Cosmic Christ
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Intro
Perceptions of Jesus over time. (slideshow)
Pendulum shift over past half-century or so to a more “human” Jesus. Perhaps an overreaction to a perception that we had focused too much on the church and not the head of the church.
Natural consequence of “humanizing” Him is to bring him to our level. The result is a familiarity that can dilute our awe and wonder at His majesty, glory, and kingship.
As we move into the book of Hebrews for the next several weeks, we will see and hear a very different perspective on exactly who Jesus is.
The expected result is that we’ll be better able to not only “connect” with his humanity but also regain an appreciation for his divinity.
It is vital that we understand and appreciate the true nature and identity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We need to be sure of who we are worshiping.
In fact, staying connected to Christ is at the core of the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews 2:1 (NLT)
1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!
Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
It all begins with a beautiful sentence that looks back into ancient times and compares it with today.
But Now...
But Now...
Hebrews 1:1 (NLT)
1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.
But all those prophets received only a glimpse of the whole picture of God’s plan.
God spoke through men and women, in songs penned by a shepherd, out of burning bushes, even in the mouths of donkeys.
It’s like knowing there’s going to be a huge, amazing party. You know that you’re supposed to bring a side dish but not really anything else about it.
The OT prophets, kings, leaders all knew some of God’s overall plan but not all of it.
It took one man who knew the whole plan and could, in fact fulfill that plan.
Our Prophet
Our Prophet
Hebrews 1:2 (NLT)
2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
It’s one thing to talk to the guy who will build a house.
If you want to completely understand the design and intent, you talk to the architect. The ultimate designer.
When don’t understand the world we live in, God has given us a perfect message and messenger. Jesus knows the whole story (your whole story too) from end to end.
This is true because He is our:
Our Creator
Our Creator
Hebrews 1:2 (NLT)
2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
All of these aspects of Christ make him...
A Trusted Source
A Trusted Source
Hebrews 1:3 (NLT)
3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
In Jesus we see all the glory (weightiness) of God. We see his exact representation.
The Glory and Character of God
The Glory and Character of God
Hebrews 1:3 (NLT)
3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
To “radiate” is to reveal with great intensity.
When it says “expresses” it means “imprint.” Like a seal.
John 1:14 (NLT)
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Glory means splendor, majesty, weighty, solid, true.
In Jesus Christ, we experience all the glory of God. Something that was unknowable, unattainable prior to the Incarnation.
It’s an old saying but bears repeating: Folks who truly want to know what God is like only have to look at the Son.
The Sustainer of Everything
The Sustainer of Everything
Hebrews 1:3 (NLT)
3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
To “sustain” means more than we might suspect. We could imagine it being someone trying to keep their arms around everything. Keep all the plates spinning so to speak.
No. Jesus’ authority as Lord and Christ over all creation means that it holds together because he says so.
Colossians 1:17 (NLT)
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
When we start feeling insecure about life, the universe and everything just remember that Jesus, who walked and lived among us, created it and holds it together by his authority.
Nothing gets by him, either!
The Redeemer
The Redeemer
Hebrews 1:3 (NLT)
3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Now it gets very personal for every one of us.
Titus 2:14 (NLT)
14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
No other source in the Bible could remove the stain of sin from our souls. No one else could put creation right with God.
When we get tired of being burdened by our guilt, awash in sinful thoughts and actions. We want to feel free, there’s a redeemer (the one who buys us back) who is ready. He’s big enough (cosmic) to take on everything you’ve got along with the damage sin has done to the whole creation.
Which makes him a:
The King
The King
Hebrews 1:3 (NLT)
3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Colossians 3:1 (NLT)
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
A king reigns. Leads, rules. He sets the agenda, the mission for His people.
Jesus is the cosmic Christ, the ruler over all creation.
We can decide whether or not we like a particular political leader, their policies, etc. But the choice we make with Jesus Christ is to follow or rebel. There’s no middle ground.
So I’ll give the Hebrew writer the final word on this today:
1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.