Jesus is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time) – Part 2

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THE G.O.A.T. – Part 2

Good morning Jesus Church here & online!

If you have Bibles… Turn to Hebrews

• Last week we started a series called: The GOAT
  • That Jesus is the greatest of all time
  • Everyone… Everything… Everywhere
• We talked about human tendency to take replace Jesus
  • With things that are Good… Even Spiritual
  • But we lose track of what should be in the highest place
• Because if you walk away from God out of disappointment
  • It’s b/c u haven’t put Jesus in the position he should be in
  • If Jesus is in his rightful place
    • You can face anything that doesn’t meet ur expectations
    • B/C Jesus is your greatest expectation… and he never fails

This week turn to Hebrews 3

Heb. 3:1-19

Heb. 4:8-12

• Conclude reading for the day – I know that’s a bit confusing
  • Believe by time you leave: Understand the point
  • Speak: Jesus is the greatest of all time

[PRAY]

Story: Ever met someone Famous?

Friend met Arnold Schwarzenegger: Super nice – Engaging – Charismatic

• But he could get over how short he Is…
  • In movies He seems larger than life
  • Reason: They create smaller sets/doorways/angles
  • To make action hero’s larger than life
• Tom Cruise – Meant to play 6’5” Jack Reacher
  • Is only 5’7” on a good day
• This is human nature… we want people to be larger than life

Hebrews address Jews caught up in legend of Moses

By time Hebrews written – Moses larger than life

• And of course… make no mistake: Moses is an amazing guy
  • If going pound/pound… epic story/epic story
    • Moses beats pretty much everyone in Bible
    • Outside of God
• And Moses was used in “out of this world” ways
  • Incredible man/Faithful man/Good man (had his weaknesses)
  • Yet the 1^st cent church saw Moses as pretty much perfect
    • And everyone wanted to be like Moses
    • Many thought he was the greatest man to ever live

Remember: Hebrews is written to Jews from the Old System

• System where everything was based on what u could do
  • How you relate to God through rules
  • How close you could get to perfection
    • And Moses was basically a rock star
• Now they come out of that system – Accept Jesus as Messiah
  • Trying to no longer trust in their…
  • : Behavior, Conduct & Adherence to 10 rules
• But now their faith is in Jesus AND His completion of those rules
  • But as time passed: Start to feel pressure of old way
  • Struggling wanting to leave being like Jesus
  • Go back to being like Moses

Hebrews starts with Comparison

Heb. 3:1-2

• Starts by easing in to the talk on Moses
  • First mention of Moses is that he is faithful… good guy
    • Everyone is for Moses
    • But Moses isn’t on the level of Jesus

Heb. 3:3-4

Moses being honored for being servant in the House

• Jesus being honored for being: Owner of house/Builder of house
  • By the way: Builder of every house and everything else
• So a couple verse into chapter 3: Moses is brought up
  • Quickly we see its no comparison… pretty short explanation
  • B/C Jesus isn’t just another character in Bible
• Jesus is the point of the Bible
  • The builder of all things
  • And the central character of all existence

Heb. 3:5-6

• So idea: Jesus is the Greatest is presented so the reader would
  • Put their Hope in Jesus… Trust in Jesus… Faith in Jesus
  • That’s the entire reason this letter was written
• And coming into our season… we need to be reminded as well
  • Our Hope/Trust/Faith can ONLY BE in Jesus
  • And if you have lost Hope/Trust/Faith
  • Jesus hasn’t changed… so what have you been trusting in???

Now… About to turn into a very passionate plea to trust in Jesus

• But please don’t misunderstand the emphasis here
  • This is not talking about PERFORMANCE
  • It’s talking about the POSITION of your heart
• Performance will eventually catch up with heart position b/c…
  • What u TRUST most… eventually determines how u LIVE most
  • The issue is always how you trust…
  • Before its about how you Walk/Talk/Act…
    • Its who u trust & how u trust who u trust
• Which is why church we believe in love, grace & acceptance
  • Believing that as a heart is changed… behavior will follow
  • Jesus changes us from the inside out

So this is the entire point of what is being said here…

• We’re given clearest picture of TRUST/LACK OF TRUST in the Bible
  • And how both paths affect our lives

Starts with this comparison to Moses – Great Pastor

His church 2 million (1^st cong. Of the Israelites)

• Ans they’re not very nice people… not like u guys at all
  • And Moses lost his temper a few times
    • Broke things
    • Hit rocks (I don’t blame him)
    • I’d probably do worse
  • Remember: Moses has become a legend
    • This legends job was 2 lead them to a promise land…
    • But he never gets there
    • Nor does an entire generation

• And the reason they’re not allowed in…
  • Not that they didn’t DO enough
  • Its b/c they didn’t TRUST enough
• Next generation w/ Joshua gets to go in
  • Not because the conducted themselves better
  • They just trusted God could do what He said He would do

The whole issue was Faith/Trust… and Now Ps 95 about to be quoted

• All about how one generation hardened their hearts
  • Didn’t believe God’s voice or He was able
  • They were held back from promised land
• Also a sneaky way of reminding Jews: Moses is great BUT…
  • Hate to remind you that he didn’t actually fulfill the mission
    • Moses Mission – Incomplete
    • Jesus Mission – Totally Complete

Heb. 3:7-12

Evil is a very strong word… think about that word for a minute

• What is he calling evil… did murder happen… or adultery
  • No… What did God call evil
  • Not trusting Him – Not trusting Jesus (THAT IS EVIL)
• Maybe our evil scale is slightly off in our community
  • We know what we put in evil category
  • Our list of the evil sins… God puts – Not trusting me

Problem: We associate “SIN” with actions

Not so much on things like a heart of unbelief

• We focus on tangible actions… you kicked my mom… that’s sin/evil
  • Why: B/C you can’t kick my mom
  • Everyone knows that’s evil
• But when deep in your heart: Stop trusting Jesus
  • Hard to see this as evil

Reason unbelief is evil: Jesus can take care of sin… big deal (Jesus died)

• But Jesus also defeated sin… so sin is covered
  • If u don’t believe/trust in His Son who conquered sin
  • Everything breaks down… it all hinges on TRUST/BELIEF
• That’s why what’s most evil to God is LACK OF TRUST

Heb. 3:12

Notice those words “ANY OF YOU”… meaning this is a community letter

• Speaks of assumption of community: incase u don’t like church
  • Obviously we are all supposed to be in on this together
  • Letter assumes the gathering of Jesus people together
• Any lack of trust in Jesus – This causes us to depart
  • Not bad behavior… actions… not what u say when hit ur toe
  • It’s not trusting Jesus – but trusting in anything BUT Jesus
• This is what the these people were struggling with
  • Do I trust in Jesus… Do I trust in something else
  • In His performance… or my performance (evil)

Heb. 3:13-14

As we go to Ch. 4 – Joshua is introduced

Heb. 4:1 (Context)

Heb. 4:7-8

One thing to talk on Moses… mentioning Joshua is very unique

• Because the Greek name for Jesus & Joshua are the same name
  • And remember comparisons are all to Jesus
  • Jesus’ name in Hebrew was Yeshua… which is translated Joshua
• So we are comparing of the first Yeshua to the last Yeshua
  • First Yeshua was very successful
  • Takes people to promised land… but it was only temporary
• So Moses Mission – Incomplete // Jesus Mission – Complete
  • Joshua rest – Temporary /// Jesus Rest Permanent

Heb. 4:9

Here’s where things all come together

To grasp the power of what is being said… understand story of Joshua

• Josh 5:13 – Jesus appears before Joshua (Yeshua / Yeshua face off)
  • Author connecting this together for Jewish mind
  • And it would be mind blowing
    • This is why I think Paul wrote Hebrews
    • He was smartest of the smart… only one who got all this
• Might be thinking how did Jesus show up… wasn’t even born yet
  • First remember this is God (What we call a Christophany)
  • Jesus appearing in the Old Testament
• Can that happen? – You tell me what God’s limitations are…
  • We know he acts outside of time
  • Doesn’t have to wait to be born a baby

Its ultimate proof Jesus is greater – In Biggest moment in Joshua’s life

• He goes out on his own to scout out Jericho… first battle as leader
  • Giant shoes of Moses to fill… PRESSURE IS ON!!!
  • Days away from impossible future…
  • And he trusts in God… just struggling a bit
    • Just like Jews that Hebrews is written to
    • Just like you and me today

Josh. 5:13

This isn’t just a man with a sword – This is a man with his sword drawn

• You draw your sword like you draw a gun… to fight
  • Naturally Joshua asks a question any warrior would
  • Um… so are you for us or the other guys
• Answer Jesus gives has far prophetic implications for all of us
  • Are you for us or them… the strange guy says “NO!”
    • What: No… that’s not the point
    • No this isn’t about whose team I’m on

Joshua 5:14

Its PRESENT TENSE: Always here… but I want u to know I am here now

• Meaning this wasn’t just a temporary position.. its always true
  • IAnd is he talkings to Joshua? Yes…
  • But I think it’s bigger than just Jericho
• Because it shows us – In most daunting moment of Joshua’s life
  • In the most daunting moment of your life
  • Jesus is already there – Sword drawn… ready to fight for you

That’s the end of the story… talk about a let down to the story

• Serious… Jesus has a sword drawn before a giant war…
  • And we get “Take off your flip flop” – Really?!?
  • And the story ends like that

Removing of shoes in ancient times was a statement

1: Statement of awe, honor AND superiority

• There is this aspect to it… Joshua saying to Jesus: You are greater

2: The details say remove your sandal from your foot

Hebrew Lexicon: In transferring a domain it was customary symbolically to deliver a shoe; hence the casting down a shoe upon any country was a symbol of taking possession.

• Jesus is telling Joshua – Claim your promise… and trust in me
  • And that ground wasn’t holy… it was ordinary
  • But b/c Jesus was there… it became extraordinary
  • And who was there first?!?!
    • Joshua looked up & Jesus was there… in the promised land
• Saying: You can’t see it yet – But I’m here… and I’ll fight for you
  • And trust is when you realize before the battle… he is greater
  • Even when I can’t see the end result
  • Even when it doesn’t look like I can make it
    • Can’t I take my shoe off when I win??? NO!!!
    • Jesus says – Take off your shoe for I ALREADY WON!!!

Did Israel’s promise seem impossible… ABSOLUTELY

Ya… Joshua had to deal with the doubt in his heart

• This was his debut… against greatest walls in all the world
  • They would have chariot races on them
• And trust is essential… for when he realized Jesus is GREATER
  • Jesus is not absent/distant/watching from afar
  • You will see Jesus in your place of promise
  • He’s there before you are… ready to fight

But when we start trusting ourselves to take our land

• We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps… opposite of what works
  • God actually tells us that it’s evil
• Ironically here is the paradox.. as a community and personally
  • As we approach the Jericho’s of our life… what God puts b4 us
  • And it seems the walls are too high… too much to ask

Greatest temptation you will face… start strapping sandals back on

• I’ll fight that battle first… then trust in Jesus (Who’s greater)
  • Isn’t that what this whole thing is about
  • Don’t try and do it on your own
• Biggest way you will backslide in this life
  • Doesn’t start with doing bad things… saying bad things
  • It starts in our hearts as we begin to trust ourselves

Why in Hebrews 3:12

• Saying look around your community… see anyone w/ 2 shoes on
  • Trying to do it on their own
  • Talk to them – Because they are in DANGER

Heb. 3:13 (But look at how the next verse says to talk to them…)

As a community it says “Exhort one another”

• Exhort – Doesn’t mean discourage… it means to encourage
  • We have a Jesus and you are not Him… ur not the judge
  • Its our job to encourage… remind… warn – there is a better way
• If u come up on someone in church… they are untying their shoes
  • Encourage them and cheer them on
• If you come across someone in church… putting shoes back on
  • Remind them that Jesus is a better way
  • Give them your testimony… how Jesus fought for you

Best part of all of this: Anyone can do it

• Not about who is: Smart/Knowledgable/Answers
  • It’s all about who trusts enough to take shoe off
  • And say Okay God… you are greater
• What Jericho are you facing today
  • How insurmountable does that wall look
  • What is the miracle that you need
• Your greatest temptation
  • Not some horrible act of sin
  • It will be unsuspecting distrust
  • Tries to sneak into your heart… and making Jesus less than

Heb. 3:14

• The beginning of our confidence is trusting in Jesus
  • Not cling to ourselves
  • Just cling to our savior
• And then what do we become… Partaker… partner who shares
  • Of what? Everything that Jesus has for us

[PRAY]