But Jesus

I recently started studying the book of Hebrews as part of the women's Bible study I facilitate.  I had been waffling on what to tackle next, as we had just finished up our first series and we were hanging out in a state of limbo.  I contemplated a few other options, but Hebrews kept lurking in the background and I couldn't seem to escape it. 

As I've been pouring over the pages, reading the commentaries, looking through the notes, and writing down the thoughts, it's like there is this flashing neon light that just keeps flashing IT'S.ALL.ABOUT.JESUS.  Every square inch of creation, every square inch of Scripture.  It all points to Him. 

And one of the words I have come to love in Hebrews is the simple word "but".  It packs a punch in this book.  You know how you might notice something small, but then you keep seeing it everywhere you turn?  That's how the word "but" has been for me in the book of Hebrews.  I notice it everywhere.  And almost every time it's used in Hebrews, it's usually followed closely behind by name of Jesus.  It's like the author is mounting this court case, citing all of the evidence he can gather as to why Jesus is the sum total of all that has ever existed, all we could ever hope for. 

Hebrews 1:1-2
In the past God spoke to us through the prophets, but now he speaks to us through JESUS.

Hebrews 1:8
The angels are spirits and flames of fire, but JESUS gets the kingdom and the throne, the ultimate exalted One.

Hebrews 1:10-12
The heavens and the earth will perish, but JESUS remains.

Hebrews 2:8-9
We can't see everything, but we can see JESUS.

Hebrews 3:4-6
Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house, but JESUS is faithful as a son over God's house (which is us, by the way).

Hebrews 8:1-6
The priests were mediators of a copy and a shadow, but JESUS is a better mediator of a reality.

Hebrews 9:11
The priests may have entered the Most Holy Place by the blood of goats and calves, but JESUS enters by his own blood.

Hebrews 9:25-26
The priests sacrificed every year, but JESUS sacrificed once for all time.

Hebrews 12:18-24
The Israelites came to a fiery mountain that can't be touched, but we come to JESUS.

Hebrews so blatantly and clearly proclaims:

We get Jesus.

Whatever was in the past - whatever priests, whatever angels, whatever prophets, whatever covenants, whatever leaders, whatever laws - they were good and right, and they had a place in the story.

But now we get Jesus.

He is infinitely greater, infinitely more superior, infinitely more powerful.  Nothing comes close to him.

And all of that evidence points to the ultimate truth found in Hebrews 3:3:

Jesus has been found worthy.

So, when we look at the world around us, when we see the death, destruction, brokenness, heartache - just remember:

But Jesus.