Who Are You Listening To?

Introduction

Good morning please open in your Bible’s to Hebrews chapter 1 that is Hebrews chapter 1. That is on page 1,000 if you are using one of the Bible’s scattered throughout the room. That is page 1,000 Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1-3. We begin our study of the book of Hebrews in this new year, 2025. And in this book we find a letter written to the Hebrews. That is in fact where the letter gets its name in early manuscripts it was title “To the Hebrews”. Now, this Hebrews are not only Hebrews or Jews, but they are Jews who are Christians. From the content of the letter it is clear that the recipients believed in Jesus because the author throughout is encouraging them not to forsake Christ. The letter outlines the ways in which Jesus is better… Better than angels, Moses, the Sabbath, Priests and the sacrificial system, that Jesus gives a better covenant etc.

Therefore, it seems that these Jewish Christians were tempted to return to their former way of life. Perhaps it was due to social pressure, persecution, or maybe they were just having second thoughts. They were being pulled in some way to return to the old way of life, and our writer, who is unknown by the way, is holding the rope. He writes to these people as if to say, don’t go back. As we approach this text and this book over the next half a year or so we must ask the same question in our lives. You are probably not tempted to sacrifice a bull as a sin offering, but you probably are tempted from time to time to return to your old way of life. The life you lived before you were a Christian calls to you. Old friends and old habits. Or maybe its not so much about the old way of life, but the old man, the man of the flesh, that creeps up from time to time. The outburst of anger when things don’t go your way, the gripping worry and anxiety, the lust of the flesh for sensual pleasure, the jealousy of that family member you had to see at Christmas, the participation in the rumor mill at work, the fear of man. He takes on many forms, but the old man and the flesh are often crawling out of their grave and into the lives of Christians. What are we to do?

We must look to Christ the author and perfecter of our faith. We must see that Jesus and His ways are better than the things of this earth and the desires of our flesh. This morning we need to not just see Jesus, but listen to Him. This morning our text tells us that Jesus speaks to us. The question I want to ask: Are you listening? Does Jesus voice prove to be better than all other competing voices. He has spoken, will we listen? Read Hebrews 1:1-3

Hebrews 1:1–3 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, 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,

He Speaks Directly v. 1-2a

Jesus has spoken, will we listen? Or better yet, why should we listen. As work through these three verses that is the question I want to answer. Why should we listen to Jesus?

First, we listen because he has spoken to us directly. Hebrews 1:1–2“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 writer of Hebrews tells us that long ago God has spoken in many ways and at many times. These Jewish Christians would have been very familiar with what we call the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the first 39 books in your Bible before the book of Matthew which the first book in the New Testament. These Testaments or covenants, (an agreement or pact) are divided by the coming of Jesus. The Old Testament is all that happened before Jesus and the New Testament records all that happened during the life of Jesus and after his ascension. The Old Testament tells of how God chose a group of people, the Jews or the Israelites, to be his covenant people. They were to worship him and follow his laws, God would in turn bless them and through their ancestry bring a Messiah or an Anointed/Chosen one into the world who would save God’s people from their sins.

The Jews of the Old Testament fail to uphold their end of the bargain. They are exiled from the promised land and this brings us to the New Testament where God still sends the Messiah. God still upholds the agreement. And this Messiah would uphold the deal by living a perfect life, dying on behalf of all those that transgressed God’s law, and rise again from the dead offering salvation to anyone, Jew or Gentile, that placed their faith in the Messiah’s death and resurrection.

In the Old Testament many prophets foretold of this messiah in many ways and spoke to the people. Yet, now in these last days the writer of Hebrews tells us, the Messiah has come. And He is the Son of God. Jesus is the Messiah. God is no longer speaking to us through prophets or other intermediaries, rather he has sent His Son. And His Son speaks. He speaks, and in a way that is superior to the way he spoke to the prophets of old. Which is really saying something, because God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, a Pillar of fire, and even face to face. He spoke to Isaiah in a vision in which angels with six wings declared “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty! the whole earth is filled with his glory!” He spoke to Ezekiel in a valley of dry bones and at those words Ezekiel watched as his prophecy brought those bones to life.

And yet, speaking through burning bushes and visions is not as good as hearing from directly from the Son. The Son speaks and his speech is unique and it definitive. He is the only one like Him. No prophet, priest, or king can compare to Jesus. As we unpack this passage we will see the magnitude of his unique status as Son of God and Son of Man. And he speaks definitively… He has the last word. He speaks to us in these last days, this eschaton or last age. The New Testament is the last special revelation we have, it is the final authority. The story is complete in Jesus. The Old testament promises are all fulfilled in Him.

T/S- Jesus is totally God and totally Man. He was born of the virgin Mary and was a human being, and yet he is the Son of God. He speaks directly and he speaks as Deity.

He Speaks As Deity v. 2b-3a

He is the Son, Hebrews 1:2–3“…whom he [God} appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Our writer claims things about Jesus that these Jews would know could only describe God. The writer is equating Jesus, the Son, with the Father. He is claiming that Jesus is God. He is the heir of all things. That is to say Jesus owns all things, and he is the agent of God’s creation. He owns it all as its creator and redeemer. You see, there is scholarly debate on whether Jesus is the heir of all things because of who he is, or is the heir because of what he has done? Does he inherit the world because he is creator God or because he is the redeemer of the world? Answer: both.

Jesus is the Son of God, he is in his essence God. His being is the Second person of the Trinity. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He owns this world because he is the creator God, but he also has claim because he has redeemed it or bought it with his blood. In Revelation 4 and 5 John has a vision of God seated on a throne and in his right hand he is holding this scroll with seven seals and and he surrounded by 24 elders who are worshipping him saying Revelation 4:11 ““Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”” So, he is worthy of all praise because he created all things. Our text tells us that Jesus is the agent of that creation. Colossians 1:15–16“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” and John 1:1–3“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus is creator … Through him he also created the world… this is a claim to deity. As Thomas Aquinas said when making the cosmological argument for the existence of God. “It is necessary to posit something which is necessary of itself, and has no cause of its necessity outside of itself but is the cause of necessity in other things. And all people call this thing God” He is simply saying that in order for anything to exist there must be something that is independent of all other things yet all other things depend upon it for their existence. This Aquinas called the “First Mover” and he reasoned that all people call that this first mover: God. Hebrews says, the “First Mover” is Jesus. He is creator God.

But that isn’t all it is saying. Back to Revelation 4 and 5. These elders are worshiping God as the creator and God holds this scroll and an angel cries out Revelation 5:2 “…“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”” And no one answers… And John begins to weep until John says, Revelation 5:5 “And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”” And a Lamb is seen standing as though it had been slain. And the Lamb takes the scroll from the right hand of the one seated on the throne, God. And heaven begins to sing, Revelation 5:9–10“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”” He is the heir because of what he has done. He because he was slain and he ransomed the people for God with his blood he will have his inheritance. Psalm 2:8 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” What is Jesus’ inheritance. It is all of this created world and all of the people who has purchased with his blood. If you own the nations and you own the world… You are God. And if that isn’t clear enough read the next phrase.

Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.. the word translated radiance comes from the noun that means daybreak or dawn. Jesus is the light of the glory of God. Theologian John Pye Smith says, “He is THAT to the divine Father, which solar light, incident on our world, is to the same light at the source of its emanation.” We cannot see the sun if we do not have the sun’s light. It’s very light makes it visible. The son makes the father visible and knowable to us. We cannot see the father’s glory without the son. In Exodus 33:18–19“Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” God’s glory is the manifestation of his goodness. Without Jesus, you cannot know God’s goodness. He radiates the goodness and glory of God for all to see. He is the exact imprint of his nature, the perfect stamp. The real thing. It is only through Jesus that you can see God and know him.

In John 14 Jesus tells his disciples that he is going away to prepare a place for them. Thomas wants to know how to get where Jesus is going. Jesus tells him that he is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through him. Philip in John 14:8 “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”” John 14:9 “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father… To see Jesus is to see the Father. He is God. This isn’t something you believe because I say it, or because our church believes it. You believe that Jesus is God and that he is the only way to the Father because Jesus has said it.

T/S-And what he says he says with Power.

He Speaks with Power v. 3b

Hebrews 1:3 “… 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,”

Has anyone ever told you to not carry the weight of the world on your shoulders? It’s and expression we use when we see someone carrying too much. They have taken on too many responsibilities. However, no one has ever said nor could ever say that to Jesus. He quite literally carries this world. Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” What government is this passage talking about? It is talking about the future world government in which Christ will be King of all! The entire world rest upon him. He upholds or carries the universe and he rules it by the power of his word. His kingly decrees are heard and recieved throughout the cosmos, and nothing he decrees we fail to come to pass. He sat down, and just on a bar stool to take a rest… No he sat down on the throne of heaven at the right hand of the Majesty on high because he is the Lamb that is in between the thrown and the 24 elders in the book of Revelation. He is the one who owns the world as its creator and laid claim upon this world in his redemptive work on the cross. He is the one who is worthy to recieve all glory, and honor, and power and he the one worthy to open the scroll and usher in a new eternal kingdom free from the sorrows of this broken world.

Listen to this passage that describes his power and might and declares him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:11–16“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Hebrews 1:1–2 “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… Behold the Son this morning. Clothed in majesty and power who sits on His throne upholding the universe by the word of his power. King of kings and Lord of lords.

T/S- And what did he do with that power?

He Speaks as Our Purifier v. 3

He purified us from sin through his own death on the cross. Philippians 2:5–8“….Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Hebrews 9:22 will tells us “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” In our study of Hebrews we will learn how Jesus is better than angels because he is an eternal king who will rule all of his enemies, that he better than Moses he more than a servant, he is a son the testifies or prophesies about the Lord, he is better than the Sabbath because in Him we find eternal rest, he is the better high priest because though tempted in every way he did not sin, and he is the better sacrifice because Hebrews 10:4 “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” But as the Hymn writer says, “What can wash away my sin?” “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

This is my final appeal this morning as to why you should listen to Jesus. Why you and I should choose day in and day out to deny the old self and the old way of life and instead follow Christ and the new life he granted. Because he loves you. Listen to Jesus because he loves you. The one who speaks directly, the one speaks as deity, who upholds the universe by the word of his power, he loves you. John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus purifies us from sin as an act of love toward sinners like us who do not deserve it.

Jesus loves and he proved it Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Conclusion

Jesus has spoken. Are you listening? Will you turn away from your old way of life and follow him? Let’s pray.