SESSION 1. Who Is Jesus? As God s Son, Jesus revealed God finally and without equal LifeWay

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1 SESSION 1 Who Is Jesus? As God s Son, Jesus revealed God finally and without equal. 11 DATE Session OF Session MY 1: Who BIBLE 1: Is STUDY: Who JESUS? Is JESUS? 11 11

2 NEVER HAS THE BIBLICAL JESUS BEEN DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD LIKE HE IS IN THIS CURRENT CULTURE. David Jeremiah THERE S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT JESUS THESE DAYS. BUT DOES ANYONE REALLY KNOW WHO THEY RE TALKING ABOUT? You ve seen the t-shirts and bumper stickers. You ve watched the movies and TV shows. You ve even heard the conversations in passing. Our culture s description of who Jesus is doesn t always match up to the biblical portrait of the exalted Christ. It happens in such subtle ways that Christians themselves don t even recognize it. In fear of being offensive, Christ-followers are guilty of hesitating when asked about their beliefs. In fact, average Christians might be shocked and frustrated at their findings if they were to survey neighbors and coworkers about their understanding of Christ. In the Book of Hebrews, Jesus is the centerpiece of Christianity the Son of God, our High Priest, the source and perfecter of our faith, and the list could go on. The writer addressed a variety of questions reinforcing Christ s superiority in the lives of His followers. As you explore the Book of Hebrews, make careful note of who Jesus is and hold tightly to your faith in the exalted Christ. 12 EXPLORE THE BIBLE YOUNG ADULTS

3 HEBREWS 1:1-4 1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Think About It After reading Hebrews 1:1-4, list the various descriptions of Jesus. 4 So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs. According to these verses, in what specific ways did God speak to His people? Session 1: Who Is JESUS? 13

4 UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT The writer of Hebrews set out to help troubled Christians see Jesus as the only way to eternal life and earthly fulfillment. Hebrews is more of a sermon than a letter. As in many sermons, the author used repetition to emphasize themes. In the first few sentences, he introduced a key theme: Jesus is worthy of being trusted even in the face of difficulty. Jesus wasn t merely one of the many voices through whom God spoke to His creation. He spoke as God s Son. That relationship makes Him superior to the prophets and the angels. He alone was the full revelation of God to all people everywhere. His nature, His involvement in creating and nurturing the universe, His death on the cross for our purification, and His exaltation demonstrate that God the Father and God the Son are equally God. Through Christ alone, the traits of God s marvelous character can be seen. Shaped by such a powerful perspective, we can share with confidence God s life-changing message of redemption. 14 EXPLORE THE BIBLE: YOUNG ADULTS

5 EXPLORE THE TEXT GOD SPEAKS (Hebrews 1:1-2a) Hebrews begins with a comparison between how God spoke in the former days the Old Testament times and how He has spoken in the latter days after the incarnation of Christ. The writer isn t pushing the Old Testament aside as if it s no longer relevant. The Bible is a cohesive whole with God s Son at the center. In Christ, we find the place the Old Testament was designed to go. The Christ-followers receiving this letter appeared to be struggling with the temptation to return to Old Testament Judaism. If that was the case, it would stand to reason that the writer would point to the Old Testament prophets. He used what was familiar to them as the starting point for his case for Christ. In His wisdom, God spoke to the forefathers of the Old Testament through the prophets. God called prophets like Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, and John the Baptist to proclaim His Word at just the right time for the people who needed to hear and apply it in their situations. These prophets preached God s Word in different ways. Some spoke through thundering sermons and gripping stories. Other prophets used piercing word pictures and remarkable miracles as they delivered God s message. Still others spoke with careful insights and courageous wisdom. What do verses 1-2a teach about the means God uses to reveal Himself? Session 1: Who Is JESUS? 15

6 Key Doctrine: Scripture and Jesus All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. See Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27; John 5:39. Prior to Jesus coming in human form to earth, God spoke to people through prophets who spoke on God s behalf. Who has God used to speak to us since then? The writer of Hebrews went on to make a declaration. What God spoke through His prophets in former times was not His final word. The phrase these last days refers in this context to the entire period from Jesus birth forward. In Jesus, God spoke to His creation in a new and superior way. He spoke in the Person of His one and only Son. To see and hear Jesus was to see and hear God in the flesh. There was no middle man as with the prophets in Old Testament times. IN JESUS CHRIST, GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS FINAL MESSAGE. The Old Testament prophets could never compare with the common nature that Jesus Christ, God s Son, shared with His Father. Out of that unique relationship, the Father spoke supremely through His Son our Savior. What are the similarities and differences between the messages of Jesus and the prophets? AND GOD HAS SAID NOTHING BEYOND THAT. WHEN CHRIST CAME, THAT WAS THE FINAL WORD. David Jeremiah GOD REVEALED (Hebrews 1:2b-4) The writer of Hebrews went on to explain why Jesus surpassed the prophets as God s complete revelation to the world. He described Jesus as God s heir. God owned all things in the universe. Like a king in a royal court, the God of the universe appointed His own Son to inherit everything He had created, both in heaven and on earth. Jesus was more than an heir. He was involved in the creation 16 EXPLORE THE BIBLE YOUNG ADULTS

7 of everything. The Father made everything that s eternal as well as everything that s temporary through His Son. With that affirmation, the writer of Hebrews nailed down the eternal truth that Jesus existed before the universe was created (see Genesis 1:26, Colossians 1:15-18, and John 1:1-4). Along with inheriting everything created, Jesus also radiates God s glory (Colossians 1:15). He alone shines with the splendor of God s presence in the world. However, He doesn t serve as radiance in the way the moon reflects light from the sun. Instead, the Son emanates the presence of the Father because He s God. The writer of Hebrews shows us something else about Jesus that reinforced His superiority. Copy machines produce duplicates of the original document. Look closely, and you can probably tell the difference between the original document and the copy. That s not the case with Jesus. He s the exact expression of God. In other words, the Son is the original exactly like the Father. Because He s the original, He exhibits the fullness of God s divine nature. Therefore, He guides and upholds all of creation. He carries out His sustaining work in the universe in a way that shows He s God. How would you describe what Hebrews 1:2b-4 tells us about Jesus superiority and authority over the universe? Directing us to observe Christ s work in history, the writer points us to the cross. The crucified Christ made complete the purification for our sins. Now the risen Lord has been exalted on high. He has taken His seat at the right hand of the Father s majesty. When He sat down in that exalted place, it was a declaration of His completed work that was necessary for our salvation and demonstrates His equality with the Father. His powerful reign is limitless. Session 1: Who Is JESUS? 17

8 What can we learn about Jesus completed work through the cross on our behalf? Bible Skill: Use other Scripture to help understand a Bible passage. The writer of Hebrews begins by comparing how God spoke in Old Testament times and how He spoke in these last days after the first coming of Christ. The biblical writer did not push the Old Testament aside as though it were not relevant. The Bible is a cohesive whole with God s Son Jesus at the center. In Christ, we find the place the Old Testament was designed to go. Read these passages in your Bible: 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Psalms 2:7; 45:6-7; 102:25-27; 110:1; Isaiah 53: As time allows, read several verses before and/or after the passages for context. The writer of Hebrews presented troubled Christians with reasons for staying true to Christ as they faced potential persecution. Having already shown His superiority to the prophets, he directed them to realize that Jesus reigned over the angels, who enjoyed a position of high rank in God s kingdom. Like the prophets, angels also would ve been viewed as messengers sent from God. Jesus reigned supreme over them for one undeniable reason: He alone bore God s matchless name. God, the Son, inherited the name of God, the Father. Therefore, He is God. In what ways is your faith challenged in the midst of persecution? Now read Hebrews 1:1-4 and consider this question: What do these Old Testament passages teach us about Jesus Christ as He is described in Hebrews 1:1-4? 18 EXPLORE THE BIBLE YOUNG ADULTS

9 OBEY THE TEXT Jesus is the full revelation of God to humanity. Through Him, we can understand God s character and the gospel message. As God reveals Himself to us, we can share that truth with others. In what ways has God revealed Himself to you recently? What actions are you taking as a result? What can we do as a group to create an environment that fosters the open sharing of truths God reveals to us? Be on the lookout this week for any skewed or inaccurate portrayals of Jesus. Record them here, and then correct them with the truth from God s Word. MEMORIZE In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. Hebrews 1:2a Session 1: Who Is JESUS? 19

10 Use the space provided to make observations and record prayer requests during the group experience for this session. MY THOUGHTS Record insights gained and questions to discuss during the group experience. MY PRAYERS List specific prayer needs and answers to remember this week. MY MISSION Acknowledge ways you will obey God s Word this week. 20 EXPLORE THE BIBLE YOUNG ADULTS