I have wonderful memories of going to concerts, amusement parks, or to the ocean as a teenager. These events and places etched themselves into my memory. The beauty of live music, the thrill of a breathtaking rollercoaster ride, and the wonder of diving into crashing waves were amazing experiences! When shared with friends or family, we would often exclaim, “That was the BEST!” Yet, when the last note was played, the rollercoaster pulled back into the station, and the sunscreen and bathing suits were loaded for the trip home, the adventures came to an end. What was amazing for a moment never lasted beyond the moment and we longed for the next “best” thing. Looking back, I still find these experiences fantastic, but they were far from being “the best”.

In the letter to the Hebrews, the writer uses the word “better” throughout. Thirteen times the word “better” is used in connection with who Jesus is and what He has accomplished. It could be said that the writer describes Jesus as being “superior”. Which begs the question, “Superior to what?” The historical and religious-cultural background of Hebrews as recorded in Acts 13-18 gives us insight. Here we find the account of the Apostle Paul’s first two missionary journeys, the persecution of the early church (including Aquilla and Priscilla’s expulsion from Rome), and the challenges the council at Jerusalem faced in deciding the role the Mosaic Law would play in the early church. While we cannot with certainty identify the human author of Hebrews, the writer certainly knew Timothy (Heb 13:23) and was therefore Paul’s contemporary. Consequently, the challenges we find in Acts shape the content of Hebrews and its emphasis on Jesus’ superiority. As the gospel spread through Jewish communities, those who left their Mosaic Law-abiding religious heritage in order to follow Jesus, were cast out and ostracized by their families and religious institutions (Heb 13:1-3). They were persecuted and experienced various degrees of suffering (Heb 13:12-14). Their newfound faith and transformed lifestyle put them at odds with the world around them, and the siren call to return to the safety of the closely knit Jewish community and former way of life became very tempting. Maybe they were asking themselves, “Is Jesus truly worth all of this hardship?” Maybe you have asked yourself the same or a similar question.

Clearly, the Divine Author - the Holy Spirit - wants us to open the eyes of our heart and see the glorious Person and gracious work of Jesus. He wants us to stagger back in awe at the wonder of the Son of God! For thirteen chapters, Hebrews explains how Jesus, the promised Messiah, is better than the prophets, better than the angels, better than Moses, better than Joshua, better than Aaron, better than all the priests, and better than the sacrificial system. Its purpose was to demonstrate to Jewish believers that Judaism had been superseded by Christianity. Christ established a “better covenant,” by which sinners are saved “to the uttermost” (Heb 7:22–25). As a matter of fact, only by turning to Jesus, do we receive forgiveness of sin and a perfect standing before God that never ends (Heb 10:11-18). 

It is easy to get caught up in the details of the epistle to the Hebrews like the “better than” examples and their ensuing admonitions. However, at the heart of the letter is Jesus, who “is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Heb 1:3). God’s faithfulness to His people is indelibly linked to the person of Jesus. He is the Word that we confess, the Hope that provides certainty, the Priest who gives us confidence, and the Sacrifice that is entirely sufficient. It is essential to understand this overarching theme of Jesus’ superiority if we are to understand the writer’s shepherd-like plea to remain true to Christ and the new covenant of grace rather than return to our self-righteous efforts, chained to dead works. These are but filthy rags without the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Jesus is truly better. As a matter of fact, He’s the BEST! 

Luke 22:17-20 (ESV) - And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”