“The Road to a Better Life: Getting the Right Start”
Hebrews 1:1-14
Parents point their children down a certain path of behavior, learning, and discipline to try to steer them to a better, successful, healthy life. A good teacher encourages her top students to follow a structured, studious road to higher education, knowing it alone will prepare them for the greatest achievements. The doctor tells his patients of the rough road of treatment ahead, but reminds them that it is the road to healing, to a better life. All these scenarios, and so many others like them, are about preparing for a better, more wholesome, more productive future.
This morning is the first Sunday of Lent – and this is what Lent is all about. It’s a time of preparation, of discovering the road to a better, wholesome, productive life. That’s why the book of Hebrews is so appropriate for Lent – 13 times it uses the word better when talking about the life it lays before us.
So let’s begin where the author begins. THE ROAD TO A BETTER LIFE BEGINS WITH GOD. “In the past God spoke…” GOD HAS A HISTORY OF SPEAKING. Our God is a God who speaks to His people. He constantly introduces Himself. Hebrews states God had spoken in a wide variety of ways “through the prophets at many times and in various ways.” In creation He spoke life into existence - through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob he birthed a nation - in Moses He gave freedom to that nation - in David He made a dynasty of that nation - through his laws and covenants he provided a way of life for that nation - through the prophets He taught the nation - through the judges He corrected the nation - through the angels He alerted the nation. But no one way, no one person or event offered the full picture of God; they were all just pieces of the whole. It’s like this puzzle piece – from it you can learn something about the picture of which it’s a part – but you cannot see the whole.
“But”, says Hebrews; there is something greater, something better than the past. “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” GOD’S GREATEST WORD IS JESUS. In Jesus God said something different, something more, something greater. In Jesus God said all He had to say. I’m reminded of the late flamboyant pianist Liberace. He was known not only for his piano playing but also for his extravagant wardrobe; he reportedly once said, “Go ahead and stare. I don’t dress this way to go unnoticed!” In Jesus God says, “Look at Jesus. I didn’t send Him to go unnoticed.”
Hebrews is stating that THE ROAD TO A BETTER LIFE IS JESUS, WHO IS SUPERIOR IN EVERY WAY. The author then lists eight qualities, eight qualifications that demonstrate Jesus’ superiority. First, JESUS IS THE HEIR OF ALL THINGS. Because of His death and resurrection, Jesus has come of age Jesus has inherited all God is and has. All God has and is belongs to Jesus. Jesus puts God in our reach and offers all of God to us. He alone is “the way, the truth, and the life.” No one comes to the Father except through Him. A better life, life with God, begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus is superior, secondly, in that HE IS CREATOR OF ALL THINGS. The apostle John put it like this (Jn. 1:3): “Though him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Paul wrote (Col. 1:16) “For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Jesus is the life-giver. In Jesus God was saying, LIFE! God’s last word is always LIFE! Jesus is the bearer of God’s life! Just listen to the testimony of Scripture: “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus said, “The Scriptures testify about me, but you refuse to come to me to have life.” “For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life...” “...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” As John concluded his Gospel he wrote, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus is also superior because HE IS THE RADIANCE OF GOD. Jesus is the shining of God; He is God’s glory in all its brightness. In the Old Testament God would appear in the tabernacle in what was termed Shekinah glory – his full brightness. Jesus is now that full brightness. (Jn. 1:14) “The word became flesh and made his dwelling (tabernacled) among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…” It’s like the rays of the sun – they come out of the sun and yet they are part of the sun but distinct from it. So Jesus is the beam, the shaft of light, the shining, the glory of God. The Psalmist wrote (34:5) “Those who look to (God) are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” As we look to Jesus, as we live in relationship with Jesus, we will never be ashamed. We share His radiance; we share God’s glory. A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus superiority is seen as well in that HE IS THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF GOD. He is the full image of God. He is all the puzzle pieces put together. The word used in Hebrews refers to the image of the king’s ring, the ring he used to seal with wax official documents. His image was reflected in the wax, ensuring that the content of the envelope and document were his. Jesus is God’s full picture. All previous words were partial and preliminary; the Word in Jesus in full and final. In Jesus, God said it all. Jesus is the full disclosure of God, the full text of God’s speech. In God’s thesaurus, next to his name is Jesus. Jesus is the authoritative translation, the perfect picture of God. As Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ, because in and through Him we have a relationship with God Himself.
The fifth quality of superiority according to Hebrews is that JESUS IS THE SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS. He is the glue that holds everything together and on course. I love how one great preacher put it: “At His word rainwater and dew become grape-juice; tiny handfuls of grain fill the autumn barns; storms die away into calm; fish are led through the paths of the seas; rills are sent among the mountain; and stars are maintained in their courses, so that ‘no one faileth.’ (1) Paul added to the meaning when he wrote (Col. 1:17) that “in him all things hold together.” Consider the imagery used by Moses (Dt. 33:27), “The eternal God is you refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Jesus is in charge of the world – if you are in relationship with Him, He is in charge of your life. You can look at the world – with all its evil, tragedy, suffering, injustice, sin, and death – and know for certain that your world will not fall apart; Jesus holds it together. You can reduce your fears of failure and your worries of falling – because you will never totally crash – underneath are the everlasting arms. A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
But it gets better still! The sixth quality listed in Hebrews is that JESUS IS THE PURIFIER OF OUR SINS. The Old Testament, especially in the book of Leviticus, informs us that God because of sin, God had set up a tribe of priests and a system of sacrifices, through which people could receive forgiveness. The shedding of blood of unblemished animals could never make anything or anyone perfect. And forgiveness was never final and the priests were never perfect. Something had to be done about sin; there could be no relationship with God as long as sin separated people from Him. So Jesus, God’s only Son, paid the price. Jesus’ death paid the price, once for all. As an old hymn poignantly states it, “There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin. He only could unlock the gates of heaven and let us in.” At the moment Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple that kept people from entering into the Holy of Holies and into God’s presence was torn in two. It was destroyed. The barrier that kept us from God was removed. Later on, in 9:11-17 the author of Hebrews stated (GNT), “When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.” No matter how far you’ve fallen, no matter how big or how many your sins, you can be forgiven though Jesus Christ. A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus is also superior because HE IS THE RULER OF ALL THINGS. After Jesus had risen from the dead, he was taken up into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God – in the seat of authority. Part of Jesus’ last message to His disciples was, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Peter affirmed this when he wrote that Jesus “has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” You can face anything and not be shaken – Paul rejoiced (Rom. 8:28, 33, 38-39 MSG) “Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The eighth reason Jesus is the road to a better life is that HE IS SUPERIOR EVEN TO ANGELS. The existence of angels is seen throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. In Genesis angels were assigned to guard the entrance to paradise. Angels are connected to the giving of the law (Acts 7:53).They appeared to individuals as messengers from God. They intervened in the events of history. In Joshua they were seen as God’s army. In Isaiah angels surround the throne of God. One prepared the meal in the desert for Elijah. The Psalmist (91) said the angels bear us up in their hands to keep us safe. Angels sang over the fields of Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus. Angels ministered to Jesus during His time of temptation in the wilderness. Jesus said he could have called ten thousand angels to save Him from the cross had He desired to do so. It was an angel that led Peter out of prison. Still another angel flashed through the storm where Paul was sleeping (Acts 27:23-24). Jesus said that even little children have angels in heaven (Mt. 18:10.) And angels fill the pages of Revelation and the world to come. In addition to all this, the Jews were fascinated by angels and had instituted a whole realm and structure of angels. Many today are fascinated by them as well.
Knowing the reality of angels and what they do is exciting, and gives us confidence. But as exciting and wonderful as it is, Jesus (vs.4) is “as much superior to the angels as the name he had inherited is superior to theirs.” Jesus is the Lord; Jesus is in charge. Hebrews continues (5-14 GNT): “For God never said to any of his angels, You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Nor did God say about any angel, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son. But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said, All of God's angels must worship him. But about the angels God said, God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire. About the Son, however, God said: Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever! You rule over your people with justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions. He also said, You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens. They will disappear, but you will remain; they will all wear out like clothes. You will fold them up like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes. But you are always the same, and your life never ends. God never said to any of his angels: Sit here at my right side until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet. What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.” The angels serve Jesus and He sends them to serve and assist us! When struggling with overwhelming difficulties, when wandering in the dark, when trapped in trouble or danger, when weighed down by sorrow or pained with grief, when faced with intense opposition, when weary of loneliness, it is Jesus who sends your angels to minister to you. Praise God for your angels, but give the thanks and glory to Jesus, for He sends them to minister to you. A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The author of Hebrews wrote his letter to a Christian community that had become weary and filled with fear. Persecution of Christians was rampant. Many of Jesus’ followers were complaining and starting to doubt – some were even looking back to their Jewish faith, wondering if it would not be better. The author wants to encourage them to reestablish them in the faith, to comfort and console them. So He calls them to focus again on Jesus Christ, on who He is and what He does, for He is superior to everything and everyone.
No matter what your situation, this is a call to focus on Jesus. God has spoken to you. You may feel inadequate; Jesus is more than adequate. You may feel lifeless or tired of living; Jesus is the life-giver. You may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or worthless; Jesus shines on you. Perhaps you feel far from God; Jesus brings God to you and will usher you into the presence of God. You may be filled with a sense of fear or failure; Jesus will not let you fall into the depths – He will sustain and carry you. No matter how far you’ve fallen, no matter how big or how many your sins, you can be forgiven though Jesus Christ. You may be filled with fear, but you can face anything without fear; Jesus is the ruler of all things. You may be in danger or great need, even despair; Jesus has angels ready to serve and protect you.
Maybe you’ve never responded to God’s Word to you – or responded only occasionally. Perhaps you’ve not wanted anything to do with God. It could be that you’ve lost sight of the superiority and magnificence of this overwhelming Jesus Christ. Today, now, here in this moment, God is speaking to you. He has put Jesus before you. He sent Him to die on the cross for you. He offers you a new beginning that you may receive new life and have an everlasting hope. Jesus is the road to a better life. A better life begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. There is no one who will be denied access to Jesus, if they truly seek Him. So why not begin on the road right now? After all - He alone is “the way, the truth, and the life.” No one comes to the Father except through Him.
(1) F. B. Meyer, The Way Into the Holiest, Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, PA, 1975. © 1968
