2025/08/11
208. Solutions to the Issues Raised in the Letter to the Hebrews and Their Fruit
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews states, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear" (Heb 11:1-3). He then briefly describes the history of the people of the Old Testament who received divine approval because of their faith (cf. 11:4-38) and concludes as follows: "And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (11:39-40).
In the faith of Christians who follow Jesus Christ, a Hebrew, there is no break with the history of the Old Testament. However, here the writer shows two different types of faith and announces that a thoroughly new era has come in the history of the people of the Old Testament. For this reason, the definition of faith as "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" resulted in "And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised." On the other hand, those who believe in the name of Jesus through the Holy Spirit receive the state of "By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear." The expression, "God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" refers to this state.
John the Evangelist testifies to these differences between the Old and New Testament ways of faith through the first and second signs performed by Jesus in Cana of Galilee. The mother who conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit believed the words of the angel, "You shall call his name Jesus" (Mat 1:21, Lk 1:31), together with her husband, Joseph. Through that faith, she experienced that "the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear." Filled with the Holy Spirit, she had already attained perfection, anticipating the "something better" that God had planned for us. That is as the risen Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (Jn 20:29).
"There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.'" (Jn 2:1-3). Jesus replied, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come" (2:4). These words of Jesus indicate that he came to earth with a divine plan. Jesus' mother, who had shared everything with him, understood this and told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you" (2:5), which was her response to Jesus' words. Thus, his mother, his disciples, and the servants who had obeyed Jesus' command all encountered the very time when Jesus performed his first sign of turning water into wine and "manifested his glory" (2:11). Here we see a model of New Testament faith.
The second sign in Cana, Galilee, was as follows. There was an officer, and "When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death" (Jn 4:47). As it is written, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval," the officer was assured of the hope that Jesus would heal his son. Therefore, he, as if neglecting Jesus' words, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe" (4:48), immediately said, "Sir, come down before my child dies" (4:49). He tried to be convinced of the unseen thing that Jesus would heal his son. In fact, later he confirmed the time when Jesus said, "Go; your son will live" (4:50) and the time when his son was healed (cf. 4:51-53). He believed Jesus' words and went home. And his son was healed. That is the model of faith in the Old Testament.
Although the official, by his faith, was approved by Jesus, he "did not receive what was promised." There are still many people around the world today who receive the same result. To advance history, we Christians must understand and accept the conclusion that "God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" and strive to "be made perfect." Therefore, the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews goes on to earnestly encourage believers saying, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" (Heb 12:1-2).
Maria K. M.
