Norman Parker:- This House Pt.5: The Big Story:- From Fulfillment To Completion
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Juo5hc440G79aU-AbKKtUb_F4YmkK4fh/view?usp=sharingKey
Themes and Biblical References:
Jesus our Apostle and High Priest: The message explores how Jesus is building His house.
Hebrews 3:1 encourages believers to "fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest".
Questions for reflection include what it means for Jesus to be our apostle and high priest, and what it means to share in the "heavenly calling".
Passover and Pentecost: John the Baptist identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". The one who sent John to baptize with water indicated that the one on whom the Spirit descends and remains will "baptise with the Holy Spirit".
The Unique Relationship between Jesus and the Father (James Torrance):
The center of the New Testament is the "unique relationship between Jesus and the Father".
Through the Spirit, Christ presents Himself "on behalf of humankind" and draws people to participate "both in his life of worship and communion with the Father and in his mission".
This relationship is interpreted through the Holy Spirit: Jesus is conceived, baptized, led, offers himself through the eternal Spirit on the cross, is raised by the Spirit, and receives the Spirit from the Father to baptize the church.
Contrasting Mountains (Hebrews 12):
The Mountain of Fear refers to the terrifying sight of Mount Sinai, with fire, darkness, and storm, where Moses trembled.
The Mountain of Joy refers to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where believers have come to "thousands upon thousands of angels," "the church of the firstborn," and "Jesus the mediator of a new covenant".
The Point of Pentecost (N.T. Wright):
The overarching story of Scripture is not about humans going to live with God, but about "God's intention to come and live with us and even in us".
Pentecost is the "homecoming of God," fulfilling the promise to "dwell in and with his People".