Hebrews 1:4-14 - Will the Real Jesus Please Remain Seated?!?

Who is this Jesus? We saw in the last post that He is the Revealer, the Heir, the Creator, the Radiance of the Glory of God, the very Image of God, the Sustainer of the universe, Purifier of God’s people, and He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High. This is Jesus.

Hebrews 1:4-14 -

having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Who is Jesus? He is someone who is so much better than even mighty angels. Let’s just work our way through the text and see in what way He is so much better.

v. 4 – He has a more excellent name – i.e. “Son” – this denotes a more intimate family relationship

v. 5 – terms “Son” and “Father” are used repeatedly. This is quoted from Psalm 2 & 2 Samuel 7 - Jesus is the only one that could fulfill the promise to David that God would make a Son for Himself from the offspring of David. Solomon failed to keep the Law and so his kingdom did not last, but Jesus kept God’s law perfectly. He is the perfect Son for the perfect Father.

v. 6 – Jesus is said to be the “Firstborn” – this is the preeminent position in a family – receiving a double portion of the inheritance.

Also in v. 6 we see that these mighty angels - (who were even called “gods” in the OT – Job 1:6; Deut 32:43) - these mighty beings are called to worship Jesus the Son, because He is God. He is infinitely more excellent than they.

v. 7 – Angels are amazing – they beings mightily used by God.

vv. 8-9 – BUT not compared to the eternal, reigning, righteous, joyful King Jesus.

v. 10-12 – This is the Jesus that made everything and although this temporal creation will all wear out, He lives reigning forever and ever.

v. 13 – This is the Jesus who alone has the position of power and privilege at God’s right hand

v. 14 – The angels have a place – it is to serve believers – the ones inheriting salvation from God – yet how can you compare any angel or man to this Jesus the Son of God?!?!

This is who God in His word declare Jesus to be. And everyone believes this right? Let me just give you a quick comparison to a few other religious views of Jesus.

Islam – Muslim views of Jesus:
1. Jesus was created and not eternal
2. Jesus was merely a created human
3. Jesus is not the Lamb of God who was slain
4. Jesus is not the way of salvation for mankind – the five pillars of Islam are the way
5. Jesus was never crucified and therefore was not resurrected
6. Jesus cannot be worshipped
7. Jesus is simply another prophet of God
8. Jesus will die forty years after his return
9. Jesus is never said to love the world

Mormon views of Jesus:
1. Jesus is the literal son of god and his goddess wife – he was born through physical sexual relations with Mary.
2. Jesus is the brother of all spirits born in heaven – he is even the spirit brother of Lucifer
3. Jesus was married and had wives
4. Jesus is only a God – God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods.
5. Jesus is not to be worshipped and is not called God – (prayer is never addressed to Jesus Christ – prayers are made in his name but are addressed to the “Heavenly Father” – and do not go through Jesus)

Jehovah’s Witness views of Jesus:
1. Jesus is the first creation – the only begotten Son of God – there is only one God in one person
2. Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man
3. Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in the flesh
4. Jesus did not rise from the dead in a physical body – but only a spirit
5. Jesus was born again
6. Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake
7. Jesus alone cannot save us but we need faith and good works
8. Jesus was not entrusted with the duty to oversee the creation of the earth, Satan was.

Are these views compatible with the biblical view of Jesus? No. Jesus is not these things and He is not merely your “buddy” and “pal” who helps you through tough times. He’s not your “homey” or your “home-boy”.

No – He is God of very God – and He is worthy of your adoration, trust, and submission. He is what your life is to be all about. And He is worthy of that.

Hebrews 1:1-3 - The Incomparable Jesus

I'm starting my way through Hebrews on Wednesday nights and hope to post much of the lessons here.  As I begin this study, I am again blown away by the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Truly He is worthy of our worship.

Hebrews 1:1-3 - [1 :1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2 ] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3 ] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Truly Jesus has...

1. Superior Revelation (vv. 1-2a)

[1 :1] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2 ] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son

-vs- our inner “feelings” let alone the Old Testament. All that God did and revealed in the old days (OT) pointed to and prepared for what we have now in these last days. Jesus has come and has brought us understanding of what God’s design is for us all. He alone is worthy to reveal and carry out the will of God (Revelation 5).

Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Also, there is a great danger that we might simply trust our own judgments and feelings.  But remember, we are fallen, finite, sinful creatures that need help from the outside.  This is what God has provided.  He has revealed Himself to us by His Son.

There is a God – and He has spoken. If you want to know Him, you come through His Son. Do you doubt Him? Spend some time considering the incomparable Jesus Christ.

2. Superior inheritance (v. 2b)

whom he appointed the heir of all things

-vs- our inheritance – What might you inherit? (money, land, house, dishes, etc…)

Psalm 2 – (read it!)

Colossians 1:16 - For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

3. Superior beginning (v. 2c)

through whom also he created the world

-vs- our beginning – How old are you? I’m 38 years old. How does that compare to the one who created everything???

John 1:3 - All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16 - For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

This is the God who has no beginning – He is the beginning for everything else.

4. Superior glory (v.3a)

He is the radiance of the glory of God

-vs- our glory – Who do you think is the greatest?  The greatest in whatever category you want to choose.  Compare that person to Christ - there is no comparison!

2 Corinthians 4:4-6 - In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

5. Superior image (v. 3b)

the exact imprint of his nature

-vs- our image – What do people think of you?

Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God

John 14:9 - Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

6. Superior power (v. 3c)

and he upholds the universe by the word of his power

-vs- our power – What’s something you accomplished or built that you were pretty pleased with? (Me – I remodeled a bathroom remodel) Compare the work we do with blood, sweat and tears with Christ using His “word” – comparatively speaking we are powerless.

Colossians 1:17 - And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

7. Superior cleansing (v. 3d)

making purification for sins

-vs- our spiritual cleansing – We so often try to think we earn God’s approval by how we live and act, by our good deeds or obeying God. But Christ has done the work – the penalty is death (OT sacrificial system by the high priest)

Hebrews 9:12-14 - he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

8. Superior position (v. 3e)

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

-vs- our positions – 1st chair in band, youngest/oldest in family, job, class president, popular, even President of the U.S.

Ephesians 1:20-21 - that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Conclusion:

This is the incomparable Jesus Christ. Nothing you could live your life for could possibly compare to living for Him – anything else could not even be placed on the scale to compare. Compared to this Jesus, all mankind put together is lighter than a breath (Psalm 62:9).

I invite you to join me as we come together on Wednesdays to consider this amazing Jesus Christ and His implications on your life.

Good Advice

A few months before his death at age twenty-nine in 1747, David Brainerd, the missionary to the Indians in New England, wrote to a young ministerial candidate, "Give yourself to prayer, to reading and meditation on divine truths: strive to penetrate to the bottom of them and never be content with a superficial knowledge."*

What great advice not only for a young ministerial candidate but for all of God's people.  How much more rich our lives would be, how much more the cause of Christ would advance, how much more glory would God receive if His children actually practiced this.

Striving along side you to be less content,

Ryan


*Taken from The Pleasures of God by John Piper

The Manger

"From the creche to the cross is an inseparable line.  Chirstmas only points forward to Easter.  It can have no meaning apart from that, where the Son of god displayed His glory by His death."

~ John Donne

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  May you see the glory of our one true God in our Savior Jesus Christ this Christmas season.

-Ryan