High and Lifted Up
In Hebrews 1, God is telling us that He was very selective in how He spoke to us. Hebrews 1:1 tells us that “Long ago (in the days of the Old Testament) God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.”
God spoke “many times and in various ways. ” God spoke “many times and in various ways.” ... through angels - Genesis 16:11-12 ... through visions - Genesis 15:1 ... through dreams - Genesis 28:10-19 ... through symbolic actions - Jeremiah 18:1-10 ... through a gentle whisper -1 Kings 19:12 ... through miraculous signs - Exodus 8:20-25
God spoke through prophets (Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi…).” Each prophet grasped and expressed a fragment of the truth of God, but none grasped the whole truth. Amos “a cry for social justice.” Isaiah grasped the “holiness of God.” Hosea, because of his own bitter home experience, realized the “wonder of the forgiving love of God.”
2 And now in these final days (from Jesus’ birth forward), he has spoken to us through his Son.
God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Billy Sunday once said: "There are 256 names in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond ALL that any one name could express."
4 This shows that the Son is far greater (better) than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
“Christ is better than the angels (1:4) “Christ is better than the angels (1:4). He brought in a better hope (7:19) because He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises (8:6).”
Why would that be important for us to know that Jesus was better than all this?
Back in 1992, George Barna conducted a survey of church people and found that only 55% of those who attend church regularly said that their faith affected the way they live. That meant that 45% felt their faith didn’t affect their lives. Why would that be?
How is Jesus better than the prophets. He is the Heir of all things How is Jesus better than the prophets? He is the Heir of all things! “whom he has appointed heir of all things”
He is the Creator of all things! “through whom He also made the worlds”
He is the Sustainer of the Universe He is the Sustainer of the Universe! “upholding all things through the word of his power”
He is the Radiance of God’s glory He is the Radiance of God’s glory! “who being the brightness of his glory”
He Is The Exact Representation Of His Father He Is The Exact Representation Of His Father! - “express image of his person”
He is the Redeemer of Mankind! “He.. himself purged our sins…”
He Is Ruler of the Universe He Is Ruler of the Universe. “… when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 10:11-12 “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (12) But this man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sin forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”
References The Christ Factor -- Jeff Strite Jesus Is Better -- John Hamby Better than Angels -- Jeff Strite