WHO IS THE SON?
Hebrews 1 Princeton Christian Church 10 October 2021
This morning we will look at the first chapter of Hebrews. READ.
In those words, we hear the proclamation and the clarification of the doctrine of Jesus Christ and His superiority to all other beings.
God did not reveal all of Himself at any one time. The process of revelation concerning who Jesus is was a continuous one. Early recipients of His revelation never had a complete idea of God.
They understood certain things about God. These include:
His creative power His moral demands His character as Judge
He was a covenant-maker (Noah, Abraham) He cared for individuals
God spoke in bits and pieces at various times and through different methods, such as events, prophecy, individuals, and history. Through all of that His revelation was not complete. Later revelations clarified misunderstood parts of previous revelations.
The early revelations were mostly spoken through the prophets. But, look again at verse 2 – When the word says there that – now – He has spoken by His Son, it indicates that the revelation process is now finished, completed, not be changed or altered in any way or by anyone.
The process of revelation is perfected in His Son, Jesus. The new revelation is a completed action, finished, sufficient, never to be added to or subtracted from. The ministry of Jesus Christ is superior to that of the older forms – that is, the prophets and the angels.
How is this so? By means of a Son, who is superior to the prophets. They were forerunners. He is the finale. They preached the expectation of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. The Son is the fulfillment of those expectations, and the Messiah-King Himself, who will build the promised Kingdom.
Jesus Christ is the foundation of the truth which the prophets spoke. Before all times and creation, the Word was before God, the Word was with God, and the Word was God, the One through whom all things were created.
This is what we see in the very first words in the Gospel of John, where we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
The superior characteristics of Jesus Christ as we see them listed in Hebrews, Chapter 1 include these:
Son of God Heir of all things Creator of the world
Radiant Light Image of God Sustainer of the universe
High Priest of Perfection Superior to the Angels
Exulted King Lord of Righteousness Eternal One
Ultimate Conqueror
He is THE SON of GOD
How did Jesus look on Himself in reference to this title – the Son of God? What was the meaning of that title, and how unique was the relationship between the Son and the Father? What was His essential identity that He could call Himself, or be known by others as the Son of God?
The Gospel record shows that Christi answered those questions, both directly and through implied statements.
1. Jesus considered Himself to be a Messenger to do the work and will of the Father. See Matthew 11:27 – Jesus says, “All things have been committed to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and t whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
2. Jesus proclaimed Himself as a unique fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. Matthew 5:17 says: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” He re-interpreted the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees with an authority that implies a unique understanding of the very nature of the Law.
3. Jesus claimed the authority to forgive sins, and in doing so brought upon Himself the charge of blasphemy, from the teachers of the Law, for only God could forgive sins. Jesus’ answer to them was this from Matthew 9:4-6: “Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
4. Jesus stated a unique power to oppose and judge Satan in the Last Times when He spoke these words in Matthew 13:37-39: “He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”
5. Jesus claimed superiority over the angels as He speaks in Matthew 13:41-42: “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
6. Jesus claimed so unique a relation to the Father that when people recognized or perceived His true identity, they would see the Father. He referred to this relationship in John 14:11-12: “Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me….I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing.”
By these statements, Jesus set Himself above the Law, the Prophets, Satan, and the angels. He claims to be in a category above all of them. Although He makes these valid claims, we can still know Him at a personal level. Even in His elevated position as the authoritative Son of God, He is not so far above His honored creation – that is us – mankind. His position does not prevent Him from relating with us.
Likewise, it is not impossible for us to relate to Him. He is superior. But He is still within our reach. As a matter of fact, He constantly reaches out to grasp hold of our hands to rescue us.
That is what he did in His death. He reached out to save His people from their sin-filled live. Even today, this morning, He is reaching out to save those who are lost.
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