SERMON OUTLINE:
• Jesus is superior to the prophets in his nature (vs 1-2a).
• Jesus is superior to the prophets in his relationship (vs 2).
• Jesus is superior to the prophets in his work (vs 3).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• The man in the photo is Roger Lancelyn Green.
• What do you mean who?
• Without him our reading literature would be very much poorer.
• Ok, I don’t expect you to know who he was,
• Let me tell you, he was a good friend of C.S. Lewis.
• In fact, it wasn’t C.S. Lewis who came up with the title;
• ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ to describe his seven books.
• It was his friend and fellow author, Roger Lancelyn Green,
• Who coined the title in a letter he wrote to Lewis in 1951.
• We owe even more thanks to Roger;
• Because he also prompted C.S. Lewis to write more books after
• ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.’
• Lewis was content with that first book;
• Until Green challenged him with a question;
• The question he asked Lewis was:
• “What was that lamppost doing in Narnia in the first place?”
• Rather than tell his friend he did not know or to stop overthinking it,
• Lewis began writing ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ to answer that question.
• And the rest as they say is history!
Now in the book, ‘The Last Battle’, the last of ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’:
• We read these words:
• (C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle, Book 7 of the Chronicles of Narnia.)
“It seems then,” said Tirian, … “that the Stable seen from within and the Stable seen from without are two different places.” “Yes,” said Lord Digory. “Its inside is bigger than its outside.” “Yes,” said Queen Lucy. “In our world too, a Stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.”
• TRANSITION: isn’t that a great line:
• “A Stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.”
• That is the theme of our studies this morning,
• As we borrow the line from Wesley’s hymn: ‘Hail the incarnate Deity’
• And use the first three verses from the book of Hebrews for our reflections.
The letter to the Hebrews exalts & promotes the person and the work of Jesus Christ:
• Again and again the book of Hebrews will present Jesus as unique,
• As superior to anyone or anything else.
ill:
• In 2009 we studied the book of Hebrews on a Sunday Evening;
• As part of our ‘Word & Worship’ series.
• The series was called, ‘Jesus in the book of Hebrews’
• As we studied this book week by week we noted it’s themes,
• The book of Hebrews compares and contrasts Jesus;
• To key historical people and events from the Old Testament.
• Through these comparisons, we see His superiority.
• He is greater than angels, greater than the Torah, greater than Moses,
• greater than the Promised Land, greater than priests, greater than Melchizedek,
• greater than sacrifices, and greater than the covenant.
• All of those people or items mentioned were important,
• But Jesus is more important!
Ill:
• Leonardo da Vinci once took a friend to view,
• And also to criticize his masterpiece of the "Last Supper,"
• His friend starred at the picture and said to Leonardo da Vinci;
• "The most striking thing in the picture is the cup!"
• The artist is said to have taken his brush and wiped out the cup, saying;
• "Nothing in my painting shall attract more attention than the face of my Master!"
• TRANSITION: The book of Hebrews shows to us,
• The supremacy of Jesus and no-one or nothing can ever eclipse him.
Jesus is superior to the prophets in his nature (vs 1-2a).
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,”
In the Old Testament God spoke in a variety of different ways:
• Sometimes he spoke through dreams
• (e.g. story of Joseph & his technicoloured coat)
• Sometimes he spoke through visions
• (e.g. Ezekiel - remember the song, “Them bones, them bnes, the dry bones”)
• Sometimes he spoke through prophets
• (e.g. Moses, Elijah & Jeremiah)
The thing to note is God spoke, God wants to communicates to us.
• If we are to understand anything about God,
• He must reveal Himself to us.
• We are in need of revelation.
• Humans do not have this kind of knowledge within themselves.
Ill:
• As I was preparing for this talk I Googled the question;
• ‘How many religions are there in the world?’
• The answer I got was….
“The precise number of religions in the world is not known, but available estimates show the number to be about 4,300, according to Adherents.com”.
• There are some weird and crazy ideas in our world about God.
• And if we create a God(s) from our imagination,
• What else can we expect!
The God of the Bible is a God who speaks:
• He speaks to people through creation.
• He speaks to people through our consciences.
• He speaks to people through his people.
• He speaks to people through his word.
• He speaks clearest of all through Jesus Christ!
Ill:
• Talking of speaking I did hear the story of the little boy whose dad had died,
• His teacher said to the boy, “Did your father have any last words?”
• He replied; “No, Mum was with him till the end!”
• Not sure if I am allowed to tell that joke anymore in these P.C. times,
• But feel free to have a moan at me afterwards if you want!
• TRANSITION: If we are to understand anything about God,
• He must reveal Himself to us.
• We are in need of revelation.
• Humans do not have this kind of knowledge within themselves.
• So we need God to communicate to us!
Note:
• In contrast to past communication,
• God has spoken, God has communicated through “His Son”.
• The two titles most used by Jesus when he was here on earth were:
• “Son of God” and “Son of Man”.
• The one born in a stable, the carpenter turned preacher;
• The Messiah would fully God and fully man.
Ill:
• Like parallel railroad tracks that work in harmony to allow the train to operate on,
• So these two truths, these two natures; fully God and fully man.
• Were united in harmony in the person of God’s Son Jesus Christ.
Notice:
• In these first few verses the writer of this letter;
• Tells us two reasons why Christ is superior to the prophets:
(2). Jesus is superior to the prophets in his relationship (vs 2-3).
“…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also 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”
• The author makes it clear that Jesus Christ is God the Son,
• “Radiance” literally means “to send forth light.”
• “Radiance of God’s glory”
• This description could never be applied to mortal man.
Ill:
• In the Old Testament (Isaiah chapter 48 verse 8);
• God the Father makes it clear:
“I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,”
Yet, Jesus could say in John chapter 5 verse 23:
That he deserves the same honour & glory of God the Father!
“All may honour the Son, just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him”
• So the logic behind the question goes something like this:
• Jesus is honoured in the same way as the Father is honoured,
• And therefore he must be God, because God does not share glory and honour.
Ill:
“Christ is to the Father what the rays of the sun are to the sun”.
• As it is impossible to separate the rays from the sun,
• It is also impossible to separate Christ’s glory from the nature of God.
• Prophets were like the moon, merely reflections of the light,
• Jesus is the light, the glory of God.
Note:
• “The exact representation of his being“ or “Express image”
• (Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3).
• Image is a representation.
• The image of Caesar was on coins.
• The average person never met Caesar or saw Caesar,
• But by looking at a coin, they could see what he looked like
Ill:
• In November I was in Moldova for a 10 day mission.
• Before Moldova became an Independent Republic in 1991,
• Moldova was ruled by the Russians for 50 years.
• A typical joke that was told was this one.
• Serge is in the post office spitting on stamps before applying them to the letter.
• A man says, “Serge what are you doing”
• Serge replies, “I am sticking the stamps to the envelopes”
• His friend replied; “But Serge, you are supposed to spit on the back of the stamp””
• TRANSITION: Stamps of course have the image of a person on them;
• In the U.K. we have the image of the Queen.
• The average person may never have met the Queen,
• But by looking at a stamp, we can see what he looked like
• The Greek word used here is ‘charackter’;
• And is translated here as "exact imprint" or "exact representation.".
• Jesus' nature is identical to that of God. Christ is divine, exactly as God is divine.
• So when we look at Jesus, we see exactly what God is like!
• That is why Jesus could say (John chapter 14 verse 9):
• “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father”
• We see the very character of God.
• It was not just what Jesus said and did that shows us what God was like,
• It is what he WAS
(3). Jesus is superior to the prophets in his work (vs 3).
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors 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 also he made the universe.”
• The work God did through the prophets was good,
• But there was a problem.
• Although it was true and accurate;
• It was also fragmentary and incomplete.
• At the end of each prophet’s life and message;
• You can write the words; “To be continued…”
The writer says that (vs 2) is the termination of that way of communicating:
• According to Jesus (Luke chapter 16 verse 16)
• John the Baptist was the last of that type of prophet, messenger.
• John completed the final leg of the Old Testament.
Once again you have a contrast:
• A prophet was a messenger, mouthpiece, instrument.
• But Jesus Christ is the message, the word, source i.e. the very Son of God.
• There were many Prophets,
• But Jesus Christ is the one and only Son.
• Prophets were accurate but incomplete,
• Jesus Christ is the “Last word”, the source, centre & end of everything!
That truth is then illustrated for us in the following verses:
• He is the creator (vs 2: “He made the universe”).
• He is the sustainer (vs 3 “Sustaining all things by his powerful word”).
• These truths make the incarnation of Jesus even more astonishing,
• Even more amazing!
Quote Poet Steve Turner:
• “Like your landlord becoming your lodger
• Like your managing director up before you for an interview
• Like Beethoven queuing up for a ticket to his own concert
• Like a headmaster getting the cane
• Like a good architect living in a slum built by a rival
• Like Picasso painting by numbers –
• God lived among us.”
• TRANSITION: The creator and the sustainer of the universe;
• Actually became part of his own creation!
• Quote: Charles Wesley’s Hymn:
• “Our God contracted to a span, Incomprehensibly made Man.”.
Note: The most important way Christ is superior to the prophets is in his work.
• The prophets were all commended by God for what the achieved,
• In fact chapter 11 is like reading a ‘Readers Digest’ version of the Old Testament:
• That is it is condensed and summarised and you only get the selected highlights.
• Hebrews chapter 11 recounts biblical history;
• Through the examples of common men &women who demonstrated uncommon faith.
• Their faith confused and confounded the people around them,
• But pleased the God above them.
• In contrast we are told (vs 4):
• Jesus Christ is unique in that he has “Sat down, God’s right hand”
• These Jewish readers of this letter;
• Would not have missed the implication of those words!
• And in case they did the writer explains and unpacks them it in more detail;
• In chapter 10 verses 11-12.
• The author of the book is teaching his readers that the work of Jesus,
• Is once and for all, it is completed and recognized by God the Father!
• The Son was humiliated on earth by being crucified;
• But he is enthroned in heaven by being given the favoured position - “Right hand”
Ill:
• In ancient times, a person with high or highest rank stood to the king's right side.
• Even today, a person may be called someone's "right hand man" or "wingman"
• When he or she serves as the closest person to another leader.
• TRANSITION: While God the Father does not have a physical body like humans do,
• So the expression, ‘The right hand of God’ is used figuratively.
• “Sat Down” indicates the work is finished, no more to do,
• It was once and for all, it is completed and recognized by God the Father!
Ill:
• One of Mozart's greatest works is his Requiem.
• (The Requiem in D minor).
• It was written towards the end of his life,
• When he was busy with other work and in very poor health;
• It contains some of his most sublime music. “A masterpiece shrouded in mystery”
• Yet he did not complete it.
• Mozart died aged 35 on 5th December 1791, before he could complete the work
• He died leaving instructions to his friend to finish it off.
• TRANSITION:
• Unlike Mozart Jesus did finish (once & for all & never to be repeated) his work.
• No-one can add to it – it is terminated, ended, defunct, completed!
Question: What was that work?
Answer: Verse 3 tells us: “After he had provided purification for sins,”
• Notice there is three parts in that statement:
• "He" - there's a person here.
• "Of sins" the problem that he had to deal with.
• "Had made purification." – the solution.
• We are not saved by the message of Christians;
• That is by a baby laid in a wooden manger,
• We are saved by the message of Easter:
• That is a man nailed to a wooden cross.
• His death on the cross was the complete payment for our sins.
• That is why on the cross Jesus cried out, “It is finished.”
• (John chapter 19 verse 30)
Ill:
• The Greek word ‘tetelestai’ ("it is finished"),
• Is found repeatedly used on papyrus tax receipts in tax receipts New Testament times.
• It was used in the sense of "paid in full"
• It is the exact equivalent of an English rubber stamp, `Received Payment.'
• TRANSITION: He purged us from our sins.
• I was dirty … he was clean. He become dirty … that I might be made clean.
• I’ve been purged from my sins through his death.
Quote: Creator on the Cross.
The Maker of the universe,
As Man, for man was made a curse;
The claims of laws that He had made
Unto the uttermost He paid.
His holy fingers made the bough
That grew the thorns that crowned His brow.
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed.
He made the forest whence had sprung
The tree on which His body hung:
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.
The sky that darkened o'er His head
By Him above the earth was spread:
The sun that hid from Him its face
By His decree was poised in space.
The spear that spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.
The grave in which His form was laid
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.
The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years;
But a new glory crowns His brow
And every knee to Him shall bow.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=5NOYBkLuCThH6EY49ulrCaZgkOV9gomU&forceSave
