“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in
many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to
us by a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created
the worlds. [Jesus] is the reflection of
God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and He sustains all
things by His powerful word. When He had made purification for sins, He sat
down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,…” (Hebrews 1:1-3 NRSV)
The author of Hebrews presents a series
of arguments for the superiority of Jesus over all rival claims to allegiance
which the readers were feeling and hearing. Their attention was easily diverted
off in other directions, just as our attention is easily distracted today.
They, like us, were being tempted, frightened or pressured into following other
voices and serving other masters.
Jesus’ superiority to the prophets is
marked in six ways. First, He is the Son, and as such speaks with greater
authority and completeness than the prophets… Second, the Son’s superior
greatness to the prophets springs from His position as both creator and heir of
all things… Third, the Son shares fully in the divine nature… Fourth, the Son
is the master of the universe… Fifth, in sharp contrast to this image of universal
power the Savior accomplishes the purification for sin through the agony and
blood of the cross… Sixth, Jesus sat down at God’s right hand denoting the
supreme honor accorded to the triumphant Lord, who is risen from the dead…
Clearly the world we live in today is
one which desperately needs this redeemer.
-- adapted from Ray C. Stedman in Hebrews: The IVP New
Testament Commentary Series
#4056
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