He is Greater!
The book of Hebrews is an interesting book of the Bible. It doesn’t have a salutation, so no one knows for sure who the author is. Rather than a letter, it’s more like a homily or sermon. Many attribute the author to be Apollos given the Greek used in this book and his reference to Timothy as his brother (Hebrews 13:24). This is the outline of the book of Hebrews- it begins with the
Supremacy of Christ
Perfection or maturity as believers in Christ
Perseverance
Jesus makes the old law obsolete
Reality of new Jerusalem
The way the author begins his writing suggests to us that its readers were confused as to who Jesus Christ really was. Many claimed Him to be an angel sent by the Lord to help mankind. Here the author of Hebrews wants to establish the fact that Jesus Christ is not an angel. He is far greater than angels.
To understand much of this truth let’s see who are Angels.
Angels
According to the writings of the Talmudic and Midrash, angel or ‘malak’ were the sent ones who carried the message of God. They are knowledgeable and powerful emissaries of God. Angels are spiritual in nature; seen only in the spiritual dimension. It is said that more Angels than humans inhabits the earth and they are all around.
It is believed that there are different Angels behind everything. Angels for every nation, Angels to carry our prayers to presence of God. We read in Genesis chapter 18, how 3 angels came to visit Abraham.
These Angels surround the divine throne of God. There are 7 chief archangels, namely
Michel (who is like God)-watches over Israel
Gabriel (God’s strength)- in charge of heavens
Raphael (God’s healer)- watches over human spirits
Muriel (God’s light)- in charge of the underworld
Raguel (God’s friend)- justice and harmony
Sariel (God’s special command)- received Moses
Jeremiel (reviews people’s lives)- in charge of resurrection
In heaven everything is organized and so on earth all that happens is recorded under high surveillance. The Jews especially believe that every good word and deed can create Angels. Though these Angels are powerful spiritual beings, Jesus Christ is greater than them all.
How is Jesus superior?
Hebrews 1:1-4 (KJV) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Jesus superior because He is the
1. Heir of all things- the earth belongs to Him alone
2. Creator of the universe
3. Radiance of God’s word or glory
4. Exact representation or icon of God’s being
5. Supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Why is Jesus Superior to the angels?
The Fatherhood of God
Hebrews 1:5 (KJV) For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
This belongs exclusive to Jesus. As Jesus came out of the waters of river Jordan and at Mt. Tabor, the Mount of Transfiguration, we see God attesting to the fact that Jesus was His beloved Son and that we ought to listen to Him. About no angel has these words ever been said about. He was at the bosom of the father and He revealed the Father to us (John 1:18) Now in Christ Jesus we are children of God, which is to say that angels are there to serve us because of our position in Christ
2. Worshipping Angels
Hebrews 1:6 (KJV) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
No angel is worthy of worship. Yet
Jesus is greater than the angels because He is the Centre of their worship. Choirs of angels proclaimed His birth. Heaven is filled with worshipping angels, cherubim and seraphim who constantly declare worthy is the Lamb of God.
3. The Kingdom of His Son
Hebrews 1:8 (KJV) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
The kingdom of God is a reality. When the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth, the kingdom of God is seen and is evident amongst us. We will see it in its fulness when we see the Son Himself face to face. Angels don’t have a kingdom. But the Lord Jesus does. In the Gospel of Mark, we see the message of Jesus was this, the kingdom of God is at hand.
4. Eternal nature of the Son
Hebrews 1:10 (KJV) And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Jesus Christ is eternal. He has no beginning or end. He remains and holds all things together. Angels can go away under God’s command but the Son of God is eternal. (Psalms 102:25-27)
5. The Passionate purpose of God to bring death under Him.
Hebrews 1:13 (KJV) But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Death is the final enemy. Each one of us must go through death physically but there is another death that is eternal. This is the final enemy that God wanted to bring under Christ Jesus. Jesus took victory over death and is now reigning at the right hand of God (Psalms 110:1). That is why death is gain for a child of God because Jesus Christ rules over it all (1 Corinthians 15:25). We are no more under death as the Lord Jesus took victory over death.
The Need for Incarnation of this Great Jesus.
Hebrews 2:1 (KJV) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
How do we see the Lord Jesus today?
The writer of Hebrews doesn’t look like the first recipient of the gospel. Now that he has stated the supremacy of Jesus Christ over angels, he wants to help us see how we can never take the Son for granted. When people didn’t heed to the message brought by angels of God, they were punished. There were immediate repercussions. The author wants us to then understand how much more of a punishment we will be worthy of, if we neglect the Son of God. Therefore, we need to flee from wrath, pay attention to the truth we have heard and be careful not to drift away from God’s word.
The Son of God took a position lower than the angels when He became incarnate and came into the Earth. He tasted death and its pain so that through it, He became superior to them all, angels, people and death itself and in turn give us a chance to be His brothers and sisters by giving us salvation (Hebrews 2:8,9).
Angels are ministering spirits who take care of us. We on the other had inherit salvation that has been to denied to them.
Jesus Christ leads us to salvation by paying the ransom with His previous blood. So that we don’t have to go through the bitterness of the Second Death. Jesus has broken the power of the enemy and He is superior to the angels.
Jesus Christ is not just another angel that is sent to help mankind. The word of God clearly teaches us that He is far greater than angels. Angels worship Him. He is the Centre and the Creator of all things who has made salvation available to us by His sacrifice in Calvary. May the word of God open our eyes to see His majesty as we ought to see Him; as the center of all glory and majesty -above all creation.
