A benediction is a good or blessed word. It is a prayer for God to bless the recipients in particular ways. Paul concluded most of his epistles with a benediction to his readers. There are benedictions in the Old Testament as well, perhaps most famously that which Moses instructed Aaron and the other priests to speak to the people (Numbers 6:22-27). God’s inclusion of benedictions in the life of his people is closely tied to his covenant promise to be their God, the Shepherd who will never leave them (Ezekiel 34:15, 23-25; 37:24, 26).

The writer of Hebrews draws his epistle to a close with a benediction upon his readers: “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 everything good 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” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

One of the features that makes this benediction of such great value is that it fits the resurrection of Jesus into the daily fabric of the Christian life. Jesus’ resurrection is both a once-for-all act accomplishing our eternal salvation and the daily working of his “power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19-20). The God who raised Jesus from the dead has also made peace with us through the blood of his crucified Son. And on this basis he now equips us through the risen Christ with every good thing that we might do his will. God’s work in the sacrifice and resurrection of his eternal Son makes possible all our good works for his glory.