Consider Jesus 3.26.2026

    While it is true that during the Easter season, we want to be well aware of the depth of our own sinfulness and the glory of our redemption, we must ever be aware that, in a sense Easter is not about us. During this holy season our gaze needs settle on Jesus. So, the last two weeks (though last week was quite short) have been about focusing on Him, or as the Hebrew author puts it “considering Him”, or this week “considering Jesus”.

    Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.” (Hebrews 3:1-2 ESV)  

 

     Though the text might seem, at first elusive there are some clear directions that it gives us about Jesus and His mission and our response. First, we are reminded of what we share in Christ, because of the finished work of the cross. We are brothers, called to share not only in the salvation won for us by Jesus but in the ministry apportioned to us as members of His body. During the Easter season with its focus on individual piety and penitence we might be tempted to overly cloister ourselves and individualize the salvation won upon the cross. Resist that temptation. This body of which we are now a part, this bride, this temple in the Spirit is the whole point to the passion. It would be a shame to diminish it by becoming overly self-absorbed. 

    Second, we are reminded of the heavenly calling that unites us. The salvation celebrated at Easter—and around the communion table every Lord’s day is the Lord’s doing. It is not the result of our spiritual longing or religious inclination. That inclination and our longing, without God’s revealing work culminating in Jesus is a part of the problem. Without a word from God—the Word from God—our fallen spiritual nature leads us further from Him. It is His call, first as a whisper throughout the Old Testament, and finally culminating in Jesus’ definitive statement of God’s nature and love on the cross which turns the nightmare of our fallen state into the dream of paradise restored as we answer His call upon our life. 

    That settles our part. The Hebrew author goes on to make statements about Jesus. He is the “Apostle” of our confession. Knowing what the New Testament says about the Apostles who bore witness to His resurrection and proclaimed that message as Gospel might lead to misunderstanding. The Hebrew author is using a different dimension of that otherwise, very useful Hellenistic term. By apostle he is describing Jesus as the one “who was sent”. Other terms that express this particular domain of the term are emissary or ambassador. His point is that this great saving act required this heavenly interruption, this divine presence, this…incarnation! By using that well know term for the Apostolic ministry of the Church and tying it to the mission of Jesus the Hebrew author allows for a compelling unity to what Christ did and what the Church should be doing. 

    Then he gets to what we think of the heart of the Gospel. As our High Priest, the only High Priest who could do what needed to be done Jesus has won for us eternal salvation upon the cross. His faithfulness to His Father’s appointment hard as it must have been, fixes what is broken in our fallen world. Easter season is a reminder of all those truths the Scriptures imply, of all that Jesus taught, and that which the Apostolic witness clarifies about access to God’s presence. Jesus alone. That is the point of Easter. Our faith. Our witness. Our lives. Yes, repent during Easter—but more importantly—consider Jesus.

Consider Him. 3.19.2026

    Every disciple knows that we should keep our eyes on Jesus. We read the Bible and find numerous examples for modeling the life of discipleship. Many examples. One Lord. We follow the lesser examples to the extent that they reflect the attitude of our Lord. Jesus alone is savior. 

    Before and besides all those biblical human models our eyes are on one human who for each of us dominates our gaze. Me. Not, me for you—for me it’s me—for you your “me” is, you. Much of what we read in scripture is designed specifically to get our eyes off our favorite subject, ourselves. It is this idolatrous focus on self that causes our individual fall. This condition worsens because the entire fallen world is filled with obsessed individuals. The problem with narcissism is not that it is exceptional—it is the norm. 

    As we approach the holiest days of the year, days set aside to remember the passion of our Lord we need to keep the following words in mind as we work diligently to keep our sinful nature at bay. 

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:3 ESV)

In a world obsessed with “the other” these words remind us exactly how stark and contrasting the division really is. Jesus…and everybody else. That is the true description of our place in the fallen word. It is only because Jesus chooses to cover us with His blood and include us in His body that we are no longer lost.  

Consider How to Stir up the Saints. 3.12.2026

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” (Hebrews 10:24 ESV)

    Last week we examined ourselves. This week we look to others. Not to bring them down, but as the text says to stir them up, to encourage them. We occasionally see or hear feel-good stories about how people treat one another. Encouragement appears to be kind of a dying art form in the Post-Modern world. Complaints about the anonymous, volatile, and mean-spirited nature of conversation on Social Media are abundant. Almost as abundant as the phenomena itself! It would appear that complaining about anti-social media is easier than doing something about it. 

    I am not an advocate of complete social media absence. Like it or not this is the world we live in. It is our environment. We can leverage Social Media to do tremendous good. In fact, a good guiding principle is to never speak, or act via social media in a way that you would not speak or act in person. Such a simple expedient would go a long way to cooling the temperature. As believers we can do more. 

    Our relationships should not merely be minefields that we try and traverse without causing damage. How stunting and stultifying that would be.  In Christ our relationships should be fruitful and growing. One of the elements that provides nourishment for growing relationships is thinking about others and what we can do to contribute to their lives. For some, maybe even many, this can be disappointing. Not all teach, lead, guide, direct, preach, or sing. These exemplify some of the most characteristic categories of encouragement. It does not appear that the Hebrew author is limiting the admonition we are considering. It is not limited to those who have public facing gifts nor are these words directed to those who work behind the scenes. These words are addressed to every member of the Body of Christ. You and me, in our various capacities are called to encourage—that is “stir up” one another. 

    Let me help you notice some things about this text that frames this mutually beneficial behavior. Beginning with Hebrews 10.19 the author shifts from a doctrinally focused section to a section focused on practice. The overall theme from Hebrews 10.19-25 might be framed as Doctrinally Derived Duties. The Hebrew author assumes, along with the rest of the New Testament, that doctrine and duty—belief and behavior are mutually reinforcing. When we gather for worship, we are remembering that Jesus has opened access to the heavenlies. Our devotion in worship reflects our relationship with the Father through Christ Jesus, and our participation in public worship reflects our relationship with one another. Worship is our confession, of God’s work within us, in consideration of our ultimate deliverance. It is in this context that the author says to stir one another up. 

    And there he becomes interestingly, tantalizingly vague. This encouragement, this stirring up is to yield love and good works. In what way? To what end? Which or what works in particular? Are we talking acts of love or loving words or love as an affirmation of one’s worth? All the above? And are we talking about specific, particular good works? Are these works for insiders or outsiders? Are we talking evangelism or pastoral care? Percentages?

    At which point we have leapt the fence from the feasible to the absurd. The author of these words, guided by the Spirt was as clear as he needed to be and as vague as necessary. What specific, concrete advice would someone writing 2000 years ago in a different culture have to say to us—really, about how to encourage someone in the contemporary body of Christ. 

The whole verse might be re-written as follows: 

You must figure out how to encourage one another, with everyone thinking and acting with greater love. 

It may not roll off the tongue. It’s certainly not “Bible sounding” but I think I make the point. We’re not exactly on our own but the impetus is on us to do the doing that the verse expects to get did. I can’t even tell you how to make this happen where you are! I can help. I can suggest. I have ideas. In your town for those you interact with, in your church and community you’ve got to consider how to stir people up.           The goal is for God’s people, to do Godly things. Those specific things will vary somewhat from place to place. If the perspicuity of Scripture is to mean anything it will teach that the Biblical message is broad enough to cover an unlimited number of social and cultural contexts. If the Hebrew author had been any more specific the words would have been more difficult to implement—not less. 

    So, here is a little exercise for us. Let’s spend time this week quoting this verse to ourselves—it takes little time to lodge it in our memories. In fact, let’s allow it to function as a prayer. 

“Lord, help me today to be a stir upper. Not to stir the pot, but to stir up my brothers and sisters to love and good works.”

Consider Yourselves 3.5.2026

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11 ESV)

     And so, here we are betwixt and between. We continue to live in a fallen world whilst pursuing an intentional life of discipleship. This is the ordinary context for Kingdom living since the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. It is the worst kind of wishful thinking to hope for some imaginary circumstance where ministry does not require us to fashion a redeeming presence amid Empire. Jesus conducted His ministry, called His disciples, and formed them into the embryonic Church in the context of Roman imperialism and Herodian compromise. He called them in circumstances which should seem very familiar to us. He called them both from those circumstances and to them. He frees from sin while simultaneously freeing us for ministry. 

    And so, in our text for this week, Paul, in discussing the specific mechanics of salvation; response, forgiveness, baptism, newness of life, reminds us that there are times when we should reflect upon our salvation, our call, and our location. 

    Our liturgical brothers and sisters have formalized this process in the current season of Lent. If anything, Lent is a season of self-consideration, of reflection, and for repentance. Without the formal structure of Lent, we “free-church-catholics”, of all stripes are left to undergo this process of self-reflection in a more individual fashion, though it should not be entirely unstructured. 

    In these brief words Paul summarizes the condition of all those who have responded to Jesus in repentant, obedient faith. We are dead to the deadening impact of the sin that once defined us, and alive to the invigorating power of Christ who saves us. Lent is a good, focused, and for some a necessary opportunity to undergo a structured time of reflection. It is not nearly enough. 

    Public worship in the 21st century has an inordinate focus on the self. Much of the misplaced focus resolves around losing this narrative thread about who we once were and who we now are. Confession, mortification, and repentance for sin are not regularly discussed on most Sunday mornings. Rather than rebellion we consider personal “struggles”. Rather than resignation we seek affirmation. Like many in the contemporary Church it is easy for guys like me to complain about what we cannot address while ignoring what can be easily addressed. 

    It is never too late to remind the gathered saints that we should each consider ourselves. Whether physically looking in the mirror or flipping through our calendar or even looking back at old pictures—we should take time, some time each week to remember “Once I was dead in sin…now I am dead to sin.” 

    When we consider ourselves, it reminds us of the vastness of our previous lostness. While we should not linger too long in our past predicament it is profoundly refreshing to frame our thanks and praise in the twin context of death to sin and living to Jesus. This is the genesis of the historical idea of “self-mortification”. In abandoning the term entirely because of supposed excesses or misunderstanding we have lost sight of the beneficial aspect that comes from balancing the depth of our death with the enormity of our life. 

    Let’s all take some time this holy season to consider ourselves. To think about our new life in light of the old life of Sin. If we lead worship, why not take some time to encourage his reflective process in the worshipping flock. Whether you observe Lent or not this is the right time of year—as we anticipate the season of resurrection to consider ourselves both dead to sin and alive to God in the risen Christ.