The Greatest of All – Family Devotion – February 5, 2021

Read: Hebrews 3:1-6

Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Hebrews 3:3-6

The Greatest of All

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Who is your greatest hero of all time? Is it Spider Man or Super Man? Captain America or Captain Marvel? Maybe it’s a real person like LeBron James, Martin Luther King Jr., or Abraham Lincoln. Maybe a parent, grandparent, pastor, or teacher?

What about in the Bible? Who is the greatest hero of faith that you look up to in the Bible? Is it Abraham, David, Peter, Paul, Ruth, or Mary? There are so many to choose from as great examples of faith!

If you were an ancient Israelite, a Jew at the time of Jesus, or even a Jewish person today, there is one person that almost always is at the very top of the list of heroes—Moses. The Jews loved and respected Moses as the leader who led them out of Egypt and the one who received the Ten Commandments and laws of God. He was a great leader and prophet! But sadly, many took this too far. So many Jews put all their hope and trust in Moses and not Jesus.

One Bible writer wrote a special book called Hebrews about this very thing. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is superior (which means better and more powerful) than angels, priests in the temple, and yes, even better than Moses. The verses for today remind us that while Moses was a faithful servant, Jesus was the servant of God who saved us. Moses did great things by faith, but Jesus died for our sins to bring us forgiveness and rose to life to guarantee us a life in heaven. Jesus brings us into his family, into God’s house, and gives us confident hope in our eternal life.

There is nothing wrong with looking up to people as heroes in our lives. God blesses us with many special people who make a difference in this world, who help us, and who love us. It can be fun to look up to make-believe heroes like the Avengers, but soldiers, doctors, nurses, pastors, teachers, parents, and so many more make a huge difference in our lives. Thank God for them!

And yet, may God help us to remember that greater than any hero, better than any person in our lives or in the Bible is Jesus our great and powerful Savior. He is the best and greatest of all! Praise the Lord!

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you have proven to us that you are King of kings and Lord of lords. You are the best and greatest of all because you are true man, true God, and truly our Savior. We thank and praise you always!

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Who is your greatest hero that you look up to (besides Jesus)?
• How has Jesus shown to us that he is greater than any worldly or make-believe hero?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• How does knowing that Jesus is the greatest and best of all comfort you in your life?
• What are ways that we show Jesus is best and greatest of all when we are at church?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Why do you think humans are so fascinated and obsessed with real-life and make-believe heroes?
• Agree or Disagree: It is way harder to show that Jesus is the most important to you than it is to say that he is the most important to you. Explain your answer.

Hymn: CW 556:1,4 – Rise, Shine, You People

Rise, shine, you people! Christ the Lord has entered
Our human story; God in him is centered.
He comes to us, by death and sin surrounded,
With grace unbounded.

Tell how the Father sent his Son to save us.
Tell of the Son, who life and freedom gave us.
Tell how the Spirit calls from ev’ry nation
His new creation.