Consider Him.
In Hebrews chapter 12 we read -
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
So many Christians today are weary and have lost heart.
Why?
Because they have not truly considered Jesus in his fullness.
Chapter one of Hebrews is a great place to consider Jesus:-
Jesus - The New And Better Deliverer - Ch. 1-7
HEB 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 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. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his 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. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
HEB 1:5 For to which of the angels did God 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" ?
HEB 1:6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God’s angels worship him."
HEB 1:7 In speaking of the angels he says,
"He makes his angels winds,
his servants flames of fire."
HEB 1:8 But about the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
HEB 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy."
HEB 1:10 He also says,
"In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
HEB 1:11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
HEB 1:12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end."
HEB 1:13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet" ?
HEB 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
What is in a name???
Your name has meaning - it is about who you are - who your parents are or were and who your Grandparents were. If your Grandparents were great people then some of that manna attaches itself to you.
Hebrews chapter one is a lot about a name.
Let’s read one of the verses:-
Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3:- After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
The name here is Jesus Christ and Paul suggests that his name is superior to the name of the angels -
The superiority of the name of Jesus is here associated with what he does and where he sits.
What he has done is he has provided purification for sins - where he sits is at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
However it is not only what he has done and where he sits that encourages us but also what he is like.
Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Jesus, we are told here is the radiance of God’s Glory - that is - all that is beautiful and wonderful about God shines out of Jesus Christ. But more than that.We are told that Jesus is the exaxt representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Jesus - we learn - is not a subsiduary character like an angel - important as they are in the purposes of God - But rather Jesus is the exact representation of God himself - he is in fact God’s son.
But he is God’s son not just in his look but also in his actions - he sustains all things by his powerful word.
And if all that were not enough!
We also learn -
2 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.
Jesus is God’s Son - he is the one who will inherit all things and if that were not enough it was through Jesus whom he made the universe.
Jesus:-
Purifies us from sins.
Sits on the right hand of God
exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by his powerful word.
heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Jesus is God’s Son
This first chapter of Hebrews builds a picture of Jesus that is quite incredible.
If these words were well understood in our nation there would not be an empty church on Sundays -
People would be queuing up to worship God.
We would be a nation of prayer and a people who held God in awe.
Certainly the name of Jesus would never again be heard as a swear word.
In Hebrews chapter one we see that through the Son, God has given us His most perfect revelation of himself.
Because Hebrews chapter one makes such incredible claims for Jesus we should be able to find evidence from the life of Jesus as to their accuracy.
Because I want to go on to discus what difference these facts about Jesus should make to our lives - I want to very briefly show how Jesus confirms these words from Hebrews with his life.
One function of Jesus is He purifies us from sins. How do we know that from his life?
Firstly Jesus claims it. In a wonderful incident in the life of Jesus we catch a glimpse of just what this means.
MT 9:1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
MT 9:3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"
MT 9:4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, `Get up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7 And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
You would think that lying on a mat paralised that the most important thing in the mans life would be healing.
Jesus certainly had the power to heal - but he values the forgiveness of sins far above that.
In this incident we see that he not only has the power to forgive sins but also he demonstrates his ability to sustain all things by his word.
In fact it is his power to heal the paralytic that is used to authenticate his authority on earth to forgive sins.
At a word from Jesus the Paralytic is raised up to walk again.
Of course the ultimate proof of Jesus’ ability to forgive sins is seen in his resurrection from the dead.
The truth is that by rising from the dead Jesus Christ defeated sin the curse of mankind.
As John S Whale says - The gospels do not explain the resurrection, the resurrection explains the Gospels. Belief in the resurrection is not an appendage to the Christian faith; it is the Christian faith.
"Through whom he made the universe." John of course in John 1 makes it clear that through Jesus God made all things.In fact he goes on to say not one thing in all creation was made without him. Jesus himself alludes to this -
JN 8:52 At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
JN 8:54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
JN 8:57 "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
JN 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
We could take each of these points and show how Jesus verifies all that Hebrews says but don’t you think we need to ask the question.
If Jesus is all that Hebrews chapter one says he is what does this mean in terms of how we live?
HEB 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
There are three clear things that you can do that will ensure that you do not drift away.
Recently during the recent Youth Group trip up at Lake Manapouri. Stephen and I slept in the boat up a quiet river. We tied the boat up firmly to some tree trunks and went to sleep. That night it rained and rained and rained very heavily. There were high winds and there was thunder and lightening - when I got home on Television one news was the report that the electricity crisis had been partly averted because of all the rain that had fell into lake Manapouri. When we woke up in the morning and looked at the quiet sedate river - it was gone - in it’s place was a much swifter stronger current. It was still raining but the boat had’nt moved - Why? Because it was secured to the trees.
We too need to be committed - secured to Christ.
PS 31:2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
PS 31:3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
PS 31:4 Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
PS 31:5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
These last words from Proverbs chapter 31 verse 5 are the same words that Jesus uttered from the cross.
The first things that these words should encourage us to do is to commit to God.
Secondly:-
Is trust. It is not like the minister who was walking down a street when he saw a little boy jumping up and down trying to reach a doorbell. So the minister walked over and pressed the button for the youngster. "And now what, my little man?" he asked.
"Now," said the boy, "run!"
Rather we get a picture of a saviour who literally has the whole world in his hands.
If we are committed to Jesus Christ then we have a powerful ally.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Our commitment to Christ means that we will do what He commands.
That means that we can fully trust him with our lives.
More than that though, Jesus calls us his friends - that means we can share with him our inmost secrets - our deepest concerns.
When we talk to God through Jesus we need to understand the person we are in touch with - the living God.
Isn’t it great that we can talk to the one who made the whole world.
Romans 8 and verse 24 in the living bible says.
Trusting means looking forward to getting something we don’t yet have -
For a man who already has something doesn’t need to hope and trust that he will get it.
The third thing is respect.
When you consider the qualities of Jesus that are exposed in Hebrews chapter 1 then you can’t help but grow in respect for him
The word respect has lost a lot of meaning today.
We live in a world that offers respect for achievement over obedience to God.
We live in a world that respects broad mindedness even if it means insulting God.
We live in a world that shows little respect for the vulnerable,
The aged are a nuiscance and the unborn are an item.
LEV 19:32 " `Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.
In the parable of the vineyard Jesus talks of what God expects for him. MK 12:6 "He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, `They will respect my son.’
Of course God expects much more than respect - our respect should freely move to reverence and reverence to worship.
Whilst I appreciate worship - I feel that as we grow in respect of who Jesus was is and will be for us, we lay a wonderful platform for worship.
MIC 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Finally we have every reason to be excited:-
Hebrews - chapter 1 - What’s in a name?.
Jesus!
Purifies us from sins.
Sits on the right hand of God
exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by his powerful word.
heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Jesus is God’s Son
___________________________________________
1. Commit to God.
2. Trust God - (Will be reflected in what we do!)
3. Respect God.
RO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
jgullick@xtra.co.nz
