Image
being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1
“If God is committed to me then why is life so hard?”
Hebrews answers this question by showing how the Christian life is a journey toward a destination. It is a journey from persecution into the presence of God. It is a journey from trouble into triumph, from sin to salvation, from exhaustion into rest. And you only get to your destination by keeping your eyes on Jesus Christ and holding on to him alone. Our temptation is to drift away from Christ when things get difficult, but God is reminding us in the Book of Hebrews that our only hope is to be anchored into the truth. And the truth is that the only way a believer can endure hardship and trouble is if Jesus Christ fills their vision.
The letter to the Hebrews encourages believers by reminding us “who Jesus is” and “what Jesus came to do.” These issues are as important today as they were then—because when your vision of Christ begins to fade your faith weakens and discouragement grows. Sometimes people abandon their faith because they had an inadequate understanding of Christ in the first place. So, what do we need to know about who Jesus is?
This week we are focusing on the fact that Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of truth.
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2
In these last days...means that from the time this was written until the end of time there is no fuller expression of truth than in Jesus Christ. There is nothing more coming. There is no further, no greater, no more profound revelation of God’s truth than that which is revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God’s final word.
In Old Testament times God’s word came to humanity through various people and in different historical contexts—and they all pointed forward to the approaching messiah and the salvation He brings. In Jesus Christ all those pieces came together in one perfect personification of truth. The fullness of Christ, his divine nature, his teachings, his sinless life, his sacrifice on the cross and his victory over the grave are God’s final and greatest message to us.
The message is that the Son is Supreme. He is greater than the Old Testament prophets, He’s greater than the angels, He’s greater than Moses, and He’s greater than Joshua. This revelation of God in Christ is a crucial and decisive final word, and it demands a verdict. That is it...there is nothing else coming, there is no fuller expression of God than Christ Jesus. And you have to make a decision about it. On the one hand this is really wonderful that God is speaking to us and on the other hand it seems somewhat harsh... “This is the way it is and that’s it.” But the Bible tells us this truth and it is up to us how we respond. Hebrews is telling us that our ability to endure hardship is directly proportionate to our vision of Christ.