Jesus: The Supreme Revelation Hebrews 1:1-3

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1 Introduction The book of Hebrews focus is on the superior ministry of Jesus. The question is often asked; which religion is true? Which religion is right? The book of Hebrews makes bold assertions about the superiority of Christ over angels, Moses and Priests. The book of Hebrews does not deny the Old revelation or the Old Covenant or the Old sacrifices or the old sanctuary but rather affirms and testifies to the superiority and supremacy of the life and death and sacrifice of Jesus; the resurrection of Jesus; the revelation of Jesus gives us a new and better Covenant and the sacrifice of Jesus is eternal and complete. The Old Revelation and the Old Covenant revealed things about God and sin and salvation but Jesus comes and defeats the power of death and sin and evil. Jesus comes in the flesh; knows our weakness and provides us with grace to be faithful to him (4:5). The author of Hebrews is one of the great mysteries for Bible teachers. Some suggestions have included Paul or Barnabas separately or together. Other suggestions have included Apollos, and Silas and even Priscilla and Aquila. Paul in his letters often appeals to his apostolic authority in his letters but this author appeals to others who were eye-witnesses of Jesus ministry (2:3). Ryrie in his introduction to the book of Hebrews writes: It is safest to say, as did the theologian Origen in the third century, that only God knows who wrote Hebrews (Ryrie Study Bible; p.1869). Who were the original recipients of the letter? It would appear these were Jews although it may also refer to Gentiles who who were Jewish converts. The title of the book is the letter to the Hebrews. The author makes reference to the prophets and the angels who appeared to Israel and there are numerous citations to Levitical worship. Are these the Jews in the Levant or in the regions of the Galilee and Judea? Or the Jews scattered around the Roman Empire? Or were these Jews in Italy in general and Rome specifically? Are these Jews true believers in Jesus? The writer refers to them as holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling in chapter 3 verse 1. Whoever they are and wherever they are the author of Hebrews calls this letter a word of exhortation (13:22); brought on by the fact that some were considering abandoning faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and returning to Judaism. It would seem that they were under profound persecution and the source of that persecution might be Jews. The persecution does not seem at this point unto death or as martyrs (see 10:32-34; 12:4); and in their temptation to return to the old ways and the old covenant they were running the risk of apostasy. The author of Hebrews argues that the return to first century Judaism is not an option. The book is not simply an apologetic for the superiority of Jesus and the gospel of grace; but rather for the person who considers returning to Judaism to avoid persecution or personal preference; who want to find peace and rest but a peace and a rest outside of Christ and outside the gospel. The letter appears to have been written sometime in the decade of the 60 s; prior to the destruction of the Jewish Temple by the Romans. The book is quoted by Clement (circa 95); and the lack of any reference to the destruction of the Temple by the author as proof of the Old Testament sacrificial system s demise argues rather persuasively for a date sometime before 70 AD. The author wants to convince the person tormented by fear or persecution or doubt; the person who grew up as an observant Jew; to abandon Christ and embrace Judaism; that real rest, true peace cannot be had apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. In the first century Judaism was a protected religion under Roman Law and Christ followers were not protected. The pressures and persecutions both by the religious leaders and family members must have 1

2 taken its toll. Imagine you are rejected by your family, your friends, and told your have betrayed your own people and your own culture. Banned from the synagogues, denied employment, denied family support, many were tempted to return to Judaism. Similar pressures exist all around the globe as the followers of Jesus come from Hindu backgrounds or Muslim backgrounds, or atheistic or secular backgrounds. Subtle and not so subtle pressure turns into persecution and sometimes persecution turns into the threat of death. The author of the book of Hebrews encourages his readers in the faith, in perseverance and in discipleship. We are called to endure persecution and suffering; and press forward in both faith and confidence in the Lord Jesus knowing we will spend eternity with God in Christ Jesus the Lord. The Lord has promised to save and transform the world through the Lord Jesus Christ. In the history and the economy of God s plan heroes of the faith have come on the scene and given us examples to follow. The book includes instruction (chapters 1-10:18); and exhortation (chapters 10:19-13:25). The book is dedicated to the superior person of Jesus and the superior life of Jesus. Superior because Jesus is the son of God, son of man; superior in institution because Jesus is the superior priest; superior in life because Jesus is the way away from sin and the way to God. The writer will use words like better, blood, faith, sacrifice, high priest, covenant, son, let us, ministry, eternal, partaker, and heaven. The phrase better than appears 13 times and is repeated in a couple of places: Jesus is better than * the prophets (1:1-3) * Angels (1:4-2:18) * Moses (3:1-18) * Joshua (4:1-13) * High Priest (4:14-6:12) * Abraham (6:13-7:10) * Melchizedek (7:1-10) * Aaron and priests (7:11-8:6) * Sacrifices (8:7-10:39) The writer of Hebrews invites the reader; don t be afraid, be informed. Jesus is so much better (v.4). Jesus gives us better things (Heb. 6:9); and is the better person (Heb. 7:7); and brings a better hope (Heb.7:19); assures a better Covenant (Heb. 7:22); and is the mediator of a better covenant...and better promises (Heb. 8:6). Jesus purifies with a better sacrifice (9:23); and gives us a better possession (heaven Heb. 10:34). Which of course brings a better resurrection (11:35); and better things (Heb. 11:35, 11:40; 12:24). Jesus: The Supreme Spokesman (vv.1-2a) Hebrews 1:1 3 (NKJV)1God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, polymeros kai polytropos poly means many meros parts in many parts and many portions; polytropos tropos means ways ; In the Old Testament God revealed Himself to the fathers through the prophets. In the New Testament God revealed Himself through His Messiah. 2

3 Why does the writer of Hebrews skip introductions, salutations, and explanations? He wants to talk about Jesus right away The revelation of God in times past were given in bits and pieces; portions and prophecies. No singular prophet received the entire revelation of God or total prophetic message. The Lord spoke to the Prophets in dreams and visions; symbols and circumstances but sometimes in audible and unmistakable communications. The revelations pointed to the Lord Jesus; the final revelation; the ultimate expression; God s final word or last word. The Bible s testimony is that God has spoken. God has not remained silent. God has revealed Himself through nature or what we might call the physical world. It testifies to God s Deity, majesty, power, creativity. God s speech can be found in God s creation and man s conscience. The human conscience provides an inner witness to of our duty to God; and laws point to a law-giver; a Cosmic standard of justice. Religion even false religion testifies to the need of for human beings to worship; and understand on what basis am I acceptable to God. Did God appoint special servants to serve in the capacity of spokespeople for God? Human beings with messages from God? Did those messages include how we can be acceptable to God and live and please God? The testimony of the Scriptures is that God did in fact entrust His message to faithful men and women throughout human history. The writer of Hebrews does not expect the reader to resist or reject the Scriptures testimony that God did in fact speak in human history. The Jews were not ignorant of their own law, history, or prophecy. 2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, How is Jesus better than the prophets? He is better in his person and in his message. Jesus is God s Son. The Greek reads; en whio- or en huios; or literally in a son the emphasis is on nature and character personal this is God s personal revelation Previous revelations were prophecies, types, symbols; impersonal so at last God sends His Son. Only a personal revelation of a perfect person can be a perfect revelation. Jesus is the perfect revelation of God (see Word Meanings In The New Testament; Ralph Earle; p.419). Jesus is God s full, final, once-for-all revelation. Has the Lord revealed all things through Christ? In one sense yes there is no second message or future message or additional message needed whereby men must be saved. In Christ we know all things necessary to be saved and justified sanctified and glorified. 3

4 Does the world await future information? I think the answer is yes. Does the world await future illuminations about our marvelous Savior and His wonderful salvation? I think the answer is yes. Does the world await further revelations concerning God s plan of salvation? The answer is no. Sorry Mormons. Sorry Jehovah s Witnesses. Sorry so called Christians who think there is something more than Jesus awaiting those who want to be a part of some secret society. In John s Gospel (15:15) Jesus said, No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. Did Jesus tell us everything we want to know? Probably not. Did Jesus tell us everything we need to know? The answer is yes. If Jesus has told us all things that (He) heard from His Father is there some secret thing reserved for some spiritual elite? I doubt that. John declared No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (1:18). The testimony of Jesus in John 14:9; He who has seen Me has seen the Father Jesus speaks not simply for God but as God S.D. Gordon said, Jesus was God spelling himself out in language humanity could understand. Jesus: The Supreme Heir (v.2b) whom He has appointed heir of all things, The writer of Hebrews gives Jesus infinite privileges. Jesus is the heir of all things. In what sense? The universe belongs to Him by divine right, divine appointment, and he will rule and reign over all things and everyone. The Son is greater than all the prophets. The Son s message is greater than all the prophets Jesus is superior to the Jewish prophets in at least seven different ways; 1. Jesus not the prophets is the heir of all things; 2. Jesus not the prophets was the instrument that God used to make the universe. 3. Jesus not the prophets radiates divine glory and possesses God s exact nature. 4. Jesus not the prophets upholds and preserves the material universe. 5. Jesus not the prophets made purification and forgiveness possible. 6. Jesus and not the prophets did what no prophet would dare to do sit down on the right hand of God. 7. Jesus and not the prophets is greater than angels; and has a name more excellent than any prophet or all prophets. Jesus: Creator And Framer Of Worlds (v.2c) 4

5 through whom also He made the worlds; The writer believes Jesus made the world and maintains the world. The text reads; toys aionas literally the ages. You stay the same through the ages; your love never changes What does the writer mean? Does he mean the actual constitution of the universe or does he mean the development of the successive stages in the universe? Minimum it means Jesus initiated all worlds and every world; Jesus was at the beginning; designing the beginning; and continued to orchestrate the ages all ages all the past all the present all the future. The Bible teaches that God created the worlds through Jesus. Jesus: The Glory Of God (v.3) 3who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, The writer piles on the titles; the express image of God; the sustainer of the universe; the redeemer of mankind; the supreme mediator. Jesus is the radiance (brightness) of God s glory and the exact representation of God s being. The Greek word (apaugasma) is passive in the sense of reflection but the active meaning brings to mind words like effulgence or radiance the brightness of His glory. The writer of Hebrews is making the claim that Jesus reflects God s glory. God s glory is the sum of His attributes including His awesome presence. God s glory includes His presence. God s appearance is so intense it is like a burning fire consuming all that is impure. God s glory is an expression of who He is His character and attributes. Express image (one word means a tool for engraving) or stamp or seal or impress. It is that by which a person or a thing is recognized (coin seal etc). I don t think it means that God looks like a person (God is a Spirit). Express image of His Person (hypostasis) has been adopted in theology as a technical term it literally means that which stands under or serves as a support or a foundation. Then it came to mean reality or the virtue of a thing that made it what it is or the essence of being. Scholars like Westcott say that Christ is the expression of the essence of God. Or whatever God is Jesus is also. They share essence or nature. Hypostasis the underlying reality that makes something something. Jesus resembles the Father in every way. The Son, being God, reveals to man by His words and ways exactly what God is like ( Believer s Bible Commentary; MacDonald; p.2158). 5

6 Paul says the same thing in Colossians 1:15-16; He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. God spoke (v.1); God has spoken to us by His Son (v.2); Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power (v.3). In Hebrews 11:3 we read; By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Literally the ages were prepared framed in preparation for all succeeding generations or God prepared in time all things necessary for the unfolding generations. God upholds the universe by the word of His power. Jesus upholds all things; Jesus speaks and life continues; Jesus holds matter together maintains the universe. Scientists have built the large Hadron collider to smash tiny particles into their constituent elements to unlock the secrets of particle composition; to answer the mystery of how molecules retain their ability to lock elements into place or to ask and answer the question of how things bond and then stay together. The Bible says Jesus is the glue that holds all existence together. Jesus is the Sustainer. Jesus holds all things together by the power of His Word. Jesus is God s speech. Lord Morley said; Three things matter in a speech: who says it, how he says it, and what he says The writer of Hebrews tells us God has spoken; God has spoken to us in the Christ; the speech is powerful; irrefutable; unforgettable; undeniable; persuasive; and the message; God loves you and wants to forgive your sin...when He had by Himself purged our sins Jesus died to cleanse us from our sins. Ephesians 2:13; But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. This is perhaps the most amazing title of all. The One Who creates the Universe and Sustains the Universe cleanses sinful creatures of their sins by sacrificial death. MacDonald: In order to create the universe, He only had to speak. In order to maintain the universe, He only has to speak because no moral problem is involved. But in order to put away our sin once for all, He had to die on the cross of Calvary. It is staggering to think that the 6

7 sovereign Lord would stoop to become the sacrificial Lamb. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all, as Isaac Watts hymn says (p. 2159). Peter reminds the early Jewish believers (1 Peter 1:18-19); knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Conclusion...sat down at the right hand of the majesty on High This is the supreme place of rest. This is not the well deserved rest after much toil. This is the rest that comes because the work is finished. The work of salvation and redemption is complete. The right hand of the majesty is the place of honor and privilege (Heb. 1:13). The triumph of Jesus and victory of Jesus is complete. God has highly exalted Him. The right hand is the position of power (Matt. 26:64) and delight (Ps. 16:11). MacDonald: In following the pathway of our Lord from creation to Calvary and then to glory, it seems we have quite lost sight of the prophets. Illustrious though they were, they have receded into the shadows. They bore witness to the coming Messiah (Acts 10:43). Now that He has come, they gladly retire from view (p. 2159). What a powerful thought. We see Job and Jeremiah waving in the shadows. We are grateful for the prophets and their prophecies. But now we see Jesus. Jesus is God s supreme revelation (vv.1-2a). Jesus is God s source for creation (vv.2b-3b). Jesus is God s representation for all who are curious about God (v.3). Jesus is God s purification for sinful human beings (v.3c). The book of Hebrews is powerful portrait of Jesus. The author wants to convince you that in Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise that preceded Him. Jesus is superior to anything that came before Him. In Jesus we have a better covenant, a better hope, a better sanctuary, a better inheritance, the supreme and superior mediator, a sinless High Priest, and the supreme sacrifice; the one and only sacrifice; a sacrifice that never needs repeating and a sacrifice that provides access to the Holy God for all who embrace and believe and trust Jesus. The book of Hebrews is also a book of wonder and warnings The author wonders why anyone would turn from Jesus and go back to a failed philosophy or false religion 7