Jesus Is Superior Series

Hebrews 1New International Version (NIV)

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 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 whomalso 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. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The first two verses of Hebrews set the scene – Jesus is superior to anything else and there it is – it continues in adamant purpose right to the end of the book. Jesus is superior it shouts to the Jewish and gentile world and the world can only shun the message or stand in amazement.

Recently I viewed an episode of Top gear where the two presenters were arguing about the superiority of one car against another. In this case it was a Lamborgini versus the Porsche 911.

Generally speaking the word Superior in many situations becomes a kind of one upmanship model almost snobbishness.

Who cares if the Lamborgini is better than the Porsche or visa versa?

But if I am going to drive over the Old man range abeyond cattle flat I do want the superior vehicle No point in having the latest car here, What I need is the one that will get me through the bogs and the rough spots.

Recently when we were involved in a drowning over in Austalia the thought occurred to me about the deceased man the thought revolved around who did he have to get him through the rough spot of death?

No Prophet, such as, Mohommed or Joseph Smith can do that – in fact of all the 107 billion people estimated to have ever lived only one person is qualified to be of any use to a person who has died – his name is Jesus Christ and he is thoroughly unique and in fact thoroughly superior to any other human being who has ever lived.

I believe the position that we place Christ in in our life is strategic and life defining.

What happens in and around our lives will ultimately be defined by where we have placed Christ in terms of priorities – authority and dependence.

This may seem obvious and of passing interest until you read, what I read last week, in the book of Proverbs:-

Prov 1:28-33 (NIV) "They will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat of the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

This kind of thinking is expounded, in a way, in the book of Hebrews because in Hebrews we read in chapter 2 about waywardness which is described as drifting.

2 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

I spent a lot of my recent holiday thinking about Christ’s position in Hebrews and realised that the superiority of Christ is paramount in our walk with Him. His position in my life is not a luxury but an absolute necessity if I am to walk my life without wasting it and squandering my time Christ must be placed in the superior position.

The writer of Hebrews wrote, "It is a fearful (formidable and terrible) thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31) God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (I Pet. 5:5,6) Ask the Lord to help you teach others how they may unconsciously or consciously be opposing God and putting themselves in great peril!