Happy New Year, Readers!
The Book of Hebrews is the selected book of choice for our next study. So, without further ado, let’s get started. Scholars have argued who the author of Hebrews is as there is no mention of who wrote it in the book. Some argue that the author is Paul, while others say it was customary of Paul to introduce himself in his letters, and since there is no author introduction in Hebrews, Paul isn’t likely to have written it. I am not here to debate the authorship. I merely wish to dive into the text. May we be edified together in this study.
The author stated that in the past, God spoke to us through the prophets and in various ways. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, He spoke to Jacob in a dream, and He spoke to Balak through a donkey. But the author says now God speaks to us through His mediator, Jesus Christ. Now, if we aren’t careful, we may assume that the people of old had a better avenue of communication with God than we do now.
To see a prophet of God like Elijah, causing fire to fall from the sky, must have been incredible. To see Moses lift a rod and cause an entire body of water to split was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Witnessing God’s power through His prophets must have been quite the encounter and having them as a God’s mediator must have been reassuring. But what’s better? Having a mediator who calls fire to fall from heaven or having a mediator who will descend from heaven with fire at His 2nd coming? (Isaiah 66:15). Is it better to have an intercessor with power to split water or to be an intercessor who is Living Water?
The awe and thrill of the Old Testament accounts may leave us believing the experiences of old are better than what we have today. Yet, to have Christ, as our mediator is a far better experience because we no longer need an earthly mediator—for in Christ we have a greater intercessor in heaven (Romans 8:34). Surely, it’s better to have Christ sitting next to God the Father in heaven working on our behalf than it is to have a man working on our behalf on earth. So, we see good news listed in the first few verses of this book. We have a different way to communicate with God, and its far better than what it was before.
As this chapter progresses into verse three, we are exposed to a bit more information about Christ. The writer says, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person …”. In times past, God’s prophets may have spoken for God, but they weren’t God’s exact image. Were they in His likeness? Yes, but His exact image? Absolutely not. Neither you nor I can name a prophet who mirrored God exactly. They all fell short in one area or another. Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it … Noah became drunk after the flood … Samuel did not have God’s eyes when he envisioned David’s brother being king instead of David.
Name a prophet, and I can name an error. And since I can name an error, but God has no error, we can safely say that no prophet had the exact image of God. But Christ did. Jesus had no error and fulfilled God’s exact will at all times. He mirrored God perfectly. And isn’t that to our benefit?
If we are to have someone mediate our prayers and petitions, wouldn’t you want it to be someone who is perfect? Someone who knows exactly what God desires and can perfectly craft your prayers in a presentable way to God? Someone who also loves you enough to die for you, therefore, you can be sure that whenever they intercede for you, it’s for your good?
Although I am sure God’s prophets in times past loved God’s people (Well … there’s Jonah … so, this statement is debatable) none of them could have possibly loved us they way Christ does. In Christ, we have a mediator who we know for certain never misses when it comes to being the expressed image of God, and one who loves us more than we, at times, love ourselves.
But the benefits just keep rolling the more we read. In the same verse, Hebrews 1:3, we see that God’s word alone sustains the earth, “… and upholding all things by the word of His power …” There is an otherworldly power in the words of our Lord. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth by His mere word. God didn’t need to step off His throne to create all things, nor did He need to craft creation in His lap while sitting in His seat. You and I, if we wanted to create something as simple as a meal, we would either need to get up to create it or call someone else to do it for us.
But God needed no one nor did He have to step one toe off His throne to create. He spoke the heavens and the earth into existence with His Word alone. If you were hungry, you couldn’t speak anything into existence to satisfy your hunger, not even a fraction of a cracker. But God spoke all things into existence only by His Word. The only creation He created slightly different was mankind. With us, Christ became personal. It is written that He formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed life into us. We the only creation He breathed on. God could have created us just as He did everything else. Yet, we are and always will be His prized possession. Therefore, a personal touch from the Creator while creating us is only fitting.
In John 1, we see that Jesus is the Word. So, it was Jesus, God’s Word, who create the heavens and the earth. Now here in Hebrews, we are told that not only did the Word create all things, but He also sustains it. It is one thing to create something, but it is another thing to sustain it. Many people have children, but how well do they sustain them? You can plant a garden, but can you maintain it? It is beyond miraculous that Christ created the heavens and the earth. It is equally amazing that He sustains it.
The Hebrew writer also highlighted Christ’s authority by mentioning that God commanded the angels to worship Him, and that God had never told any other angel to sit at His right hand. We see God acknowledge Christ’s character, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness” (v. 9). We see God commend Christ on the works of His hands in verse 10, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.” We also see God proclaim that when the heavens pass away, Jesus would still stand.
The Word created the heavens and earth, the Word sustains the heavens and the earth, and the Word will remain when the heavens and earth fade away. God says creation will grow old like clothing and that Christ will fold creation up like a coat, but that Christ Himself will remain. Look at the lasting power of the Word, Jesus Christ. Look at how much more highly exalted He is than the angels. Look at how God the Father honors Him and calls Him Lord.
Who has God ever done this for? Who else has God commended in this way? If we want to be viewed favorably by God, the wisest thing to do is to go through Christ. Reader, Hebrews 1 is a powerful testimony of Christ’s authority, power, and timelessness. It’s been a joy reading it, and I pray you feel the same after reading it yourself.
Be excited that we have a heavenly, mediator and a much better communicator in Christ. For in Him, we have access to God, things in heaven, and things on earth. That’s all I have for you today. See to it that you communicate all things in your heart to our Greater Communicator and trust that His love looks out for the best interest of both you and God. Until next time, be blessed and take care.
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God bless you!
Preach! Daughter!Preach! Phenomenal word! Thanks always for sharing! God bless you!