As I mentioned Monday, the schedule is a little bit different this week, but I hope it’s still encouraging! We’ll be going through Hebrews on Wednesdays section by section, as I’m not sure when we’ll be able to meet again, we’ll see how far we can get! Just so you’re all aware, what I’m hoping to do, based on Pastor Jeff’s recent video, is once we are able to meet in groups of 50, start having the regular teams leading the music section. We’ll still be recording the services early so people that don’t feel comfortable meeting in large groups can still follow along on YouTube, which means we’ll be adding recording the service to our regular Thursday night practices. More details will be forthcoming, but I wanted you all to be aware of what we’re aiming for! I’m really excited to be able to get back together making music!
Also, please note that we’ll be meeting on Google Hangouts again tomorrow night at 7:00 PM, you can follow THIS LINK to join in!
Today we’ll be looking at Hebrews 1:
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.For to which of the angels did God ever say,“You are my Son,today I have begotten you”?Or again,“I will be to him a father,and he shall be to me a son”?And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God’s angels worship him.”Of the angels he says,“He makes his angels winds,and his ministers a flame of fire.”But of the Son he says,“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;therefore God, your God, has anointed youwith the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”And,“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,and the heavens are the work of your hands;they will perish, but you remain;they will all wear out like a garment,like a robe you will roll them up,like a garment they will be changed.But you are the same,and your years will have no end.”And to which of the angels has he ever said,“Sit at my right handuntil I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
One of the primary points the author is making throughout this entire book is: Jesus is better. Better than what you may ask? Exactly the point the author is making! Anything you put in the statement: Jesus is better than _________ is true. The author begins like any good story “A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.” He’s reminding his readers of their place in history. God has always been at work in and through His people, but something unique has now happened because the Son has come. Where He used to speak through prophets, He now speaks by Himself in the flesh, by His Son. But not only is He the Son, He is also the exact imprint of His nature, meaning He IS God. He didn’t look like God, He didn’t appear to be God, He was God in flesh. Then he turns to the primary point of this first chapter, the superiority of Jesus to angels.
Angels are terrifying beings! So often we think of angels as chubby little babies playing harps on clouds (at least I have a tendency to do this based on Looney Tunes!). But when you read through the Bible and see the various times people see angels they are awestruck, and at times even attempt to worship the angels! But angels are not meant to be worshipped, they instead are to point us to God, who is to be worshipped. The word “angel” in Greek can literally be translated as “messenger.” They are God’s messengers sent to carry out His commands. But the angels in all their glory can’t hold a candle to Jesus, and the author reminds us of 4 ways Jesus is superior.
First – Jesus has a superior name. What’s in a name? As Shakespeare says in Romeo and Juliet. In this era of human history, a name carried with it a sense of identity. Everything you needed to know about a person was found in their name. Jesus was called the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the one who had come to save the people from their sin. The title “Messiah” could be given to no one else.
Second – Jesus was given superior honor. The angels, instead of being worshipped, are commanded to worship this Jesus. Think of what happened when Jesus was born. The angels were sent as messengers to tell everyone about the arrival of the Messiah!
Third – Jesus is given a superior status. While the angels may at time be seen as fire, as terrifying beings, Jesus is completely sovereign. All the attributes we ascribe to God the Father we should also ascribe to God the Son. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and nothing can stand against Him. This is not true of the angels.
Fourth – Jesus has a superior existence. As we see in the beginning of this chapter and in Colossians 1, the world is created and held together by Jesus. Nothing exists or continues to exist apart from Him. And then as if to hammer this point home, the author ends this section by reminding that angels are merely ministering spirits sent for our benefit. They give testimony to the salvation freely given and accomplished by Jesus by his death, burial and resurrection. That’s a God we should all serve!
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Pastor Mike's Musings 