Sermon Tone Analysis

The Superiority of Christ

Hebrews 8:1

The overall theme of the book of Hebrews is the Superiority of Jesus Christ.

That is Jesus Christ is preeminent.

Colossians 1:1

Simply stated — Jesus Christ is better.

He is better than anything before, because He was before what was before.

He is better than any OT person.

He is better than any OT institution.

He is better than any OT ritual, any OT sacrifice, any OT priest.

He is better than any OT prophet.

He is better!

He is better than anyone and everything.

The book of Hebrews teaches the total, complete, and absolute superiority of Jesus Christ.

This theme of the superiority of Jesus Christ is presented in contrasts of — Better.

Better because Jesus Christ is better.

For instance, we have because of the Superiority of Jesus Christ — a better hope, a better testament, a better promise, a better sacrifice, a better substance, a better country, a better resurrection — the bottom line is because of the Superiority of Jesus Christ Everything is Better.

And let’s full understand what is meant by — Better — Better means the Supreme Best.

For instance we are presented in Christ and as dwelling in a completely new dimension — the heavenlies.

So, we have this heavenly Christ, a heavenly calling, the heavenly gift, the heavenly country, the heavenly Jerusalem, and we have our names written in the heavenlies.

Everything is new and therefore, everything is better.

And this comes down to one statement, one sentence actually summarizes the entire book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 8:1

That’s the summary of the entire message of Hebrews: We have some kind of High Priest.

And this is stated first in what He did: He sat down.

This speaks to the completion and efficacy of His priestly action.

He sat means it was finished, complete, the job was done, it was a success.

The sacrifice was accepted — fully and completely.

He accomplished what was needed.

God the Father was satisfied.

There is nothing else to do.

It worked!

And then notice where He sat — at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens!

This is monumental, Superior, the best, the highest, the most glorious.

All that other stuff — is voided, it’s of no use.

The Mosaic Covenant, the sacrifices, the priesthood, all of it — of no use.

Because He has fulfilled everything they were.

Christ is better in every way.

So, let’s go back to the beginning and work ourselves through the book and look a little more detail of the magnificent contrasts of how Jesus Christ is Superior.

We begin first with His superiority to Everyone and Everything.

I. Jesus Christ is Superior to Everyone and Everything.

Hebrews 1:1-3

The writer begins with the high note.

He begins at the top, the creme of the crop.

He is hitting this big with the crescendo.

He’s not working himself up.

This is like a trump blast announcing the king.

Various times and various ways — Over about 1800 years and 39 different books, through historical accounts, visions, symbols, parables, poetry, and prose, God has revealed what He wanted His people to know.

God promised His Christ and all of this was to prepare for Him to come.

In these last days — which means the days of the Messiah, of His coming — This is the fulfillment of all God’s promises.

They are in Him.

That is Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of everything God Promised.

And so, God spoke the message of His redemption — “by His Son,” who is the heir.

The heir of Almighty God would obviously be His and under His control.

In other words, Jesus Christ, the Son of God has the full extension of the authority.

In verse 6, He is called the “firstborn into the world.”

This doesn’t mean that Jesus was created first in the world, but that He is Superior who the Father brought into this world of time, space, energy, and matter — that is the entire universe and everything that makes it function.

And made the universe through Him — This indicates that the Son was the Creator God.

We read the same thing in Colossians.

He not only created it all, but He sustains it, He keeps it all together.

And now the writer gets to what proves the Superiority of Christ.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory — This is the only time that word “radiance” is used in the NT and it means to send forth light.

It’s not a reflection.

It is to radiate.

The Son is not a reflection of God’s glory — He is God and radiates His own essential glory.

The Son is the exact expression of His nature — “Exact expression” or “exact representation” is also the only time this word is used in the NT.

It was used outside of the Bible as an engraving in wood, an impression in clay, or the stamped image on coins.

It meant that in His person, His nature, Jesus Christ was the exact nature and essence of God in time and space.

And as such, Jesus Christ Sustains all things.

This conveys the concept of movement or progress.

The Son of God directs and moves all things toward the consummation of all things according to the Sovereign purposes and will of God and He does it just like He created everything — by His powerful word.

And then to show the proof —

After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

And there He is, at the place of power, authority, and honor.

The seat Christ has taken is the throne of God, where He rules as sovereign Lord.

He is victorious, not a defeated martyr.

He is enthroned.

And He is therefore Higher than all, Greater than all, Better than all, Superior to All.

He is better than the Angels — verses 1:4-14

He has a better message — 2:1-4

He is better than Moses — 3:1-19

He is better than Joshua, giving His people a better rest — 4:1-13

He is better than Aaron

Hebrews 4:14-

And this brings us to His priesthood.

II.

Jesus Christ is Superior to the Aaronic Priesthood.

Here the writer expounds on .

Not only is Christ superior to Moses and Joshua, but as High Priest, He is superior to Aaron.

Just as the high priest under the Old Covenant passed through the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies to make atonement for sin, Jesus passed through the three heavens (the atmospheric heavens, the stellar heaven, and God’s abode, when He made the perfect and final sacrifice for sin.

The tabernacle was only a limited copy of the heavenly reality.

When Jesus entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, having accomplished our redemption, the earthly facsimile was forever finished.

The writer emphasized Jesus’ sacrifice for sins with the use of His name — Jesus Son of God, the title of humanity (Jesus) and deity (Son of God).

An you’ll notice that is the confession we are to hold fast.

This confession of Jesus Son of God is the center of our confession of faith in the gospel, because the whole of redemption centers upon Jesus who is God in human flesh who died for our sin.

And then notice how in verse 15 speaks of the sinlessness of Christ — “who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

He was able to be tempted but He was never able to sin.

And it’s because of this High Priest we are now able to approach the throne of grace.

Most monarchs were unapproachable.

Think about the King of Glory, the God of all the universe who is Holy, holy, holy — How much more unapproachable is He?