Read:
Hebrews 1:1-14 (additional reading: Colossians 1:15-20)
Reflect:
Jesus is beyond comparison! As the eternal Son he has no rivals who even come close to equalling him in character, wisdom, power, glory, majesty, grace, love, or simply in his essential being. So we draw this series of devotional reflections to a close with a brief look at the wonders of the Son as found in Hebrews 1:1-4.
In the past God spoke to people in many ways and at many times through the prophets, but now, at the launch of the last days, he has spoken to us through the Son (vv 1-2). Jesus is God’s last word to humankind. True and significant as the prophetic revelations were, they are now fulfilled and brought to their climax by the words and deeds of the Son. In particular, we note seven affirmations that confirm the superiority of the Son over all other beings.
#1. He has been designated as God’s heir of all things (v 2). This includes the entire earth (Psalm 2:8), all beings and powers (Ephesians 1:21-22), and the future world to come (Hebrews 2:5). All things, in their comprehensive scope, belong to Jesus.
#2. He is the agent of all creation (v 2). His role as creator, the source of everything in the universe, is affirmed in other passages like John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16.
#3. He is personally the radiance of God’s glory (v 3). Similar to the way the sun’s rays illumine the earth, so the Son shines the glorious being of God into the lives of people. More than simply reflecting God’s brilliant light, he is that radiant light. Jesus said it himself: I am the Light of the world (John 8:12).
#4. He is the full expression of God’s nature (v 3). Like a coin bears the exact image of the die, so the Son bears the stamp of God’s real being. This affirms his full deity and equality with the Father. That is why Jesus could say to Philip: Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9).
#5. He is the sustainer of all things (v 3). The whole universe is upheld by the providential power of his word. As Colossians 1:17 puts it: in him all things hold together. The preservation of the universe, which is normally ascribed to God, is equally the task of the Son.
The first five attributes of the eternal Son focus on his cosmic functions and, if seriously noted, inspire awe and wonder.
#6. He is the Savior from sin (v 3). He has done everything needed to rescue humanity from its enslavement to sin. As the rest of Hebrews will make clear, in his self-sacrificing love he has achieved a cleansing from sin that no other priesthood, Levitical system or law could produce. As the incarnate Son his relationship to people is marked by redeeming grace which inspires a deep sense of indebtedness and gratitude.
#7. He is the enthroned King/Lord (v 3). As the exalted Son he has the highest privilege of being on the throne with the Majesty on high, ultimate authority (at the right hand), and the satisfaction of completed work (he sat down), all of which inspires reverence and worship. The Son has first place which not even the angels, who inhabit the heavenly realm, can begin to rival (v 4).
Respond:
Let us express our awe, gratitude and worship of the eternal, incarnate and exalted Son with the opening verses of the great Christian hymn: O Worship the King!
1 O worship the King all-glorious above, O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
2 O tell of his might and sing of his grace, whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.