THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST
HEBREWS 1:1-4
INTRODUCTION: THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OF THESE UNITED STATES, WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IS BY FAR, SUPERIOR. HOWEVER, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS NOT WITHOUT FLAWS AND SHORT COMINGS. LADY JUSTICE WHO STANDS WITH SCALES IN HER HANDS AND BLINDED EYES, IS SYMBOLIC OF A SYSTEM THAT OFFICE JUSTICE FAIR AND EQUITABLE. HOWEVER, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I AM CONVINCED THAT LADY JUSTICE IS GUILTY OF PEAKING THROUGH THE BLINDFOLD, AND CONSEQUENTLY, THERE ARE MANY WHO NEVER RECEIVE THE TRUE VALUE OF JUSTICE. THOSE WHO ARE BORN ON OUR SIDE OF THE TRACKS ARE OFTEN LOST IN THE SHUFFLES WHEN IT COMES TO JUSTICE. AND WHEN YOU EXAMINE THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED, OFTEN YOU FIND “JUST US.” BUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS 2 TIM. 4:8 INFORMS US THAT THERE IS A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE WHO’S JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE, FAIR, AND SUPERIOR. THEREFORE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST.
I. TEXT
THE UNKNOWN AUTHOR OF THIS GREAT EPISTLE REVEALS TO US THAT GOD HAS FULLY REVEALED HIMSELF TO MAN IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON. ALL THAT THE FATHER IS, IS FOUND IN THE SON. CHRIST IS THE UNSPOTTED MIRROR OF GOD’S POWER AND HIS GLORY. HE IS THE RADIANCE OF GOD.
THE AUTHOR WRITES THIS EPISTLE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. ONE, TO AUTHENTICATE THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST, AND TWO, TO EXHORT AND ADMONISH THE PEOPLE NOT TO RETURN TO THE MOSAIC LAW.
THE ESSENCE OF CHAPTER ONE DEALS WITH CHRIST’S SUPERIORITY TO THE ANGELS. IT WAS A CUSTOM BY PAGANS AND MANY OF THE JEWS TO WORSHIP ANGELS. WHEN JOHN ENCOUNTERED THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGEL IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER 22:8-9 HE SAYS, “AND I JOHN SAW THESE THINGS, AND HEARD THEM. AND WHEN I HAD HEARD AND SEEN, I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP BEFORE THE FEET OF THE ANGEL WHICH SHEWED ME THESE THINGS. 9THEN SAITH HE UNTO ME, SEE THOU DO IT NOT: FOR I AM THY FELLOWSERVANT, AND OF THY BRETHREN THE PROPHETS, AND OF THEM WHICH KEEP THE SAYINGS OF THIS BOOK: WORSHIP GOD.”
THESE PASSAGES TEACH US THAT CHRIST, AS MAN WAS SUPERIOR, AND CHRIST AS GOD IS SUPERIOR. AS MAN HE WAS WORSHIPPED BY THE ANGELS, HEBREWS 1:6 SAYS, “AND AGAIN, WHEN HE BRINGETH IN THE FIRSTBEGOTTEN INTO THE WORLD, HE SAITH, AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.” AS GOD, THEY WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM. HE THAT IS WORSHIPPED IS SUPERIOR THAN HE WHO WORSHIPS. HE THAT IS SERVED IS SUPERIOR THAN HE THAT SERVES.
ALL THINGS ARE SUBJECT UNTO HIM, 1 PETER 3:22 TEACHES, “WHO IS GONE INTO HEAVEN, AND IS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD; ANGELS AND AUTHORITIES AND POWERS BEING MADE SUBJECT UNTO HIM.” HE UPHOLDS ALL THINGS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO TELL THE SUN TO SHINE EVERYDAY, IT JUST DOES. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO TELL THE EARTH TO REVOLVE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS, IT JUST DOES.
HE HAS A GREATER INHERITANCE THAN THE ANGELS. HE HAS BEEN DIVINELY APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS. HIS POSITION IS SUPERIOR TO THE ANGELS. HE SITS ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY, WHICH IS GOD. HE SITS, THEY DO NOT. THE TEXT SAYS WHEN HE HAD PURGED OUR SINS BY HIMSELF; HE DID NOT NEED ANY HELP TO DO WHAT HE DID.
NOT ONLY IS HIS POSITION SUPERIOR, BUT ALSO HIS NAME IS SUPERIOR, FOR AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, AND OF THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH.
NOT ONLY IS CHRIST SUPERIOR TO THE ANGELS, HE IS SUPERIOR TO THE MOSAIC LAW. THE LAW WAS NEVER INTENDED TO SAVE MAN. THERE WAS NO SALVIVIC POWER IN THE LAW. BUT IN CHRIST, HE POSSESSED THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO SAVE ALL HUMANITY. (THE LAW COVERED, CHRIST REMOVED).
II. OUR RESPONSIBILTY
AS CHRISTIANS, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILTY TO ADEQUATELY REPRESENT CHRIST TO THE WORLD. BEFORE WE CAN TELL OTHERS ABOUT HIS SUPERIORITY, WE MUST BELIEVE IT OURSELVES.
OUR FAITH MUST BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN HIM WHO WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANGRESSION AND BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITY. WHY NOT SERVE HIM WHO IS SUPERIOR TO GOVERNMENT? SUPERIOR TO MONEY. AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THIS WORLD. WE MUST TELL THE WORLD THAT HE IS:
· SUPERIOR TO MEDICINE BECAUSE MEDICINE HAS SIDE EFFECTS, BUT HE HAS A SOUL EFFECT.
·BETTER THAN ANY LAWYER BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER LOST A CASE.
·BETTER THAN ANY DOCTOR BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER LOST A PATIENT.
·BETTER THAN ANY JUDGE BECAUSE HE NEVER MAKES A MISTAKE.
·BETTER THAN ANY KING BECAUSE HE CAN NEVER BE OVERTHROWN.
· THERE IS NO DISEASE HE CANNOT HEAL.
· NO BATTLE HE CAN’T WIN.
· NO BURDEN HE CAN’T LIFT.
· NO LONLINESS HE CANNOT COMFORT.
· NO PROMISE HE CAN’T FULFILL.
· NO DOUBT HE CAN’T DESTROY.
· NO PROBLEM HE CANNOT SOLVE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT JESUS, YOU SEE GOD PERSONIFIED. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO HIS TEACHINGS, YOU HEAR GOD EDIFIED. WHEN YOU RESPOND TO HIS TOUCH, YOU FEEL LOVE DIGNIFIED. WHEN YOU ACCEPT HIM, YOU FEEL SOUL SATIFIED.
