Hebrews 1 and 2_Quizzing

Chapter 1

The author starts out talking about how God communicates with His people. He used to use prophets, but now He uses He Son. Who is this Son?

The heir of all things

The one through whom God made the universe

the radiance of God’s glory

The exact representation of His being

The one who sustains all things by His word

The one who provided purification for our sins

The one who is now sitting at God’s right hand.

How do we know He is special? Because the Old Testament has made it clear. He then quotes several Old Testament passages that were speaking about Jesus. His point? I know you think angels are great (and they are!) but there is a special, unique greatness that scripture reserves for Jesus. He is the true Son, the one that angels worship, controls natural elements in such a way that He can communicate through them!

He summarized these ideas at the end of the chapter: angels are great, but they are nothing compared to God. They are here to serve us, and though Jesus did come to serve us, now He is exalted, sitting at God’s right hand until He makes His enemies something you rest your foot on.

Chapter 2

He opens this chapter by calling us to pay attention.

Look, he says, remember the old message, given in the past by the angels? What did that say? (v. 2) Sin equals death. End of the story. But that is not the new message! We have to remember that! You know, the new message that Jesus spoke about and then told others who have told you? Then was confirmed in various ways…that one.

But get this (and this is going to blow your mind): this Jesus, who was so much higher than the angels, was made lower than them for a time! I mean, can you imagine?

Then he looks at Psalm 8 which lays out that this amazing idea that God thinks about us, US! But this verse doesn’t seem like it is happening right now, does it? Has God really put everything under our feet? Well, here is the deal. It is talking about us, but it is also talking about Jesus.

Everything is subject to us…but not yet. (v. 8b). But Jesus has gone before us and fulfilled this verse! He was made lower than the angels and now is crowned with glory. Why? Because He was willing to suffer the death

This psalm is not saying that we will get something we have never had, but that we will again receive something that we have lost! Adam and Eve were set up with this authority in the garden. But we know how that ended: judgment, death, exile. This is the full weight of the old system: every violation receives judgment. How can we then receive the blessing of the old system and avoid the judgment we deserve?

Because we see Jesus who has gone before us. He never did anything to lose the authority, but became lower than the angels and avoided judgement, but took ours! So that, by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone! (v. 9)

It makes sense, then, that the way Jesus was prepared (perfected) through suffering. Because that is what He was set up do endure!

And somehow, in the midst of all of this, Jesus is still willing to call us family, although we are parasites. (v. 11-13). Blood is thicker than water.

But the only way that He could redeem us was to be made like us. And when He did this, He broke the devil’s power and allows us to no longer fear death!

remember: He did this for us. He is our High Priest (more on this later) and since He is related to us…He can relate to us. He is the only one who has experienced the full weight of temptation! (Lewis)