Week 10/14-10/20: Perfect Response - The Faithful Servant

Day Three: Heb. 1:1-4 “Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.”

THE BEST MOVIES IN THE WORLD, I THINK, are the ones that end with the hero making some great sacrifice to save the lives of many people. In making the sacrifice, the people are saved and the individual is exalted as the great hero. I watched the movie Armageddon (1998) as a teenager. The story depicted a veteran astronaut and his team who are going to save the planet by diverting an oncoming asteroid from hitting Earth. This astronaut, Harry, is put in position where either he or his daughter’s love interest, A.J., are going to have to stay behind and die to successfully accomplish the mission.A.J.appears to be the one tasked to do it, but at the last moment, Harry steps in, pushes A.J.aside, and takes his place. Harry destroys the asteroid and loses his life, but saves the planet and the man his daughter loves. The movie ends with Harry’s funeral where he is honored and recognized as the great hero.

We love movies like this. Why is it that we love these types of stories and movies? Because deep down inside of us we know that we are in need of a rescue and we know the one who does it is worthy of all praise. The story of the gospel is one in which Jesus Christ willingly submitted his own life, in order to save a people for himself. Jesus willingly took our place, by taking on flesh and dying on the cross. On the third day he rose from the grave, conquering Satan, sin, and death. In doing so, He is exalted. He is the hero. He is worthy of worship, praise, and adoration. He is given the name that is above every name. After making purification for our sins, he was seated at the right hand of his Father. Jesus is the great hero.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷What movie can you think of that involves a hero sacrificing himself to take someone’s place?

▷▷What traits are common among those heroes?

▷▷Does it change your view of the gospel to think of yourself as someone needing rescue, and Christ as the hero?