Session 2: Day 5 (Hebrews 1)

[music] Hebrews 1. Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So He became superior to the angels just as the name He inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did He ever say, "You are my Son, today I have become your Father." Or again, "I will be His Father and He will be my Son." Again, when He brings His firstborn into the world, He says, "And let all God's angels worship Him." And about the angels, He says, "He makes His angels wins and His servants of fiery flame. But to the Son, your throne God is forever and ever and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. This is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions." And, in the beginning, Lord, You establish the earth and the heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like clothing. You will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like clothing. But you are the same, and your years will never end. Now, to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation? This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Right out of the gate, the author of Hebrews laid out rich theology. Jesus created the world. Jesus is the radiance of God's glory. Jesus is the exact imprint of the Father. Jesus sustains the universe at all times. Jesus purified us from our sins. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. I'm ready for the altar call, and we've only read three verses. The earth and the heavens will wear out someday, but Jesus will remain unchanged forever, despite both of His homes being done away with and made new. The author told his readers to not let all of this escape them. He is captivated by the details of who Jesus is. He is God the Son, come down to earth to live as a human, and God the Father has made everything subject to the Son, who created it all at the Father's command, doing the manual labor of creation, and He upholds and controls and inherits it all. Right now, it doesn't look like everything is subject to Him, but someday we will see His authority fully expressed. Then the author spends a good deal of time explaining how God the Son is superior to angels. In fact, angels worship Him and serve His purposes. And God the Son is also superior to any earth leaking, not just in length of time and power, because His throne is everlasting, but also in the inherent goodness of who He is. He is without flaw or failure. Unlike earthly rulers, He has never made a move that is less than perfect. The Father speaks through the Son. The Son is the exact imprint of the Father's nature. He is how we see what the Father is like. He reveals the glory of God. There is no aspect of the Son's character that is also present in the person of the Father and the person of the Spirit. This is our God, and He's where the joy is. I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and you're listening to the "He's Where the Joy is" podcast presented by Lifelight.