genuine love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness and faith.  

                            Why go back to life without meaning?  Christ’s purposes for our life embrace eternity!  Why live for things that will be given away, or rust, or be bulldozed over?