DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

Friday, December 29, 2006            Fourteen Thousand Infants Slain by Herod in Bethlehem

6th Vigil Nativity of Christ: Daniel 2:31-36, 44-45                                Epistle: Hebrews 7:18-25          Gospel: St. Mark 12:1-12

 

Our Surety: Hebrews 7:18-25, especially vs. 22: “....Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.”  The term “surety” stresses the element of guarantee especially against possible default.  Bail-bondsmen provide surety that an indicted person will appear in court; since they put up money against the possibility of flight from prosecution.  The denial of bail by a judge clearly implies that there is no surety that can be imagined or provided to assure that the accused will appear for trial except his continuing custody by the court.  Bankers extend large loans to some prospective home buyers as long as they have surety by retaining the deed of the property in question against default.  Sometimes these money lenders demand more “collateral,” for greater surety.  Employees who handle money on the job are required to give surety bonds against missing funds.  Title companies give surety to buyers when they issue title insurance, which includes an historical report of all transactions involving the specified parcel, to give the new owner the comfort of knowing that there are no liens or notes recorded against the property.

In today’s Epistle, the Apostle declares that the Lord Jesus Himself stands as “surety of a better covenant” (vs. 22) - as the Guarantor of a solemn agreement between two parties: God and His People, the Church.  Jesus is surety that the “former” covenant between God and His Holy People, with all its real limitations, is replaced by a better one (vs. 18).  He is surety that we can actually “draw near” God (vs. 19).  He is our surety because God Himself has solemnly sworn that He is our Priest forever (vss. 20,21).  He is surety because, as a Divine Guarantee, He “continues forever....since He always lives” as our Intercessor (vss. 24,25).  He is surety because there can and will be no change in the Covenant that Jesus Christ has inaugurated (vs. 25).

At the Last Supper, referring to the Eucharistic Cup in which we share, the Lord Jesus clearly stated: “this cup is the new covenant in My blood” (1 Cor. 11:25; Lk. 22:20).  Pay close attention to the word “new” in the Lord’s declaration, for it signals the superseding of the Old or former covenant, which was sealed with the blood of bulls and goats (Heb. 9:19-20).  Christ Jesus sealed the New Covenant with His own blood once and for all (Heb. 9:12), and the Old Covenant was replaced, being superseded by the ultimate Covenant (Heb. 7:18).

This New Covenant, of which the Lord Jesus is surety, provides us with a certain hope of being able to “draw near to God” (vs. 19), for He has drawn near us in an irrevocable manner, by becoming one of us while remaining fully God.  When we stand still and meet God in Christ, we discover that He Himself “has suffered, being tempted, [so that] He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18) having tasted “death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).

One expects of a surety that it have integrity, reliability, and the capacity to deliver what is promised.  God declares that Jesus of Nazareth guarantees His agreement with us, therefore, let us not fear that the Covenant God has with us lacks validity, has lapsed, or is uncertain.  How many people are looking for a “sure thing,” and here He is - Jesus, our surety of God’s promise! “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 7:21).

People often smirk about certain guarantees because they are unreliable, not being worth the paper on which they are written.  Of course, all paper and writing fade, flake apart, and finally disintegrate.  However, Jesus, our surety, is eternal.  Hear what the Apostle is telling us - that “He continues forever” (vs. 24), “since He always lives to make intercession” for us (vs. 25).

The Lord’s Resurrection assures us that His Covenant with us is “unchangeable” (vs. 24).  We are accustomed to variable agreements, with built-in change clauses.  Not our Surety!

O God, Thou dost not change: save us as Thou has promised in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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