Jesus is a better minister than you. And that's okay.

Are you trying to be what only Jesus can be?

When was the last time you felt like a failure? Every Sunday, I walk down from the pulpit after my sermon, pick up the elements of the Lord’s Supper, sit next to my wife, and stare down at the cracker and cup. I sit and stare at these elements, picturing the body and blood of Christ for me. I sit and stare, knowing I am a failure. I seldom feel “great” about the sermon I just preached. No matter what encouragement I receive or how passionate and clear I believe I was, I often feel terribly insufficient. All I have in that moment is the burden of my own brokenness while staring at a little cracker next to a cup of juice. And every time, I cling to these elements and remind myself, “I am not good enough. But Jesus is good enough for me.” 

That burden—the greatness of the needs in front of us mixed with the greatness of the weakness inside of us—can destroy our souls if we let it. 

In my ministry, I often am affected by my fear of failure. I want to be the best pastor, the best preacher, the best counselor, the best leader. And yet, I am only me. Other pastors have bigger congregations, more charisma, greater wisdom, larger influence, and more experience. I feel so limited in my availability, my wisdom, and my influence. That burden—the greatness of the needs in front of us mixed with the greatness of the weakness inside of us—can destroy our souls if we let it. That is because we are not Jesus. And that is okay. In fact, it is better that way.

The covenant minister of Hebrews 8

The author of Hebrews transitions from describing Jesus as our extraordinary high priest to describing his extraordinary covenant ministry. This ministry is praised in verse 6.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

Christ is such a great high priest because 1) he has an extraordinary ministry as 2) he mediates an extraordinary covenant, which is 3) built on extraordinary promises. He then quotes from Jeremiah 31’s promise of this new covenant ministry and explains how those three realities flow together. God has promised certain things will happen, he will accomplish them by a new covenant, and that covenant will minister to his people.

1. Jesus mediates God’s forgiveness.

God starts by lamenting how the houses of Israel and Judah have failed to keep his commands (v. 9). So he promises later to “be merciful toward their iniquities” and “remember their sins no more” (v. 12). Jesus accomplishes this forgiveness through his work on the cross and he mediates that ministry personally by applying his sacrificial death to our sins. Jesus (as our covenant minister) forgives our sins and makes us clean.

2. Jesus accomplishes our transformation.

God then promises to fix our ongoing desire to sin by “putting his law in our minds” and “writing it on our hearts” (v.10). We cannot do what is right without Jesus’ help. Through his resurrection, the same power that raised him from the dead regenerates us to now want to do what is right (Rom. 8:9-13). And slowly but surely, Jesus (by his Spirit) is transforming us to be like him. Jesus (as our covenant minister) produces righteousness in us.

3. Jesus makes us God’s people.

Finally, God promises that he will be our God and we will be his people (v. 10). God promises every person in the new covenant community “will know [him], from the least of them to the greatest” (v.11). Jesus, when instituting the Lord’s Supper, said it was the “cup of the new covenant in [his] blood” given for us (Luke 22:20). Jesus (as our covenant minister) restores our relationship to God as his beloved people.

This is our extraordinary covenant minister. This is our great shepherd and pastor. These are the extraordinary promises that build up to an extraordinary covenant, which Jesus ministers extraordinarily to us. He forgives us, changes us, and makes us his own. Forgiveness is ours. Righteousness is ours. God is ours.

Jesus can do what you cannot. And that’s okay.

Every pastor knows they aren’t Jesus but that doesn’t keep them from trying to do what only he can. Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep. We are simply his undershepherds. It’s his flock, not ours. We are ministers of his covenant but desperately dependent on the ongoing ministry of Jesus by his Spirit through us. Allow these truths to become embedded in your soul.

Jesus is a better minister than you to your church because…

He can forgive them completely.

He can transform them entirely.

He can make them his people eternally.

You can do none of these things for your church.

To receive these truths means death and resurrection. It means letting ourselves decrease so he can increase in us. It means putting our simple offering of service on the altar and asking that Jesus would receive it gladly and use it far beyond what we can ask or imagine. Jesus is the craftsman. We are just tools he chooses to use. Jesus is the communion wine. We are the little plastic cup that brings it to people. It’s not our ministry. It’s his. 

Jesus is your minister, too.

The gospel isn’t just for your people. It’s for you, too. Jesus isn’t just the covenant minister of your people. He’s your minister too. The Lord’s Supper is for you too.

Pastors are quick to offer gospel grace to people in our churches; however, we often operate with a mindset that we must be perceived as strong and successful. We don’t feel comfortable confessing insecurities and failures. There are too many needs around us for us to be honest about our own brokenness. If you feel that way, please be encouraged. The gospel isn’t just for your people. It’s for you, too. Jesus isn’t just the covenant minister of your people. He’s your minister too. The Lord’s Supper is for you too. Revel in his forgiveness. Receive his transforming work. Rest in his eternal adoption. He forgives you, he is transforming you, he is yours, and he is pleased with you. You are not hidden from his sight. His attention is on you. He sees you. He cherishes your service to his people. Be okay with simply being faithful and allowing him to produce the fruit. If we learn to do this well, we will endure in ministry with joy.