The Greater Messenger (Part 2)

KIDS—BLAST

Introduction

Good morning, church. Open your Bibles and join me in Hebrews chapter one. As you’re finding Hebrews chapter one I want to, first, say that I hope and am praying that you are being encouraged and are growing as you are reading, journaling, and praying through our Hebrews devotion guide.

If you haven’t picked up your copy, you can find them on tables outside the worship center. They are great for personal quiet times AND let me encourage you to challenge your family to use them and then come together for family devotions and read the text for the week and talk about what God is teaching you.

MAIN POINT OF SERIES—THE WHOLE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS:

The author is warning believers to not let go of Jesus and return to their old way of life.

Last week, we saw that Jesus is God's ultimate revelation (Hebrews 1:1-3). Now, the author begins showing Jesus's superiority to everything else, starting with angels.

Explanation

I can remember, as a child, probably the first image I ever saw of an “angel” was something that those of you who are my age and older will completely identify with—PRECIOUS MOMENTS.

>>SHOW PICTURE<<

This was the first image that I associated with angels.

Then…I got a little older and went to school and every February we would celebrate Valentine’s Day and you’d see this little chubby angel with a halo and a bow and arrow.

Then I’d watch cartoons and you’d see a goofy looking character with blond hair, blue eyes, a white gown, and a halo…probably sitting on a cloud strumming a harp.

Then, when I was about 10 years old, my whole understanding of the role of angels grew when I fell in love “Angels in the Outfield.” They help you in baseball?!?! My nativity scene angel…cute kids in Christmas plays.

Unfortunately, these cultural depictions of angels is pretty weak and completely biblically inaccurate. The Bible tells us that angels are heavenly beings that serve at the will and the command of God. The bible describes angels as being an army of warriors. We read about angels destroying entire armies of nations. We read about, in Genesis 3, the angel being placed at the entrance of the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword to prevent Adam and Eve from returning to the Tree of Life. The book of Revelation—angels are carrying out the judgment of God during the Great Tribulation. When an angel in scripture shows up, many times, people fall down in terror—just remember the account of the shepherds in the fields filled with great fear.

So, as we unpack this pretty loaded text, we need to ask and explore 3 questions ::

FIRST— “why does the author compare Jesus to angels?”

SECOND— “how is Jesus superior to the angels?”

THIRD—why does it matter for us today? What is this passage calling us to do in response?

So, first, why is the author bringing angels up? Why is he arguing that Jesus is greater/superior to angels? Was there a problem with people worshipping angels rather than Jesus?

The point of this text is not to DENIGRATE angels. It is to ELEVATE Jesus.

The reason he is arguing that Jesus is superior to the angels is because one of the functions that the angels served in the OT was mediators of the covenant God made with Israel at Sinai.

Acts 7:52–53 (ESV)

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Galatians 3:19 (ESV)

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

So what does it mean that angels were mediators of the law/the covenant? What is that all about…I’ll bet there’s only a few of us in here who have ever thought about angels having that role.

It means that they were present at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, essentially acting as messengers or intermediaries between God and Moses, delivering the law to him on God's behalf; this means they played a role in communicating God's commands to the Israelites, although Moses remained the primary mediator between God and the people.

And, so, as the author of Hebrews is going to—in chapter three—argue that Jesus is greater than Moses—he starts with angels because he’s telling us that both the angels and Moses were instrumental in bringing Covenant between God and man—the Law—but that Jesus is greater than both Moses and angels and, therefore, he is the mediator of an eternally greater/superior covenant between God and man (9:15).

So how, then, is Jesus greater than/superior to angels?

Well, the author builds his whole argument on verses 1—4…Jesus is the full and final revelation of God, he is the creator and sustainer of the world, he is the image and glory of God, and he is the one who, through his death and resurrection defeated sin and death and who now sits on his throne at the right hand of “the Majesty on high”…then, verse 4…

Hebrews 1:4 (ESV)

having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

THE “NAME”

So, what is this “name” that the Son of God has “inherited”?

Well, this may sound confusing, but the “name” (or, the “title”) that he has “inherited” after his finished work of redemption through his life, death, and resurrection—and now exaltation—is “son.”

Now, if he is the eternally existing God—the second person of the Trinity—hasn’t he ALWAYS been the Son? Or…did Jesus become “God” at some point? No. That’s the quick road to heresy. The “name,” here, is a TITLE…It’s a designation of royalty.

The concept of inheritance in the biblical sense often refers to the receiving of a position, title, or authority that is rightly deserved. In the case of Jesus, this "name" symbolizes more than a simple title; it represents His status, authority, and role in God's plan of salvation.

"Name" as identity: In biblical thought, a "name" reflects the essence, character, or position of a person. Jesus inheriting a greater name means He has been declared superior to the angels by virtue of His identity as the Son of God and His redemptive work.

Fulfillment of promise: As the Son of God who became incarnate, Jesus fulfilled the Father's plan of redemption through His death, resurrection, and exaltation. Through this, He was appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2).

“He is the Prophet through whom God has spoken His final word to men; He is the Priest who has accomplished a perfect work of cleansing for His people’s sins; He is the King who sits enthroned in the place of chief honor alongside the Majesty on high.” {F.F. Bruce; pg. 8)

When Christ died and made purification of sins and triumphed over death and Satan (Hebrews 2:14), he was enthroned as the king and seated at the right hand of God. When a king was enthroned in the Old Testament, there was an acclamation that now he was formally taking up his title and inheritance which had been his by birth. And one of the ways this acclamation was given was with the words spoken by God, "You are my Son. Today I have begotten you."

As God, he has—for all eternity—been superior to the angels but now that he has taken on flesh and completed the work of redemption he now rules and reigns over all as KING JESUS. This inheritance is not about gaining something He lacked but about the formal recognition of His completed work and rightful position.

In this passage, the author uses 7 different Old Testament quotations (interesting—SEVEN—perfection)—From the Psalms, 2 Samuel, and Deuteronomy—and they are all speaking of one who is given the title “son” of God who rules and reigns over his people…and all of them are pointing to the greater King of Kings who would come and rule.

Main Point

Jesus is greater than angels because of His eternally superior name.

Again, the point of this text is not to DENIGRATE angels and their role. It is to ELEVATE Jesus.

1. Jesus's eternally superior relationship (vs. 5).

The second quote in verse 5 (taken from 2 Samuel 7:14) indicates a personal relationship.

Not only has he eternally existed in perfect relationship with the Father and the Spirit but God the Father is now perfectly pleased with the Son in his work of redemption—life, death, and resurrection.

2. Jesus's eternally superior majesty (vs. 6-7).

“When he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, LET ALL GOD’S ANGELS WORSHIP HIM…”

Angels are subordinate to the Son…

They are part of the created order—HE is the Creator.

They are commanded to worship him.

They are sent by him to do his bidding.

Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3. Jesus's eternally superior authority (8-9).

“Your throne is forever and ever”

He rules in righteousness and destroys the wicked.

The angels have no authority except that which is given to them from the throne.

We saw this several times as we went through the book of Revelation last year on Wednesday nights.

4. Jesus's eternally superior nature (10-13).

“…laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning // maker of the heavens…they will perish but you remain. You are the same and your years will have no end.”

Jesus is unchanging and unending.

Application

1) He alone gives us access to a relationship with the Father.

2) He alone (his majesty) deserves our worship.

3) He alone (his authority) demands our obedience.

4) He alone (his unchanging nature) can be trusted.

Jesus is not just a way, but the way. He is superior to powerful angelic beings—he is superior to ALL.

A little over 100 years before this letter to the Hebrews was written, in 42 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated. After his death, the Roman Senate deified him and gave him the title, “god.” He was known as the “Divine Julius.” His adopted son, Octavian, who later became Augustus, therefore became “the son of God.” This title was rightfully his because of his legal status as the adopted son of the Divine Julius.

But, here’s the thing—the Roman “god,” Caesar didn’t rise from the dead. His son, the self-proclaimed “son of god” lived and died is dead today. His rule was brief. His power was finite.

No one follows or worships Julius Caesar or Augustus today.