Rapped-Wrapped-Rapt
Many years ago, in a country far away, I spent one summer learning the difference between a pair, a pear and pare (plus a few other things). I learned they are homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings.
Our linguistics instructor started our first class by saying, “Before I became a Bible translator, I did not know what a linguist was, but now I are one.” That was grammar or grandma humor, I suppose.
That little lesson taught me that things that sound the same don’t always mean the same, and that is true of our three title words. Beginning in June, NHC will study the book of Hebrews. My homophone illustration might help us look at some of the stages we are going through as we move toward Jesus, just as the readers of the book of Hebrews did. Like things some people say, they sound the same but have a different meaning—if you know what I mean.
1. Rapped (Knocked/Struck) – Revelation 3:20 For some, Christ came as a whisper, but for some He rapped on the closed door of our heart, often more than once, until we opened ourselves to Him.
2. Wrapped (Enveloped/Enclosed) – Luke15:20 When we open ourselves up to God, He embraces and welcomes us as long-lost sons and daughters. We are wrapped up in His love in His everlasting arms.
3. Rapt (Enthralled/Captivated) – Hebrews 12:2 Christ is the beginning and end of our faith. We fix our eyes on Him and move toward Him, to be with Him and like Him. Zechariah 12:10 says, “They will gaze upon the One they have pierced...and wail.” The Hebrew women mourned for Jesus as He went to the cross. But now Christ-following Jews look on their Messiah, Jesus, rapt with joy, because the ever-pierced One is now the risen, redeeming, reigning One.
Hebrews is a wonderful book full of imagery and wisdom. During a difficult time for the new Jewish followers of Christ, the book reminded them of their rich Scriptural heritage and showed them God’s faithfulness through past trials. In Hebrew the word for “in front of” often signifies the past. Jewish writers say it is wise to walk into the future looking back. The book of Hebrews, Stephen’s last speech and several words of Jesus are good examples of this. In John 8:56, Jesus told the Jews their father Abraham rejoiced to see His day. How? Because even before Abraham was alive, Christ was. If we look back, we see Jesus.
The Maori people of New Zealand know this too. They have a saying, Ka mua, ka muri, or walking backwards into the future. The readers of the book of Hebrews were seeking the kingdom of Christ now, while learning from the lessons of their past. The writer was saying, walk forward by looking backward, but always fix your eyes on Jesus.
It’s harder for us to fall while fixing our eyes on Jesus, as Peter discovered.
When Peter walked on the water (Matthew 14:30–31) he believed he could because his eyes were fixed on Jesus. Peter only sank when his eyes became fixed on the waves more than on Jesus. Christ knocks on our door, welcomes and embraces us in love and tells us to always behold Him if we want to run with perseverance the race set before us—or walk on water.
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Chris Jones is the Global Outreach Director at New Hope Church. He longs for the unreached people of the world to experience the life-changing love of God and for people at New Hope Church to find fullness of joy by obeying the Great Commission.