Jesus Is Hebrews 1:1-4

I can find out who God is by looking to Jesus

This year, Maggie and I made a trip to NYC, where she donated stem cells for a patient in need. While we were there, we did a few touristy activities, including a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I know that I probably don’t strike you as too cultured, but I was grateful to see a few works that I’d heard about all my life. As we walked through the works of the great European painters, we got to a section of works by the Dutch master, Rembrandt. They were all interesting to see and I was just amazed to be looking at a “Rembrandt”, but there was one in particular that stuck out: His self-portrait. This was the face that the artist showed the world. When we see the painting, we see the artist Himself. Tonight, we are going to look to Jesus to see God.

I. Jesus is the Voice of God vv. 1-2

The author of Hebrews is unknown to us, but he is writing to address a particular problem in the life of the church

The issue is apostasy; there are Hebrew believers who are facing persecution for their faith in Jesus

It would be much easier for them to turn their back on Jesus; it would be socially and culturally acceptable to be viewed as Jews

However, by their association with and commitment to Jesus, they are in danger of severe persecution

The author is going to make a case that Jesus is worth hanging on to!

He begins by showing us that God has spoken through Jesus

He sets the stage with an epic introduction: Long ago and in many ways, God spoke

This speech of God took place through the prophets

For centuries, men of God proclaimed the Word of God to the people of God as the Spirit of God moved in and through them

However, a new era dawned after 400 years of prophetic silence; God spoke to us by His Son

At this point, we will begin to see a principle that will drive our discussion for the rest of the letter, the supremacy of the Son:

Jesus is the Word of God who is not only God’s way of speaking to the world, but is in Himself God’s message to the world.

Jesus does not need the Spirit of God to move upon Him; The Holy Spirit is His Spirit

Jesus has been appointed the heir of all things and carries the weight of authority over them

Jesus was the active agent of Creation; God the Son was at work in Creation

When He speaks, we must listen!

John 1:1–5

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV)

II. Jesus is Our Vision of God v. 3a

Next, the author uses another picture describe Jesus:

He is the “radiance of the glory” of God

What does he mean by this?

Jesus is the outward expression of God’s glory

If we attempt to look at the Sun, there’s not much that we can actually see; we just “see” the light that the Sun radiates

That’s something of what we are describing here; when we look for God, what we can see is Jesus

Further, Jesus is the “exact imprint” of His nature

The picture here is of a signet ring being pressed into hot wax

What is left in the wax is an impression that precisely mirrors the ring itself

This is who Jesus is, a perfect impression of who God is and how God reveals Himself

This Jesus who perfectly represents God to us and has been at work in Creation past is still at work

Now, Jesus upholds the universe by the word of His power

Jesus is actively working in the world we inhabit

Colossians 1:15–17

[15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] 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. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (ESV)

Kerry, my wife, brought to our attention a great story by our friend and mentor, Bruce Larson, in his book Believe and Belong (Revel, 1982:21). Bruce contrasts two ways of carrying the weight of the world. Statues of both are found in the heart of New York City—a city filled with people trying be bear the world’s weight on Wall Street, at the United Nations and in international NGOs. In front of the GE Building a statue of the Greek god Atlas portrays one approach. A muscular Atlas strains to carry the cosmos on his shoulders. According to Greek mythology, this task was for him a curse rather than an act of courage.

The other statue is found in St. Patrick’s Cathedral across the street from the GE building. It portrays Jesus as a humble young boy effortlessly holding the world in his hands. His hands seemed designed to carry it.

III. Jesus is the Victory of God vv. 3b-4

Finally, the author focuses in on a very particular work of the Lord Jesus, His work of redemption

Jesus made purification for sins through His death on the Cross

This is a powerful image and is going to reinforce His supremacy

There is no way to God that a person can find besides Jesus

As we fast-forward, we see that He has relocated.

The grave could not hold Him any longer than 3 days and He has risen and ascended to the Father’s right hand

Jesus is sitting in the exalted seat for all eternity and there is no one greater than Him

In a world full of little glories, we marvel at the angels

However, Jesus is much greater than any of them

It is through Jesus that God has accomplished His redemptive work:

Jesus redeems us from sin

Jesus restores us to fellowship with God

Jesus rescues us from death

Jesus resurrects us to new life

Our victory is in Him!

Colin Chapman, in The Case for Christianity, quotes Ugandan bishop Festo Kivengere's account of the 1973 execution by firing squad of three men from his diocese: February 10 began as a sad day for us in Kabale. People were commanded to come to the stadium and witness the execution. Death permeated the atmosphere. A silent crowd of about three thousand was there to watch. I had permission from the authorities to speak to the men before they died, and two of my fellow ministers were with me. They brought the men in a truck and unloaded them. They were handcuffed and their feet were chained. The firing squad stood at attention. 

As we walked into the center of the stadium, I was wondering what to say. How do you give the gospel to doomed men who are probably seething with rage? We approached them from behind, and as they turned to look at us, what a sight! Their faces were all alight with an unmistakable glow and radiance. 

Before we could say anything, one of them burst out: "Bishop, thank you for coming! I wanted to tell you. The day I was arrested, in my prison cell, I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart. He came in and forgave me all my sins! Heaven is now open, and there is nothing between me and my God! Please tell my wife and children that I am going to be with Jesus. Ask them to accept him into their lives as I did."

 The other two men told similar stories, excitedly raising their hands, which rattled their handcuffs. I felt that what I needed to do was to talk to the soldiers, not to the condemned. So I translated what the men had said into a language the soldiers understood. The military men were standing there with guns cocked and bewilderment on their faces. They were so dumbfounded that they forgot to put the hoods over the men's faces!

The three faced the firing squad standing close together. They looked toward the people and began to wave, handcuffs and all. The people waved back. Then shots were fired, and the three were with Jesus. We stood in front of them, our own hearts throbbing with joy, mingled with tears. It was a day never to be forgotten. Though dead, the men spoke loudly to all of Kigezi District and beyond, so that there was an upsurge of life in Christ, which challenges death and defeats it. The next Sunday, I was preaching to a huge crowd in the home town of one of the executed men. Again, the feel of death was over the congregation. But when I gave them the testimony of their man, and how he died, there erupted a great song of praise to Jesus! Many turned to the Lord there.