Jesus The Final Word Series

SIMPLY JESUS

Jesus the Final Word

Hebrews 1:1-4

INTRODUCTION

-When I was a kid my family would gather on 4th of July to celebrate America’s independence.

-And everyone knows you can’t do that without fireworks.

-And we had the best fireworks that…$5 could buy.

-We had those little black tablets that turn into snakes

-We have those Whistling Pete’s that made everyone deaf.

-And…for the big finally there was always…sparklers.

-No one did a better sparkler show than my Uncle, he could do loops, or spell stuff in the air. We loved our fireworks shows.

-Well last summer on our road trip we stopped in Vegas…to go to church…and while we were downtown Caesar’s Palace did their 4th of July fireworks show…on July 6th…long story.

-They didn’t have any black snakes, Whistling Pete’s or sparklers but I’m pretty sure they had…every other thing imaginable.

-That was the most incredible fireworks display I’ve ever seen.

-And they just kept coming. Bigger, brighter, higher, louder.

-All colors, all kinds of explosions for more than 30 minutes.

-And just when you thought they couldn’t possibly have any more, they couldn’t possibly outdo what they had done.

-Then they did the finale which was even better. They were able to improve something that was awesome, and make even better.

-And that’s what the book of Hebrews is all about.

-The book of Hebrews uses the word “better” 11 times to describe who Jesus is and what he has done for us.

-Of all the good things that God did for his people in the Old Testament, he has done even better things for those of us in the New Testament era.

-People in this world are asking life’s big questions:

-Who has the power to help me where I need help?

-What is God’s plan for my life?

-Where can I fine true meaning and happiness?

-Will there be an end to my suffering?

-How do I know I can put my trust in God?

-The book of Hebrews was written to a group of persecuted Christian, Jewish Christians.

-They were asking those big questions, because life was very hard.

-And so this letter was written; with a clear message for them, but also for us today:

-The answer to all of our questions is SIMPLY JESUS.

-Because Jesus is better than…fill in the blank.

-Jesus is better than anyone, anything, any idea, any authority, any king, any priest, any prophet, Jesus is simply better.

-And you’ll see that theme developed as we work through this book. Some of you have been attending church a long time.

-You know basic theology. You know how to navigate a potluck.

-You might even be able to pray in the King James.

-But I’m often amazed at little Christian know about Jesus.

-I’m going to challenge you to be hear on Sundays, unless you’re sick or out of town.

-And to learn more about the one that is our Lord and Savior.

1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.

GOD HAS SPOKEN (vs 1-2a)

-We don’t really know who wrote Hebrews, but the author starts with a big picture statement to begin building his case.

-He says long ago God spoke many times.

-When you read that…it immediately raises some questions.

WHO DID GOD SPEAK TO (LONG AGO)? THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

-This letter is written by a Jewish man to a Jewish people.

-And so he says, “our ancestors”.

-And any good Jewish man or woman could have immediately pulled up some famous examples.

-God spoke to Abram saying “Go to the land I will show you.”

-God spoke to Jacob and said, “I’m changing your name to Israel.”

-God spoke Moses in a burning bush.

-God spoke to Adam and Eve, Sarah, Hagar (not that Viking guy from the comics), He spoke to all kinds of people.

-And when you read the Bible you might get the idea that God spoke directly to everyone, but that’s not true.

-Most people heard God speak through prophets, priests, & kings

-And that’s what VS 1 tells us. But an important question to ask is

WHY DOES GOD SPEAK TO US? At all?

-Lots of reasons. You could suppose God has things he wants us to know. That’s reasonable.

-At times he spoke to his people to encourage them.

-At other times he spoke words of correction/judgment to them.

-He spoke giving them instructions about how to live.

-It’s essential to realize that God has spoken to people then and to us today because HE WANTS TO KNOW US AND BE KNOWN BY US.

-Our God is a personal God, that wants a personal relationship with us. That’s why he spoken to us…he not a mystery.

-He’s not a concept. He isn’t distant and unavailable.