The Lodestar

Towards the end of the epistle, this verse makes the crucial statement—the unchangeable nature of Christ.

In the previous chapters, the writer established that Jesus Christ is God himself, the uncreated creator (1:2–4) who humbled himself to become the saviour of humanity (4:7–10). He is glorified and reigns as king and high priest in the heavenly places (10:12). Christ continues to be what he was in the past, he continues to be our mediator in the present, and he is trustworthy forever.

The Hebrew believers are bombarded with false teaching: “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings…” (13:9). They should follow the examples of their leaders in the past who finished well, holding on to the true faith in Jesus Christ: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (13:7).

Jesus Christ remains the same—creator, saviour, high priest and the soon-coming king. When he ascended to heaven, the angels declared that the same Jesus who ascended to heaven would return. “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Christ will not take another avatar on his return, but it would be the same Jesus to complete the mission of saving humans he had initiated. That is complete only when those who put their trust in him are gathered to where he is now.

He is the unchanging God. This faith also demands that we hold fast to him steadfastly. We can rely on him if we unflinchingly hold on to him in faith.

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