S) "3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they."
Hebrews 1:3-4 (NASB)
O) The writer is laying some ground work, to establish the holiness of Jesus. In the first two verses, he reminds his Hebrew audience that God spoke in many ways to the forefathers, but in the present day, He was speaking in His Son, Jesus Christ. Then, with the verse above, the writer takes that concept to another level. Jesus was not simply a prophet, He didn't have some oracle. He wasn't a seer, soothsayer, or any other living conduit for God. Jesus is God. Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of God's nature, and Jesus is upholding (which is the literal translation, there), all things by the word of Jesus' power. The statement is punctuated by reminding us that Jesus completed His work, and then rejoined our Father in heaven. Then the writer transitions to ensure that we know, Jesus is not simply a glorified angel (as the rest of this chapter illustrates). It's worth noting, the concept of the name Jesus inherited, is not simply the word, "Jesus" or any translation of it. This is a bigger concept that has to do with identity as a whole (like we might say now, "All I have is my good name," or something like "They dragged his name through the mud." It has to do with character and identity).
A) It's important for me to be reminded that Jesus is God. Because it is so fundamental to my faith, and because I have had this faith so long, it can seem silly that I should need to be reminded. However, it is because this fact is so foundational, that I desire to be reminded of it often. Just as the world balked at this idea when Jesus first hinted at it, the world balks at the idea even now. They don't even want to acknowledge the existence of God, let alone believe that Jesus was, Himself, the very God they are denying. Between that, and the complexity of the trinity, it's easy to get distracted at times, thinking that Jesus and God the Father are different. Sometimes, there is a temptation to think of God as being the harsh judge, while Jesus is the compassionate lover, but the truth as I am reminded above, is that Jesus is the exact representation of the nature of God. Jesus Christ doesn't change, either, because God doesn't change. Jesus will return to judge the world in perfect, righteous justice. God the Father has also long been called slow to anger, great in lovingkindness, full of compassion and mercy. It is good for me to remember, that just as Jesus ascended to be seated with God, He and the Father are One in their nature as well as their dwelling.
P) Father, You are perfect, holy, just, righteous, merciful, compassionate, loving, true, kind, fierce, powerful, strong, and light. In all of these ways, Jesus is the perfect representation, the exact representation of Your character. Help me to remember that, especially as I read the gospels. Let me remember, as I read about the life of Jesus, that He was the living embodiment of Your character. He was living in perfect obedience and harmony with Your will, because He is the manifestation of Your word. There is no contradiction in You, or in Your character. Let me hold fast to this truth, to the foundation of my faith, that Jesus is God. Thank You for the grace, that my eyes were opened to this truth. Let me be bold with this, speaking out against the lies of the world. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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