Hebrews 3:3-6 “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”

The Lord has different metaphors to describe the relationship we have with him and each other. We are the flock, and he is our Shepherd. We are the family, and he is our Father. We are a body with its many parts, and Christ is the head. We are his nation, and Christ is our king.

Here the picture is of a house. Not all the parts of my house serve the same function. Some are more structural and some are more cosmetic. Some make the house sturdy. Others make it comfortable. Some parts are very visible, while others are hidden behind the walls–the plumbing, wiring, and such.

In God’s house, Moses was like a great support beam preventing a major portion from collapse. The Lord used Moses to preserve his plan to save the world. He saved the family that would give birth to the Savior from extinction. He led God’s people to the land where all God’s promises were to be kept. Moses wasn’t perfect, but he was faithful and deserving of the honored place he has in story of God’s people.

Still, Moses was one of those people himself. “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house.” Jesus is the architect and the builder. “Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house.” Take away Moses and you have a house in need of repair. Take away Jesus and you have no house at all.

For the people to whom this letter was originally written, Moses was a consensus candidate for the Hebrew Hall of Fame. Everyone agreed his name belonged next to greats like Abraham, David, and Elijah, maybe even at the top of that list. His story should be told, his deeds recited, his memory passed on to the next generation.

But if that was true, Jesus deserved even more attention and honor, because Jesus and his mission were greater still. Without Jesus saving the world from sin and death, Moses’ work didn’t much matter.

For you and me, the question isn’t likely, “Who is greater, Moses or Jesus?” For us, it is hundreds of lesser lights, like the founding fathers of our nation, or some recent political superstar. We make idols out of athletes and entertainers, but a hundred years from now the music of Elvis, Michael Jackson, or Taylor Swift will seem quaint if it is remembered by anyone at all. Patrick Mahomes or LeBron James won’t be footnotes in a history book, and no one may even know what football or basketball are.

But Jesus will still be the one whose birthday is celebrated even by the people who don’t like him. The years will still be numbered by whether they took place before or after he was born. His faith will likely claim more followers in more places around the world than any other (and if you add those in heaven it will blow the rest away). He will still be the world’s only Redeemer from sin, and when the last day comes, he, and no other, will sit on the throne and judge the world for its deeds.

By faith, we are the house Jesus built, the house he owns and keeps. Give the owner his due.