Hebrews 13:1-3
The letter To the Hebrews: Focus on Jesus
In apostolic times there were those who found it hard to concentrate their minds and their lives on Jesus. Past involvements and memories proved to be strong distractions, especially in times of stress or disillusionment. The Epistle to the Hebrews, with its emphasis upon the finality of the Christian system as mediated in the Son, was designed to challenge distracted Christians to rivet their eyes on Jesus. They are told not only to "see" him (2:9), but, beyond that, to perceive his significance and his spiritual meaning (3:1). Furthermore, they are urged to make a habit of looking away from all else and focusing exclusively upon Jesus (12:2). According to Hebrews, "looking to Jesus" is not a Christian option but a way of life.
It ought to be the same today. But the truth is that we, too, are easily distracted; we, too, need reminders to focus habitually on Jesus. No less than the first readers, we today need the Christ-centered teaching of the Epistle to the Hebrews. To achieve this important and critical focus on Jesus there is no better place to begin than with a study of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and no better way to start that study than by surveying the names and titles attributed to Jesus in this epistle.
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