Session 1 Who Is Jesus? As God s Son, Jesus revealed God finally and without equal. hebrews 1:1-4 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Date of My Bible Study: 11
Observe the time references in 1:1-2a. What did God do both in the past and in the last days? What was different about His action in the two times? Observe the descriptors (nouns) in 1:2b-4 that tell who Jesus is. Now observe the action words (verbs) that tell what Jesus did. What pictures or thoughts do these words bring to your mind? memory verse Hebrews 1:2a first thoughts The biblical portrait of the exalted Christ is foreign to our culture. Pastor David Jeremiah describes the dilemma this way: Never has the biblical Jesus been dragged through the mud like He is in this current culture. One result of this cultural shift is that opponents of Christianity have become more vocal and powerful. They work to outlaw Christian teachings as hate speech or try to depict all Christians as out of touch bigots who deserve nothing but scorn. As a result of these hostile efforts, the pressure on Christians in our day has become more intense. In some cases, believers guard against offending others and hesitate when asked about their beliefs about Jesus. When have you found yourself called on to share your understanding of Christ? What makes some people uncomfortable when asked to speak about what they believe about Jesus? 12 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
UNDERSTAND the ConteXT In the Book of Hebrews, the picture of Jesus Christ is clarified in no uncertain terms. In the first few sentences of his letter, the biblical writer addressed a variety of issues by underscoring the superiority of Jesus Christ in the lives of believers. He gave a clear description of who Jesus is. His words encourage all believers to hold fast to their faith in the exalted Christ. The Book of Hebrews was written to a group of Christians during a time of tremendous expansion of the gospel that led to growing persecution. The apostles of the crucified and resurrected Christ had gone everywhere preaching the good news of salvation through Him. They faithfully shared the gospel, led people to Christ, and planted churches throughout the Roman Empire. Those who had professed faith in Christ were beginning to experience the backlash of persecution. This persecution would either make them trust Jesus more, or it would pressure them to walk away from their confession of Christ as Lord. The writer of Hebrews urged his readers to work through the crisis and endure in their faith. How is the cultural context for the first readers of Hebrews similar to that of Christians today? How is it different? The writer didn t identify himself by name in the epistle. Based on a number of factors, including the epistle s pastoral tone, grammar, and Old Testament themes, Bible scholars have proposed names such as Paul, Luke, Apollos, or Barnabas. Certainly we can speak with confidence about the writer s spiritual depth. He was a divinely inspired Christian leader with a passionate concern for believers. Neither are the first recipients of Hebrews identified by name or place in the epistle. Suggestions include a congregation of believers living in or near a city such as Rome, Jerusalem, or Antioch in Syria. From the themes in the epistle we can discern that at least some of the first readers were Jewish Christians. They had become confused about Jesus. They were disillusioned by persecution and were tempted to consider a retreat from Christianity. Session 1: Who Is Jesus? 13
The Book of Hebrews paints a picture of a crisis of faith. Perhaps some believing friends and family members had been mistreated because of Christ. Maybe the faltering Christians had experienced hard times themselves at the hands of enemies of the gospel. In any case, the hardships tempted them to consider an escape route. They wanted to worship God, but they didn t want more persecution. Details in the letter suggest that some church members were leaning toward a return to Judaism (see p. 6 for dotted words). The pressure they felt may have come from other Jews who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Because of this pressure, the faltering church members had begun to distance themselves from the congregation of believers. The writer of Hebrews made passionate appeals in his effort to persuade his readers to maintain bold faith in Christ. He urged them to affirm Christ s absolute superiority and to realize that Christ fulfilled and surpassed everything in the Old Testament revelation. The biblical writer encouraged his readers to consider God s perspective. If the faltering Christians looked at their rebellious action from God s point of view, they would understand why He would hold them accountable for such misguided disobedience. Finally, the writer challenged his readers to hold fast in their faith, clinging to the rocksolid truth of the gospel no matter what persecution they might face. How do you respond when you hear about believers around the world losing their homes, businesses, or their lives as a result of persecution? EXPLore the TEXT GOD SPEAKS (Heb. 1:1-2a) VERSE 1 With clarity and simplicity, the biblical writer pointed out that God had spoken in the past that is, in the days of the Old Testament. The Old Testament record went back to creation. When God created 14 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
Adam and Eve, He spoke to them (see Gen. 2:16-17; 3:9-19). He had continued to make Himself known to every generation that followed. In His wisdom, God chose to speak to His people in the Old Testament through prophets. Prophets were called to tell people what God told them. They were to speak only the word of the Lord, not their opinions or wishes (see Deut. 18:15-22). As the Old Testament Scriptures show, God raised up prophets at different times to speak for Him. Consequently, Moses prophesied at a specific time in history. So did Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, and all of the other prophets. God called them to proclaim His Word at just the right time for the people who needed to hear it and apply it in their situations. Old Testament prophets received and delivered God s Word in various ways. Some of them 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 to God s people with careful insights and courageous wisdom. As stated previously, some readers of Hebrews may have been tempted to return to the pre-christian ways of Judaism. If this was the case, it would stand to reason that the writer would point to the Old Testament prophets. He used what his readers knew well as the starting point for his case for Christ. What messages of the Old Testament prophets has God used to strengthen your faith in Christ? 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. VERSE 2a The writer of Hebrews went on to make a declaration. What God spoke through His prophets in former times was not His final word. Session 1: Who Is Jesus? 15
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. And God has said nothing beyond that. When Christ came, that was the final word. David Jeremiah God had a special relationship with the Old Testament prophets. However, that relationship could never compare with the divine nature that Jesus Christ, God s Son, shared with the Heavenly Father. Out of that unique relationship, the Father spoke His full and final word of salvation for sinners. In your understanding of Hebrews 1:1-2a, which phrase best describes Jesus: God s complete revelation, God s most authoritative revelation, or God s final revelation? Explain. How are the words of Jesus Christ similar to the messages of the Old Testament prophets? How are His words unique? GOD REVEALED (HEB. 1:2b-4) VERSE 2b The writer of Hebrews went on to explain reasons why Jesus Christ surpasses the way of revelation through the prophets. First, Jesus is the appointed Heir of all things. As the Creator of all, God owns everything in the universe. Like a king in a royal court, God the Father appointed His Son as Heir of everything in His kingdom. Yet Jesus was far more than a typical heir. He was active with the Father 16 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
in the creation of everything. With this affirmation, the writer of Hebrews nailed down the eternal truth that Jesus Christ existed before the universe came into being. God s Son was included in the Us of Genesis 1:26, where God said: Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. What does Jesus existence before creation say to you about His superiority over the Old Testament prophets? VERSE 3 Next, the writer of Hebrews described Jesus as the radiance of God s glory. Jesus alone shines as the splendor of God s presence in the world. In Old Testament times, Moses face shone with the light of God s presence from the time he met with God on Mount Sinai to receive God s law (see Ex. 34:29-35). Still, Moses only reflected God s presence, much as the moon only reflects the sun s light. Jesus, on the other hand, is the Light of the world (see John 8:12). He is the radiating presence of God. He is God the Son. With today s digital technology, people can produce authenticlooking replicas of historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence. However, the duplicate will always be just a copy despite its similarity to the original; it will never be the real thing. Likewise, Jesus was not just a copy of God; He is the exact expression of God. The Son is the Original exactly as the Father is the Original. Jesus exhibits the fullness of the divine nature of God. Therefore, He guides and upholds all of creation. He carries out His sustaining work in the universe in a way that shows He is fully God. He utters His powerful word to sustain and direct His creation. Directing us to observe the Son s work in history, the writer of Hebrews pointed to the cross. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus accomplished on our behalf what we could never do. He made purification for our sins. By God s design, forgiveness and cleansing from sin required an acceptable sacrifice. The sinless Son of God offered Himself as that perfect Sacrifice. His sacrifice was for our sins! By His resurrection from the dead He is forever exalted as Lord Session 1: Who Is Jesus? 17
and Savior. He sits in the place of majesty at the right hand of God the Father. His powerful reign is limitless. How does each descriptor add to the portrait of Christ being presented? Bible Skill: Use other Scripture to help understand a Bible passage. Hebrews begins with a comparison of how God spoke in Old Testament times and how He has spoken in these last days that is, after the birth of Jesus Christ. The biblical writer wasn t pushing aside the Old Testament s value as Scripture. The Bible is a cohesive whole with God s Son Jesus at the center (see Luke 24:44). Read these passages in your Bible: 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Psalms 2:7; 45:6-7; 102:25-27; Isaiah 53:10-12. As time allows, read several verses before and/or after the passages to understand their contexts. Then read Hebrews 1:1-4 and consider this question: What do the Old Testament passages teach us about Jesus Christ as He is described in the Hebrews 1:1-4? VERSE 4 The writer of Hebrews first described Jesus superiority to the Old Testament prophets. Then he took his readers another step. He reminded them that Jesus is infinitely higher in rank than angels. Angels serve God in the heavenly realm. They are powerful spiritual beings who serve primarily as messengers of God (see Gen. 21:17; Zech. 1:9; Luke 1:30-33; Gal. 3:19). They also carry out God s 18 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide
judgments against the wicked (see Gen. 19:12-13; 2 Sam. 24:15-16; Rev. 15:1). They protect and deliver the faithful (see Dan. 6:22; Matt. 24:31). Finally, they worship God (see Ps. 148:2; Rev. 7:11). First-century Judaism evidently included doctrines that promoted the worship of angels (see Col. 2:18). Even today some people trust more in angels than in Christ. Yet Jesus reigns supreme over angels for one undeniable reason: He alone bears God s matchless name! Following the initial declaration in 1:4 of Jesus superiority over angels, the biblical writer then drew upon numerous Old Testament Scriptures that point to the Son s exalted place (see 1:5-14). No angel is worthy of worship. Indeed, angels join in worshiping God. Why would it have been important for the writer of Hebrews to establish the fact that Jesus has a higher rank than angels? Jesus Christ alone is worthy of our faith and undying devotion because He is the eternal Son of God. He took on human nature and came as God with us. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus provided our only possible way of forgiveness for sins. As the result of His death and resurrection, He has demonstrated that He is greater by far than either the Old Covenant way or the way of trusting in angels. Jesus is likewise greater than any religious figure or human system of thought in vogue today. When we as believers face tough times or opposition to our faith, that s no time to retreat from Christ. That s the time to be ever more devoted to Him! He is the Living Lord; He will never fail or forsake anyone who trusts in Him. [Jesus] is not a mere vehicle of revelation, but he is God in human form revealing himself. His revelation is not fragmentary but complete; not partial but perfect; not preparatory but ultimate. Herschel H. Hobbs Session 1: Who Is Jesus? 19
IN MY ConteXT Jesus is the full and final 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. What situations tempt you to reconsider your confession of Christ? How do these verses address your situation? How has God been revealing His Word to you in the past month? 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? Prayer journal 20 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide