Hebrews: Jesus is the Greater Word

Jesus is Greater

My Favorite Illustrations Roads Still Lie Ahead

Roads Still Lie Ahead

Whether one be a new Christian, a babe in Christ, or a Christian who has sinned and found forgiveness, we must put a comma and not a period at the end of one’s experience. The road of living for Christ still lies ahead. There are difficult hills to climb. Pitfalls await us. Dangers lurk on every hand. There are roaring streams to be crossed. Other crises, temptations, and trials are to be faced. So more than ever we need the Lord’s help.

Jesus makes this amazing promise to those who follow Him:

In this world you will have trouble.

This is a fact. There is not one person who has not faced trying times in their personal lives, their marriages, in their health, or even in their emotional well being.

Trials happen. Yet as believers in Christ we have a great hope because that verse doesn’t end with trials, but Jesus goes on to say, “But take heart for I have overcome the World.”

Today in the world that we live in we need to understand that the world is going to have trials of all sorts, but Jesus Christ is greater.

The idea that if you come to Jesus all of the hardships in your life go away is not truth at all. The truth is as believers we will face many trials

Hebrews 6:19–20 ESV

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

We have this anchor for our souls- Jesus Christ.

This is that message that writer of Hebrews is trying to remind his readers.

This letter is written to Christians who have seen their fellow brothers and sister in Christ die for faith.

In one of the most epic acts of corruption and evil Nero used a fire that many believed he had actually start (that destroyed Rome) in order to persecute and kill Christians.

Persecution under Nero- “On July 19, a.d. 64, a fire broke out in Rome that consumed much of the city and afforded Nero the opportunity to rebuild Rome on a grand scale. His new palace, the “Golden House,” was the epitome of opulence. Suspicions grew, however, that Nero had purposely set the fire to carry out his grandiose scheme. In an effort to place blame elsewhere, Nero pursued a brief but intense persecution of the Christians in Rome in the aftermath of the fire (perhaps a year or more later). Christians were burned alive or savaged by animals in spectacles before a Roman audience. Tradition counts Paul and Peter among the victims.1”

It is in the midst of this that the writer of Hebrews writes this letter.

The book of Hebrews can be briefly summarized this way: Believers in Jesus Christ, as God’s perfect sacrifice for sin, have the perfect High-Priest through whose ministry everything is new and better than under the covenant of law

Hebrews 1:1–4 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

God is Not silent- God is speaking

“at many time and in many ways God spoke.”

The opening seen of the Bible is a dark void that is formless and has no order. Then God speak and what was once a void order and life comes to be.

God is not silent but is actively speaking. God spoke at creation, and speaks through His creation-

Psalm 8:3–6 ESV

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

God speaks through His word- First the Law, then through the prophets, and now God still speaks through his Son Jesus Christ the “Word made Flesh.”

This process of god speaking is called Divine revelation- it is God speaking to make Himself known.

Jesus is the final revelation of God, His character, His Redemption. God spoke through the life of Jesus showing His love for this world- this is the message of the cross

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God motivated by Love sent Jesus the Word made flesh, and when we look at Jesus we see the exact imprint of God. There is no other word that needs to be spoken about who God is or what god is like because Jesus is the greatest “Word” that reveals God the Father to us.

Just as our words express our hearts, Character, and our thoughts, Jesus reveals God’s heart and character to us.

One example:

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s love is shown to us while we were still sinners through the death of Jesus Christ.

God Speaks and the word that He is speaking is God is loves this world, and God still saves sinners.

We don’t have to go and seek any other hidden information because God has has made it plan.

God speaks to reveal God’s plan of Redemption.

“In Many ways God spoke”- roughly over the span of 1,800 years the Old Testament was written in 39 different book that reflect different historical times, locations, cultures, and situations. These many different ways that God spoke included vision, symbols, and parable. These were written in poetry and prose, which means just ordinary or standard writing- Historical events that were recorded.”

Even though the literary style might change or the or the historical events taking place change, the purpose of God speaking through the Old Testament was to reveal His plan of redemption and His will for His people:

1 Peter 1:10–12 ESV

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Matthew 17 we all the different ways that God has spoke-

Matthew 17:1–8 ESV

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

What we see here is a picture of all of scripture- Moses the Law giver, finally allowed into the promise land comes to Jesus. Elijah representing the prophets coming to Jesus- Why? Because all of Scripture pointed to Jesus revealing God the Father and being God’s plan of redemption.

Lastly God speaks audibly saying, “this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”

This is God’s message for all of us, Listen to the Son because He is revealing the Father.

Charles Spurgeon- “God spoke long ago Saving the best for last is always God’s rule. “You have kept the good wine until now” (John 2:10). Prophets are a very blessed means of communication, but how much more sure, how much more condescending is it for God to speak to us by His Son!

He has spoke to us by a Son-

Jesus is the greater Word- the greater revelation of God, because He is the exact imprint of God’s nature. He isn’t also like God, but He is the exact imprint of God’s nature.

John 1:18 ESV

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Jesus is not just another prophet; he is the perfect expression of God. God will never need to send another divine messenger because Jesus faithfully revealed everything about God that we need to know for salvation.

What does this mean for Us?

THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY

God revealed himself by speaking through his Son. In our day, when tolerance is the cry from every corner, any claim for religious authority meets stubborn resistance. Hebrews claims that God spoke through his Son as the complete revelation of himself. When Jesus was revealed in his true glory at the Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1–13), Moses and Elijah appeared with him. Jews regarded Moses and Elijah as the two greatest prophets. Moses represented the law, and Elijah represented the prophets. These two men had performed many miracles and were great leaders. Yet, God’s voice from heaven said, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11 nkjv). Jesus Christ should be your highest authority for faith and daily living.

We also have a great hope because our salvation is not dependent on us- what we can do or give, but it is based on what Christ, the one “through whom He created the world.

Charles Spurgeon, “through whom he also made the world I love to think that He who created all things is also our Savior, for then He can create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. If I need a complete new creation—as I certainly do—He is equal to the task.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

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,

Christ made purification for sins- This is the work of Cross which is the ultimate gift of God’s grace for sinners.

Later on the writer speaks of Jesus as being the greater sacrifice made for sin.

the Passover Lamb- When God delivered His people from Egypt, they were required to take the blood of a lamb without blemish and put is on the door post. God Says,

Exodus 12:13 ESV

The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

We are redeemed by the blood of the lamb- We God looks at us He see the work of His Son.

Our Creator is our Savior and as the writer points out “He upholds the universe by the word of His power.”

Mrs. A.D.T. Whitney and American poet wrote: “It is always when things are all blocked up and impossible that a happening comes. If you are looking and ready, that is all you need. God is turning the world around all the time.”

Why is this good news? Sustaining all things by the word of power- Just think of it. This great world that we live in is upheld by Christ’s word

Application:

There is Hope is Jesus

This is a call to Believers to Trust in Jesus

Because of the work of Christ our sins are no more- We could not find them even if we went looking for them because Jesus Christ has purged them from us.

Christ has made an end to it.

Psalm 103:12 ESV

as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

He did this on Calvary’s cross; there effectually, finally, totally, completely, eternally, He purged all His people from their sin by taking it upon Himself, bearing all its dreadful consequences, canceling and blotting it out, casting it into the depths of the sea, and putting it away forever.

Charles Spurgeon writes: “because He was who and what He was, he did it thoroughly, perfectly. He said, “It is finished,” and I believe Him. I do not—I cannot—for a moment admit that there is anything to be done by us to complete that work, or anything required of us to make the annihilation of our sins complete.”

Those for whom Christ died are cleansed from all their guilt, and they may go their way in peace. Gal 3:13 He was made a curse for us, and there is nothing but blessing left for us to enjoy.

This is a call to the Sinner to Trust in Jesus:

Spurgeon writes:

Hebrews A Call to Sinners to Trust in Jesus

O sinners, if sin had left you sane in heart, you would come at once, and fall down at His feet! There is all power laid up in Jesus, and there is all the Father’s love concentrated in Jesus, so come and trust Him.

Christ has completed the work of redemption on the cross and now He sits in the place of Honor at the right hand of the God the Father- His is the name that every knee shall bow to. The invitation is to trust in Jesus for your salvation, cause it is trust that marks and distinguishes His people from all others.

The invitation of God is to respond to His Word- to come and listen to His son. To put your faith in Him cause He has completed the work of redemption.

Come ye sinners:

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy Weak and wounded, sick and sore Jesus ready, stands to save you Full of pity, love and power

Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome God's free bounty glorify True belief and true repentance Every grace that brings you nigh

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden Lost and ruined by the fall If you tarry 'til you're better You will never come at all

Feel Him prostrate in the garden On the ground your Maker lies On the bloody tree, behold him Sinner, will this not suffice?

Lo, the incarnate God ascended Pleads the merit of his blood Venture on him, venture wholly Let no other trust intrude

I will arise and go to Jesus He will embrace me in His arms In the arms of my dear Savior In the arms of my dear Savior In the arms of my dear Savior Oh, there are ten thousand charms