The Great Shepherd of Sheep – Hebrews 13: 20-25

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All right, well, beautiful singing. I love that song. So if I’ve not met you, my name is Aaron and I’m the preaching pastor here, and I’m glad that you’re with us today. I was glad that the snow stayed away and that the roads are good enough for all of us to be here today. So if you have a Bible with you—which I hope you do—open up to the Book of Hebrews, chapter 13, for our text study, verses 20 through 25. If you don’t have a Bible with you, fear not. There are Bibles scattered throughout on the pews, and it’s on page 586 of those blue pew Bibles. So open up your Bible and keep it open. We’re going to work through the text throughout the day, and it’s just good for us to see God’s word as we work through sermons. So Hebrews 13, verses 20 through 25. Let me read the sacred text, then I’ll pray and we’ll get to work.

The Bible says:
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with every good thing that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy, send your greeting. Grace be with you all. Amen.”

So let’s pray.

“God, thank you for this time, Lord. I pray that You bless the preaching of Your word. Please, God, use this in ways to encourage our hearts. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

This morning we begin our final sermon in our study of Hebrews, a study we started last April with some breaks in between. As we come to this last sermon, I want to circle back to something mentioned in the first sermon study regarding the authorship of the Letter to the Hebrews. The discussion on who the author of this letter is has been questioned from the beginning of the New Testament Church. There has been ongoing intrigue and mystery, and even by the third century scholars were casting doubts on being able to answer who wrote Hebrews. A third-century church father, Origen, wrote that the author of the epistle is known to God alone.

Throughout church history many different names have been suggested as the author. For some, perhaps it was Paul—there are aspects of this letter, including the benediction and final greeting, that are reminiscent of Paul’s letters. However, there are several things in Hebrews that do not quite feel like Paul’s style. Unlike his other letters, this one does not address himself; some doubt it was him. Others have wondered if Paul employed a secretary, though if that were the case, Paul would likely have mentioned his involvement. Some in church history have suggested Apollos, a famous New Testament speaker and popular preacher, as the author because of the eloquence of Hebrews and the sermon-like quality of the letter. Others have considered Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts, or even Clement or Priscilla and Aquila. I mentioned in the first sermon that many names have been suggested. Let me add one more: Barnabas. A church father named Tertullian (around A.D. 155–220) suggested that Barnabas was the author of Hebrews, and one of the reasons for this suggestion is the encouraging tone at the end of the letter.

When it comes to Barnabas, we do know a little about him. In the book of Acts, he is shown as an early leader in the church, traveling with Paul as one of the first Christian missionaries, and he was known as the “son of encouragement.” This morning, as we finish off this series, we come to an incredibly encouraging passage—a final passage I hope will encourage you so much that you know how to encourage others with encouragement, one of the most important things we can do together as a church.

Before we get to our passage, let me remind you of the context of our text and why this encouraging ending would have been so helpful to the original readers of Hebrews. This letter was written to early Christians facing mounting persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout the letter, the author gives many strategies to help them endure and hold fast to their faith. Ultimately, the writer encourages his readers to set their eyes on Jesus, to remember all that He endured for them in His death and resurrection, with the hope that by fixing their gaze on Him they would remain steady and endure to the end, reaching the eternal promise that awaits all who have faith in Christ.

Today, as we close, we come to one of the strategies used throughout the letter to help the readers endure—encouragement. If you’re struggling to endure whatever you are facing, I hope this sermon brings encouragement to put wind in your weary sails and help you continue moving forward in the faith.

Without further introduction, let’s look back one last time at our text where we see the benediction followed by a final greeting. As mentioned earlier, the benediction and final greetings are one of the reasons some think Paul wrote this letter, as these were common elements in his letters. For the first time in this series, let’s work through verses 20 through 21, which form the benediction—a prayer of blessing that the author pronounces over his readers.

**Verse 20:**
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant…”
Let’s pause here to receive some of the encouragement in this first verse. There are several key points in this verse that have encouraged me this week:

1. **Encouragement through Prayer:** The benediction is itself a prayer of blessing over the readers. We are reminded to pray for one another, especially for those who are weary and discouraged. How encouraging it is to know that people are praying for you!

2. **God as the God of Peace:** The text encourages us by reminding us that we serve a God of peace. Even though peace is not easily found in our challenging world, our God is the giver of perfect peace—a peace that surpasses our worries, fears, anxieties, and doubts. This peace is more than just a quiet absence of trouble; it is the fullness of blessedness for His people.

3. **The Message of the Gospel:** The verse reminds us that the very one whom God raised from the dead is the great shepherd who guides His sheep. Through the Gospel, we have peace with God because Christ bore the judgment of our sin. This is the heart of the eternal covenant—a message that brings encouragement, knowing that through Christ we have peace.

4. **Christ as Our Great Shepherd:** In our society, shepherds are not commonly seen, but in Scripture, they are a vital image. Just as shepherds guide, protect, and provide for their sheep (as we see in Psalm 23), so does Jesus guide and protect us. He is our great shepherd who laid down His life for us. No matter what challenges we face—even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death—our shepherd is with us.

5. **God’s Eternal Love:** Finally, the verse emphasizes that we are loved by God. The blood of the eternal covenant testifies to His unending love—a love that nothing in all creation can separate us from. This is the assurance that as believers, we are eternally loved, and nothing can break the covenant sealed by Christ’s blood.

The encouragement in verse 20 is immense. It reminds us that through the power of the Holy Spirit, God equips us with every good thing so that we may do His will, working within us what is pleasing in His sight, all for the glory of Jesus Christ, forever and ever. What an incredible encouragement that is!

Now, hold on—there is more encouragement in this benediction. Let’s continue with **verse 21**, which further declares that the God of peace equips us with every good thing so that we may do His will. This serves as a reminder that nothing is lacking for us in Christ. Through the power of His Spirit, we are fully equipped to live a life that is pleasing to Him. This sufficiency in Christ encourages us to remain steadfast, even when we are weak, because His grace is more than enough.

As we move toward the final greeting in the letter, notice how the author extends his love to his readers by appealing to them as brothers and sisters in Christ. He encourages them to bear with his brief word of exhortation, to remember that our brother Timothy has been released, and that he looks forward to meeting them if he comes soon. He sends greetings to all the leaders and saints and specifically mentions those coming from Italy as a sign of their continued connection.

The personal touch in this final greeting—sending greetings, remembering those in prison, and being present with one another—shows the importance of community and mutual encouragement. It reminds us that a small act of remembering or a simple greeting can have a powerful impact, especially on those who feel forgotten.

As we conclude, I want to share a few takeaways:

1. **Be Encouraged:** Let the benediction remind you that your God is a God of peace. Despite the discouragement and trials of life, you serve a Savior who brings eternal peace and who has already triumphed over sin and death.

2. **Encourage Others:** We are all called to be sources of encouragement. Just as Barnabas was known as the “son of encouragement,” let us actively seek ways to build each other up through prayer, presence, and acts of kindness.

3. **Connect as a Church:** The final greetings emphasize the importance of staying connected as a community. Whether it’s through small group meetings, a friendly greeting, or a word of encouragement, our unity in Christ helps us stand firm in our faith.

4. **Grow in Faith:** Let the message of Hebrews spur you to grow spiritually. Don’t remain a spiritual infant; instead, pursue spiritual maturity by embracing the truth of the Gospel and allowing it to transform your life.

5. **Proclaim the Gospel:** Finally, as you are encouraged by these words, be motivated to share the better word of Jesus Christ with those around you. Go out and be the light in the darkness, proclaiming the hope and love found in Christ.

In closing, let us pray together:

“Lord, I pray that You would encourage our hearts this morning, especially those who have come here feeling weary. Through Your word and the power of Your Spirit, encourage my brothers and sisters. Thank You for the gift of Hebrews and for the reminder that our God is a God of peace, who equips us with every good thing. Please bless Red Village Church and continue to shepherd and guide us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with every good thing that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.