In the season of Annunciation (Syriac, “Suboro”), meaning “Good News”, Christians meditate on the news given to men and women that the coming of the Messiah was near. The first announcement came to the priest Zechariah in the Jerusalem Temple through the angel Gabriel. Churches of the Syriac tradition observe the Day of Annunciation to Zechariah on the week after Hudosh Eetho, or the “Feast of the Renewal of the Church”. This year, the Annunciation to Zechariah is on November 19.
One of the readings in the Mar Thoma Church on that day is from the Letter to the Hebrews. Rev. Dr. Abraham Philip described the Letter in this way: “The Epistle to the Hebrews catches the attention of any reader of the New Testament. This book makes it explicit that God has revealed himself fully in Jesus Christ. (An Introduction to the New Testament, 2017)”
We are on the Road of God’s Salvation Plan
Christians stand as signposts to God’s salvation plan. From the very beginning of Creation, God planned the course of all things. While the debate if humans had free will if God already knew the outcomes continues, the free will of humans to choose and God’s arrangement to bring about His perfect Creation stands in mysterious tension and divine harmony. The Bible reveals that God’s salvation plan involved the lives of many humans since Adam and continuing today. The priest Zechariah became part of that salvation plan of God. Unlike St. Mary, Zechariah was not very comfortable believing the words of the angel Gabriel. Even those who are unwilling end up bringing glory to God. The life of Zechariah shows a man who did not understand God’s call but eventually came to believe. The Evangelist Luke explained how Zechariah did as the angel commanded upon the birth of his son: [Zechariah] asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God (Luke 1:63-64).
For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.
Hebrews 6:10
Christian service begins in knowing Christ and serving as He served. The author to the Hebrews speaks of “serving the saints.” The term “saints” in the Greek (ἁγίοις, /hagios/) or in Syriac (ܠܩܰܕ݁ܺܝܫܶܐ, /l’qadishe/) means the ‘holy ones’ or those ‘set apart’. Apostle Paul often addressed the faithful in the churches as “saints”. Christians are called to serve those in need, especially within the Christian community. Although it is important to reach out and serve in the wider society, as a signpost pointing to Jesus Christ, there is also a need to strengthen the Christian community. Why serve the saints, that is, the righteous ones, in our Christian community? It is through our service to them and our interaction with them that we encounter their faithful testimony. These saints among us are signposts to Jesus Christ. They experienced God and God’s grace in their life. They are our faithful parents and Sunday School teachers, our priests and bishops, the evangelists and even ordinary believers. The concept of service in verse 10 is in the past-tense, present-tense and in the continuing future-tense. It is literally translated as “having ministered to the saints and still ministering” (/diakonēsantes tois hagiois kai diakonountes/). The word ‘to minister’ is from the Greek /diakoneo/, from which we get the word “deacon”. These saints among us are “signposts” showing us Jesus Christ. In the past, they served the Lord Jesus by point others to Him; they led their children, their students, friends, co-workers to Jesus. They still serve as “signposts” insofar as they continue to guide each of us to the Lord Jesus. In our service towards them, they share their experience of Jesus Christ to another generation. The community of believers must be maintained through our care for one another. Then each generation of the faithful believer will become another signpost pointing to Jesus Christ.
And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:11-12
Christians must maintain the inherited faith, as imitators of Jesus Christ and those who held the promises. Central to Christian life is holding on to the truth of the eyewitness accounts of life and salvific work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John wrote in his First Letter: We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1-3). Written just about 60 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, these words codify the testimony that was passed by word-of-mouth among the early Christians: that Jesus of Nazareth truly is the Messiah, who died but rose again. So every generation teaches the next the testimony of the first believers. Each generation believes, not just because of the words of the Gospel but also because they experienced Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Jesus Christ showed the Way of God’s salvation. He proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)” The first Christians were called Nazarenes because they followed Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 24:5). In fact, this term was used by the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala, India. Still today, many Christians in Kerala maintain the Syriac title ‘Nasrani’. Many have stood on this way of God’s salvation, stretching as far back as Adam and Eve, the Hebrew Patriarchs, King David, the Prophets and so forth. God called them to maintain the knowledge of the True Creator, the God of Israel, who is actually the God over all creation. Then at the appointed time, God sent His Son, as the perfect sacrifice for sinful humanity, and through His Blood, opened for us the Way of Salvation. The priest Zechariah, St. Mary the mother of Jesus, the Apostles and disciples, and all Christian faithful, then, now, and in the future, stand on the way of God’s salvation as signposts leading us to God. All who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior walk on that Way. And each one that walks on that way has the responsibility to reach out their hands and guide others unto the Way of God’s Salvation. We must hold out our hands to our children, our friends, classmates and co-workers and bring them onto the Way.
Why is it important that Christians realize their responsibility on the Way of God’s Salvation? Christians serve as the Lord served and taught. Christians are to serve within the community, making faith connections with the believers who have experienced the work of God in their life. The faith that we inherit must be faithfully guarded, bounded by the Word of God. Each believer is a signpost on the Way of Jesus Christ. Each believer should point to Jesus Christ. Each believer must ensure that others are brought onto the Way. The Thub’den Prayer of the Liturgy of Holy Qurbana of the Mar Thoma Church reminds us of this responsibility:
O Lord, we remember the Mother of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is worthy to be blessed of all generations on earth. We call to remembrance the Holy Prophets, the Apostles, the preachers, the evangelists, the martyrs, the confessors, and all the saints. Make us worthy, O Lord, to follow in their footsteps.
4th Thub’den Prayer, Liturgy of Holy Qurbana