The radiance and glory of God

 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3a ESV

Verse 3a of Hebrews chapter one testifies to the deity of Jesus. The writer is making his case for the deity of Christ in the first half of the verse. After making the statement earlier that Jesus is the Son of God and that God has communicated with us through Him, he now goes on to further explain the Son's deity.

Through Jesus all of God's splendor and praise-worthiness is made manifest. It shines through in the person of Jesus. When the world looks at Jesus, they are seeing God in all of His majesty. One of the purposes of Jesus coming to live among us was to give a face to the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15)

He goes on to explain that Jesus is the exact imprint of God's nature. In Jesus we see the vivid impression of God's essential qualities, the essence of God. All of Jesus personality traits, His compassion, love and concern are those of God. As we experience Jesus, we are truly experiencing God in the flesh. In Jesus, God exposes the essence of who he really is.

To further expound upon the “Godliness” of Jesus , the writer tells us that Jesus maintains the universe in which we live. When you look up at the stars and planets in the night sky, know that it is by the power of Jesus that they remain as they are. It is by His power and authority that the vastness of the universe is held in place. John 1:3 proclaims this as well. It speaks to the creative power of Jesus.

All of this information in just half a verse. The power of the WORD of God! The power to testify and witness to itself. Why would we ever question the all-sufficiency of scripture?

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

He has spoken to us by His Son

 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 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. Hebrews 1:1,2 NIV

The writer of Hebrews wants his readers to know from the start that God has communicated with man according to His own terms. As he opens this letter he is speaking in the past tense. In the past God spoke and He has spoken to us. Of course this letter is intended for those of the Jewish persuasion, but certainly useful for us today as well.

These first two verses show the process that God used to communicate with man. First it was with the prophets, but in His final interaction with humanity it is through His own Son that He chooses to reveal His will for mankind. Jesus also explained his mission this way in the parable of the vine growers, in Luke 20:9-18. (Read this Parable)

What the writer of Hebrews is getting at is that God had spoken to man in many ways and those He sent weren't listened to. His final effort to communicate with man was through His Son. In Luke chapter twenty Jesus was directly confronting the spiritual leaders of the Jews with the fact that if they refuse to listen to the Son what they have, will be taken away from them. They were none to impressed with that Idea .

So, as the writer of Hebrews is introducing the purpose of the letter it is obvious that he wants his readers to know that obedience to the Son is mandatory. He is the heir of all things. The universe was made through Him. These statements about Jesus display His power and authority. When Jesus came it was to speak on behalf of His Father. He wasn't merely a servant sent with a message like the prophets were, He was the direct heir of the owner of the “vineyard”. He came to claim what was rightfully His.

This brief declaration in the first two verses sets the tone for the entire letter, Jesus is what we have been looking for. Jesus is the answer.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman