Jesus Is the Superior Revelation

Introduction

Start off maybe with an example of the difficulties of only having partial communication

Trying to receive directions to get home but there is bad reception and the message comes in partially.

But if the person told you the directions face to face, without the need for another form of communication. . . you would know exactly what the directions were because they would be complete with no holes.

When you played the telephone game. . .

Connect our situation with that of the Hebrews.

They were tempted to go back to the Old Covenant and practices of Judaism to relieve the persecution and suffering they would face for following Jesus.

Yet, this revelation was incomplete. . . it was only partial. . . just like the phone cutting out and not giving you the complete instructions or just like the telephone game with a word being left out.

We, today, are tempted to go back to our former lives before Christ and listen to the incomplete revelation the world offers us.

Instead of following Jesus and losing our friends, being mistreated and made fun of, we are tempted to act like the world, believe what they say is true, because it is easier and more comfortable.

But tonight, in Hebrews 1:1-4, God is going to teach us that that won’t work and it would be foolish to listen to that revelation because it is impartial, incomplete, and not true.

The main thing that we must know and believe tonight is that. . .

God has fully spoken through his Son, who is the ruler of all things, therefore, we must listen to and submit our lives to him.

The Superiority of the Son: His Revelation (v. 1-2a)

Hebrews 1:1–2 (ESV)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. . .

The author begins by comparing and contrasting how God revealed himself in the Old Testament with the way he has now revealed himself through Christ in the new.

In describing the way he revealed himself “long ago” before the time of Christ. . . the phrase “Many times” can also be understood as “many portions” or “many different times.”

This communicates that in the past, God’s revelation was given in portions and was not fully revealed or complete.

God did not give his revelation all at once but it was spread about many different times or ages.

For example. . . God also spoke through many different prophets (Moses, Aaron, Joshua, the judges, David, Solomon, the prophets, etc.)

In the OT, God also spoke through both visions and dreams (Num. 12:6, 8; Joel 2:28).

“Fathers” can also be translated “ancestors” which points to the connection the Hebrews had with the Jewish Prophets of old.

In verse 2, the author then contrasts the previous way he spoke to the fathers with how he speaks to us today.

He contrasts. . .

Time of revelation: “long ago” vs. “these last days”

The phrase “last days” refers to the time after Jesus’ resurrection when God would bless his people and finally accomplish his plans.

These days would also be a time of testing for God’s people to remain faithful and persevere in their faith.

Recipients of revelation: “fathers” vs. “us”

Agents of revelation: “prophets” vs “Son”

Unity of final revelation: “many times and in many ways” vs. implying it came one way through God’s Son.

From the beginning of the letter, the author wants to make clear that “his Son” is much more superior than the previous revelation that was given in previous times.

He is greater than the prophets because his revelation is full and complete. . . it is not partial or lacking in any substance or clarity.

In the Old Testament God’s revelation was given in pieces through many different people over many periods of time. . . there were also many different priests who served and many sacrifices that needed to be offered continually. . . yet now, through Christ, there is ONE final revelation, ONE final high priest, and ONE final and complete sacrifice!

There are two implications of Christ being God’s final revelation. . .

First, this means that God’s revelation is full and complete.

The Canon is closed and there is no need for anymore “new revelation.”

Second, If Jesus is the full revelation of God, this also means that Jesus is the interpretive key to understanding the whole Bible.

The whole Bible points to and is about Jesus (Luke 24:27; John 5:39-40).

Example: He is the “master key” that can unlock every door. He is the “master key” that can unlock every door to help us understand the Bible.

The Superiority of the Son: His Person, Work, and Status (v. 2b-4)

Hebrews 1:2–4 (ESV)

whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

God has now fully spoken to us through his Son and the author now demonstrates the glory and majesty of the person of Jesus Christ.

In verses 2-4, he gives us seven reasons why we should listen and submit to God’s revelation through His Son.

God appointed Jesus as the heir of all things and created all things through him.

The author draws upon Psalm 2:7-8 where David’s Son, the Messiah, is declared God’s only begotten Son and is given the nations as an inheritance.

This communicates Jesus’ present reign and anticipates his future rule over all things.

Not only is the world Jesus’ inheritance, but all things were made through Christ, find their existence in Christ, and were made for Christ (Col. 1:16; John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:6).

In this verse we see that Jesus both creates and providentially sustains all things.

The Son is the radiance of the glory of God.

Jesus shines the blinding light of the glory of God in his nature and character.

Analogy with the sun. . .

Both the sun and its rays coexist. The Sun always has its rays beaming and flowing from it, just as Jesus, the Son has always coeternally existed with the Father and Spirit and flows from the Father.

Just as the rays of the sun expose the beauty and glory of the sun, Jesus reveals and exposes to us the invisible glory and beauty of the Father.

“One cannot separate the experience of looking at the brightness of a light from seeing the light itself because they are too closely associated. By analogy, to see the Son is to view God’s glory or revealed presence. So as the ‘radiance of his glory’ the Son is the manifestation of the person and presence of God.” -George Guthrie, NIV Application Commentary

The Son is the exact imprint of the Father’s nature.

The term “exact imprint” used in the Greek communicates an exact copy of something and a perfect representation.

Example: a stamp on a coin that replicated the die from which it was cast.

Jesus is the perfect image of the glory of God (2 Cor. 4:4).

This means that Jesus is the exact and perfect representation of the Father’s being because Jesus shares the same nature with the Father and the Spirit.

When we see Jesus, we see the Father (John 14:8-11).

This makes clear that Jesus is God and is one with the Father and Spirit.

The Son upholds the universe by the word of his power.

This word and revelation that God gives through his son also sustains and upholds the entire universe.

Jesus not only creates the world but also preserves or sustains it all.

This truth shows us that God is not distant but is actively sustaining the universe and everything that occurs and has life in it.

The author further demonstrates the authority, power, glory, and splendor of the Divine Son and his word in being one with the Father and Spirit.

The Son has made purification for sins.

The author points ahead to chapters 7-10 when he will demonstrate that Jesus is the superior priest and sacrifice.

Through Jesus’ death on the cross he made purification and a cleansing for sins that was final and complete.

The Son’s work is finished and he sits in the place of supreme authority.

By saying the Son “sat down” this implies that his work is finished.

The author alludes to this later in chapter 10 by discussing how Christ’s work of atonement is finished because he no longer stands like the other priests but has sat down having completed the work of atonement.

Being seated at God’s right hand, the Son has supreme authority and sits in the highest seat of honor. This passage, once more, alludes to Psalm 110:1 where the Messiah sits at the Father’s right hand until all things are placed in submission under his feet.

The Son is superior to angels because he has inherited a more superior name.

Jesus has been given the name that is above every named that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Eph. 1:21; Phil. 2:9).

Some Jewish writers associated angels with creation. Yet, the author distinguishes Jesus from the angels.

Because of this, Jesus has become “superior.” This Greek word kreitton, is the author’s favorite word to communicate throughout the letter how Jesus is “superior, greater, and better” than the angels, Moses, Joshua, the Levitical priesthood, the sacrifices, the temple, and the old covenant.

Jesus is not an angel, nor is he less than the angels, but he is “much superior to angels” because he has a greater name.

The author will confirm this truth further through numerous Old Testament passages in the next section.

Application and Response

At the outset of the letter, the author wants to make clear to his audience the superiority of the Son and his revelation so that they would listen to and submit their lives the Son.

The whole theme of the letter is to call the Hebrews to endure in their faith and not turn away from Jesus back to Judaism.

Seeing the beauty, glory, and preeminence of Jesus would turn their eyes back to Christ and strengthen their trust in him and his word.

The clear application for the original audience and for us today is that because Jesus is God’s full and superior revelation, we must listen to and submit our lives to Jesus.

This can be done in three ways. . .

We must trust in his word .

God has spoken and he has spoken through his Son.

We must not put anything above him or listen to any other revelation besides his.

Without Jesus and his person and work in the New Testament, the Old Testament and past revelation of God is incomplete.

Application:

We must get in his word so that we can hear, listen, and obey his voice.

We must block out other voices and influences in our lives that are contrary to the words of Christ.

Jesus is the True Prophet and we must trust in his word.

We must trust in Jesus for purification for our sins.

It is only through faith in Christ that we can be cleansed of our sin and guilt.

Purification of sin

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Complete salvation (the work is done).

Stop trying to prove your value and worth by what you do.

Stop trying to feel like you have to do more to be accepted by God.

Jesus is the True Priest.

We must worship Jesus as the King of the Universe

Jesus is God almighty.

Jesus to the disciples: Who do you say that I am?

Who is Jesus for you tonight?

He creates and providentially sustains all things.

This means we can trust him with our lives and every day circumstances.

Jesus is the True King

The question tonight is not if God has spoken, but rather, are you going to listen to and submit your life to his complete revelation through his Son, who is the true prophet, true priest, and true king? . . . or are you going to go back to incomplete revelation the world tries to provide?

How are you going to respond tonight?

Let’s Pray.