A Final Blessing

 

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV).

 

Our reading today brings us to the close of the Book of Hebrews. It is a benedictory prayer that the "God of peace," who raised Jesus (the great Shepherd) through the eternal covenant, will equip believers with "everything good" to do His will, working within them what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. These verses conclude the book, acting as a blessing and summary of the practical application of the theological arguments made throughout the epistle. They shift the focus from the work of Christ on the cross to the work of God in the believer to act according to His purpose.

 

Within these two verse the writer uses some key themes to invoke the blessing of God upon his readers. He focuses on God as the source of reconciliation and tranquility. These two things alone would be more than ample blessing. Receiving reconciliation to the God of all creation is such an immense thought I often find myself lost in the magnitude of the thought. After all I have done, I am reconciled to God through the work of Christ. The write doesn’t stop with this thought however, He also desires that his readers receive tranquility from God. Haven’t you found yourself engulfed in circumstances to the point where it feels as if a great storm has descended on you with the fullness of its fury? I have. That’s when I need tranquility. God gives it in abundance because of the grace shown to us through Jesus.

 

The writer also Identifies Jesus as the "great Shepherd of the sheep" resurrected by God through the "blood of the eternal covenant". This points us to our provision. He asks that God provide believers with all necessary resources, tools, or strength to fulfill His will. He also emphasizes that God works within individuals to change their actions and desires to be pleasing in His sight. That is the centerpiece of all spiritual equipping and obedience which has been accomplished through Jesus.

 

One of the most potent tools that we have as we work God’s vineyard—as we work to see his Kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven—is the invocation of blessing. Christians are to be a people who bless one another in the name of God and in faith in the promises of God. We are to be fathers and mothers who bless our sons and daughters. We are to be churches full of saints invoking the blessing of God on one another as we gather in the name and for the glory of Christ. This is a powerful thing, though only the eyes of faith can see how.  See, to the world, it’s just talk. But we can understand that there is a God who has said he is listening to us.  We have a Father who his given his Son to redeem us and adopt us, and we have heard his promises. We know, as the Lord Jesus taught us, that he doesn’t give stones to his sons when they ask for bread. We know that he is a God who delights to bless his people when they come to him and ask. So, ask and receive! Jesus is truly greater!