Jesus Is Better - 1

Jesus Is Better - 1

Introduction

I am a child of the 80’s, which means several things for me, some good and some bad.  One of the things that means is that two of my heroes growing up were Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson.  We grew up watching the Cosby Show [pic] and those amazing sweaters he wore as he lovingly and humorously led his family. I ate the pudding pops. I can still quote several lengthy sections of his famous comedy routine Bill Cosby: Himself. 

I also listened to the greatest entertainer in history [pic]. I remember the horror when he caught his hair on fire. I watched the Thriller music video so many times I have a lifelong fear of zombies and am haunted by the voice of Vincent Price. My Thriller album was always playing.

We loved these guys!  They were amazing. And then I grew up, only to find out that my heroes were creeps.  Well, the biblical term would be wretched sinners. In different ways and in varying degrees, all of our heroes have fallen short.  They’ve done things that let us down, shattered the image we had of them. They are not who we imagined them to be.

There is a reason people say, “Never meet your heroes.”  Because they won’t be your heroes anymore, as you see them for who they really are.  We naturally put people on pedestals, elevating them, even idolizing them. Whether it is actors, athletes, the wealthy, the successful, even religious leaders…we caricature them and hold them to standards no one could possibly meet. And then, we get disillusioned when they don’t meet those standards.  We set them up for failure and ourselves up for disappointment.

Why do we continue to do this?  Because we crave someone better. When even the best of us aren’t good enough, the cry of the human heart is for someone better, someone superior.  Someone who won’t let us down. So we keep looking for that person. And I have good news for you…that better person exists. 

Today we begin a lengthy journey through the NT book of Hebrews. Over the next several months we are going to come to understand this core truth: Jesus Is Better.  He is better than us. He is better than anything in this world. He is better than anything that came before him. He’s better than anything that’s come since. He can’t be beaten, belittled, or bullied.  He can’t lose. Jesus is better.

Over the course of the 13 chapters of Hebrews, the writer uses this word “better” (or “superior”) 13 times to describe who Jesus is and what Jesus does. He’s a better priest, offers better promises, and is a better hope. He promises a better resurrection into a better country. Everything about Jesus is better.

We have announced the last few weeks that we are using the ESV translation of the Bible for this series because of the precision in the language.  You were handed a journal on the way in that has the text in it and journal pages. This is a good way to guide our journey and write down what God teaches you over the next few months.  There is a blank page right at the beginning…write “JESUS IS BETTER” really big on that page. It’ll serve as a reminder as we walk through this great book. It’ll serve as a great reminder as we walk through life.  Jesus is better.

TS - so how is Jesus better?  Why is Jesus better? Well, I’m glad you asked.  Because Hebrews comes storming out of the gates to tell us why exactly Jesus really is better.

- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 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. 3 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, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Now, before we jump into this text, let’s back up for a minute and give a little background.  Part of the reason this letter starts so aggressively is because it wasn’t originally a letter…it’s a sermon.  He hints this at the end in 13:22 calling it a “word of exhortation.” That same phrase is used in Acts to refer to preaching.  So this is a sermon manuscript. You’ll notice the lack of a customary greeting…because this was meant to be heard, not read.

The biggest argument/issue surrounding Hebrews is who wrote it (or originally preached it).  Scholars don’t know and don’t agree. Some say Paul because of some clear Pauline theology. Others say Apollos, known to be a great preacher and discipled by Paul.  Others offer other options. The best is the early church father Origen who said, “Only God knows.”

We don’t know who wrote it, but we do know who it was written to…the Hebrews.  Christians from a Jewish background, facing imminent persecution. Following Christ had cost them much.  The temptation was to look around and feel a sense of loss and fear. When following Christ is hard, the temptation is to bolt.  Go back to what we did before, no one killed us for it. Go to other religions to stay safe. So here is the message…Jesus is better than anything else!  Don’t give up. Don’t go back.  

TS - back to the text.  From the very beginning, Jesus is better.  So for the next few minutes we are going to walk through this together…and it is going to be very worshipful.  This is the glory of the Jesus we follow, the Christ we proclaim, and we get to relish in it for our time together.

- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 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. 3 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, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Four Aspects of Jesus’ Identity that Prove He is Better. Jesus is:

THE FINISHER OF SALVATION

v. 3b - “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”  We are reminded of Christ’s saving work.  Actually it is more than that. We are reminded of Christ’s finished saving work.  

Jesus made purification for sins.  This is one of the primary theological themes of the entire book.  He keeps coming back to the cross of Jesus and his sacrifice to forgive sins.  Why is this a primary theme? Because it is our primary need! The thing we need most in the world, before we need water to drink, food to eat, shelter over our heads…the thing we need the most is forgiveness for sins.  We need purification. Sin is comprehensive and catastrophic in its effect and consequences. The NT uses 15 different words to describe and define sin because it is so pervasive.

If life is a machine, sin is a breakdown, a bad gear messing it up.

If life is a kingdom, sin is rebel terrorists who try to take over.

If life is a body, sin is a disease, a rotting organ that poisons.

If life is a river, sin is pumping toxic sludge into it.

If life is a computer, sin is a virus that attacks and destroys the hard drive.

We need someone to fix that.  To save us. To heal us. To clean us up.  To take this sin away. Hebrews will remind us time and again that this is what we have in Christ.

- 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

And here at the beginning is this reminder that this is not what Jesus is going to do…but what he has already done.  He has already made purification for sin. He sat down. You know what it means to sit down…it means you’re done!

Jesus sits down in the exalted position of power, at the right hand of the Majesty on high.  Having completed his work, he is now exalted over all things as the only one who can take care of humanity’s greatest need.

George Guthrie - “It is only the exalted Jesus who can make purification for sins, according to Hebrews (1:3; 8:1-2; 9:1-10:18) and provide us a way to draw near to God (4:14-16; 10:19-25). It is only the exalted Jesus who can offer help to us in our time of need (4:15-16), deliver us from death (2:14-15), and lead us to glory (2:10; 12:22-24).”

Want to know why Jesus is so much better?  All other religions tell you what you have to do to help clean up your sin.  Jesus may help in some of them, but much/all of the work depends on you. “Do these things and God will forgive.  You need to pay your debt.” Here is the Gospel, the scandal of grace…Your debt has already been paid. As Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.”  Jesus sat down. He isn’t chasing you down, hounding you pay him like some cosmic loanshark. He isn’t pouring over the spreadsheets or the profit/loss statements like some cosmic accountant.  He is sitting because the work is finished.  

2. FULLNESS OF GOD’S CHARACTER

v. 3a - “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.” One author writes that v. 3 is THE verse of the entire book, and the rest of Hebrews is just commentary on it.  I agree. The idea here at the beginning of v. 3 is that Jesus has the power and the personality of God himself. He is like God in glory and like God in character.  

Jesus is so much better that the writer of Hebrews uses two words here that occur nowhere else in the Bible.  “Radiance” literally translates as splendor or intense brightness.” When God shines, Jesus is what you see. The word “imprint” is the Gk. word charakter.  He is the exact impression of God.  The word was used for engravings. When God engraves himself in flesh, Jesus is what you see.

- 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

God is invisible, but when God projects an image for you to see, what you see is Jesus.  This isn’t Jesus doing a really good impression of God as a superstar actor. He’s the actual thing.  In Jesus, God has come down to be with us.

- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

- 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

- 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.

Why is Jesus better?  Every other religion, every other religious leader, says “Follow this path to get to God.”  Jesus says, “I am God and I’ve come to get you.” We don’t have to worry or wonder if we’ll make it to where God is.  In Jesus, we know God has come to where we are.

3. FOUNDATION OF GOD’S PLAN

v. 2b - “…whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Here are two truths about Jesus at two opposite ends of the spectrum.  First, Jesus is the heir of all things. Meaning, all things will eventually come under his rule.  History is building toward this day when Jesus will get everything. Jesus is the summation of all history.

- 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The second truth here is that Jesus also created the world.  He isn’t just present at the end to rule and reign, he was there at the beginning, speaking the universe into existence.  Everything was created by his hands and will conclude in his hands. He is the foundation of all God has done, is doing, and will do.  He is our past, our present, and our future.  

- 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.

Abraham Kuyper - “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”

Why is Jesus better?  Everyone else says you have to figure life out on your own.  Find the meaning and purpose to life. We don’t have to guess where this all came from.  We don’t have to worry or wonder where it is all going. It all came from Jesus and is going back to him.  This is true of everything in creation, including you.  

4. THE FINAL WORD

v. 1-2a - “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 first 4 verses of is one long sentence in Gk. There is only one dependent clause that the entire paragraph is built around…”he has spoken.”  God is a God who speaks.

This is incredibly good news.  The fact that God communicates with his creation shows that he cares.  He isn’t distant or calloused. He has been speaking since the very beginning.  And the writer of Hebrews reminds us of the breadth of God’s communication…”at many times and in many ways.”  He has spoken through the entire OT. Through prophets, through events, even through a donkey at one point. God is always speaking.  We can’t ignore the OT. Yes, it’s huge, sometimes difficult and confusing. But it is the record of God talking to us.

Hebrews will impress this on us over and over.  Hebrews quotes the OT more than any other NT book.  

—35 OT quotations

—34 OT allusions

—19 summaries of OT material

—13 mentions of OT topic or name, without reference to specific context

The OT is great.  We should listen to it and learn from it.  It may be vast, but it is incomplete. There is a better form of communication, or revelation.  God didn’t just send prophets with a word to speak. He didn’t just send a book to read. He sent his Son.  The OT is a means to an end. It pushes us to Jesus. All things come together and find their fulfillment in him.  

Jesus is the definitive, final word from God.  We don’t need anything else, and God doesn’t offer anything else.  Jesus is better because Jesus is enough.

We live in a day and age where people are hungry for a word from God.  There is many compelling and competing voices out there. But there is only one defining voice, only one definitive voice, and it trumps all the others.  Jesus is the Final Word.

Conclusion

Friends, this is Hebrews.  This is the message…Jesus is Better.  Because he is the Finisher of Salvation, the Fullness of God’s Character, the Foundation of God’s Plan, and the Final Word.  Because of this, notice v. 4. Verse 4 serves as the transition into the next point/argument he makes as he zeroes in on the specifics of Jesus’ “betterness.”  But look at the culminating conclusion about Jesus:

v. 4 - “having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

We will get into the angel stuff next week and why that matters, but here is our worshipful conclusion today…the name of Jesus is higher, better, more excellent, than any other name.  

Ray Stedman -“In this introductory paragraph Jesus has been portrayed as the supreme Prophet, the unique Owner of all things, the uncreated Creator, the exact image of God’s being, the Sustainer of the universe, the Sacrificing Priest who cleanses sin, and the Conqueror who occupies the place of honor above all his creation.  From this lofty beginning the writer will assert the supremacy of Jesus above all other names.”

I grew up in a church of about 80 or so and sang hymns/choruses.  One of them that helped form my faith:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there's just something about that name

Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain;

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all Heaven and earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away

But there's something about that name

SONG - What a Beautiful Name!

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