Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to to Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven.
Hebrews 1:1-3Hebrews 1:1-3
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
1 1 Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. 2 Ws . But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. 3 Ws God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together. After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side a right side: The place of honor and power. of the glorious God in heaven.
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No other man in all scripture is given this sort of praise. Jesus is set apart – in a class of his own. Yet, he is close to us – intimate with creation and each human heart. In Jesus we see the creator taking on the role of creature. We see him submit to a world corrupt because of our sin. And we see him triumphant at God’s side.
Jesus’ disciples knew that they were viewing someone unique. Jesus was more than a charismatic figure. When we look at Jesus, we are not viewing a Bono, a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Ghandi. We are viewing something more. The disciples worshiped Jesus – a staggering thought for a Jew. Our culture is comfortable to “worship” celebrities and political figures somewhat flippantly. But this is not the worship offered Jesus. We don’t speak of an American Idol winners as if one of them “sustains the universe”. Even the most beloved president would not be described as one who “represents God exactly”. But this is who Jesus is.
To be a Christian is to put our trust in Jesus. It is to let our whole life be altered by the new life he creates within us. Morning by morning we awake, hopeful that God is working within us. Moment by moment we can hear his voice. It all begins with Jesus. It is more than just believing in a set of facts. It is a way of life where we surrender our will to him so that he can act through us.
Do you struggle with persevering? Do you long to be faithful and find yourself weak? The book of Hebrews directs us to Jesus by pointing out his person, character and work. He is God revealed to us. He is a man who experienced the same pain and grief we do. He is loving, faithful, compassionate and worthy of worship. He acts as a mediator and has the authority of the greatest king. God wants us to know how to persevere, and we find this knowledge in the example of Jesus. He longs for us to be faithful, and he works within us to make it happen.
Today, consider who Jesus is. Not what he can do for you, or what he has done – but who he is. As you consider what God’s word says about Jesus, are you giving him the worship he deserves? Are you putting you whole life forward as an offering? Have you turned over control and decision-making power? Jesus longs for us to get serious about his mission. Us – I mean that personally, individually. Each one of us has the potential to be used by God today.
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