OPEN: Billie Burke was a famous actress in years gone by. While enjoying a transatlantic ocean trip, she noticed that a gentleman at the next table was suffering from a bad head cold.
“Are you uncomfortable?” she asked. The man nodded.
“I’ll tell you just what to do about it.” She offered. “Go back to your stateroom and drink lots of orange juice. Take two aspirins. Cover yourself with all the blankets you can find. Sweat the cold out. I know just what I’m talking about. I’m Billie Burke from Hollywood.”
The man smiled “Thanks” he said, “and I’m Dr. Mayo from the Mayo Clinic.”
APPLY: Sometimes, it’s important to know who you are talking to… and sometimes it’s important to know who you’re talking about.
I. The writer of Hebrews thinks it’s important for us to know who we’re talking about when we talk about Jesus.
He starts out with a powerful introduction: “… in these last days (the Father) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 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 (Jesus) had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:2-3
Throughout Hebrews we’re told how much better Jesus is.
· He’s better than angels
· He’s better than any man that’s ever lived
· He’s a better high priest than has ever served
· He offers a better covenant than man has ever known and
· He offers a better sacrifice than has ever been offered.
Jesus is a better… than anything.
Billy Sunday once said: "There are 256 names in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond ALL that any one name could express."
Why would that be important for us to know that Jesus was better than all this? BECAUSE if we don’t realize how much better Jesus is, than anything we could possibly know, … something ALWAYS WILL be better. Whether it is money, love, power, popularity - something will always edge Jesus out if He is not regarded as being the "best" that we could have.
And, if we don’t accept that Jesus is better than anything else in our lives, you & I will always be uncertain about our faith.
ILLUS: Back in 1992, George Barna conducted a survey of church people and found that only 55% of those who attend church regularly said that their faith affected the way they live. That meant that 45% felt their faith didn’t affect their lives. Why would that be? Because Jesus wasn’t all that much better than anything else in their lives.
Apparently the people to whom this author of Hebrews is writing, had the same problem. That’s why he warns them in Hebrews 2:1-4
"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away (vs. 1)… how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him (vs. 3)."
If Jesus isn’t BETTER than anything else for us, we’ll neglect our salvation. As we get distracted and pursue “something else” we’ll drift away from God and face the danger of losing our salvation.
UNDERSTAND THIS AND TAKE NOTE: There is nothing better than Jesus.
II. I find it interesting that the writer of Hebrews starts out saying that Jesus is better than any angel. Hebrews 1:4 “So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
Why begin by comparing Jesus to angels? What’s so important aboutangels that we’d even need to make that comparison? Well, angels were the most powerful and wondrous of all of God’s creation. The Old Testament speaks of these beautiful beings that
1. were continually in God’s presence
2. so powerful they could destroy an entire army single handedly in a night
3. AND could create such an atmosphere of fear - just by seen - that people would bow down in abject terror. Their presence has such a powerful effect that, invariably, the first words from their lips were: “fear not.”
When you’re confronted by such powerful beings as angels, there’s a natural tendency to want to bow down and worship them. In fact, the Apostle John almost fell prey to that error. In Revelation 22 we’re told: “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" (Rev. 22:8-9)
Why compare Jesus to angels? BECAUSE there are people who would worship angels.
The way people think of angels today is slightly different than how the Bible portrays them. The majority of pictures of angels I found on the internet were either chubby children with little wings on their backs, or women with long flowing robes and beautiful hair. Angels are seen as helpful & concerned about us. They’re pleasant creatures, regarded by many as more approachable than God or Jesus.
AND because they see these angels as more sympathetic to their needs, than the God they find in the Bible, there are those who would worship them.
ILLUS: Some time ago, in a TV interview, one woman said: “Oh, I pray to my angel all the time”. What is that? That’s worship. Pagan worship, but worship.
ILLUS: I recently read of a Internet Website called "Angelic Creations" that was hawking a new book written by a woman worked tirelessly to perfect her skills to get the attention of angels so that she could get what she wanted and what she felt she needed. What is that? That’s worship.
These type of people worship angels because - unlike God, unlike Jesus - there’s no requirement for commitment. The angels these people approach ask for nothing. They just supply. They supply comfort and control to the lives of their worshippers (or so their worshippers believe).
III. With that danger a real possibility, the writer of Hebrews tries to put things in perspective.
First, he wants us to realize that angels are powerful beings (vs. 7). They are like the wind - they’re everywhere. And, if you saw them in person (in the flesh, if you will) you would see fiery beings. It would hurt your eyes just to look at them.
AND YET, as awesome as they angels are… they are servants. They are servants of “those who will inherit salvation” (vs. 14).They are servants of God the Father (vs. 7) AND they are servants of Jesus. Hebrews 1:6 tells us that “when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’”
Angels are not creatures to be worshipped, they are creatures who worship, and they worship Jesus.
IV. That’s angels. BUT now, Jesus – that’s a different story entirely. Not only is Jesus worshipped by angels, He has a name that far more powerful than theirs. "…the name he has inherited is superior to theirs" (Hebrews 1:4).
In fact Jesus is not only superior to them. He is divine. He is God. "Your throne, O God (Jesus), will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom" (Hebrews 1:8).
AND because He is God, Jesus has cosmic power. "In the beginning, O Lord (Jesus), you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end" (Hebrews 1:10-12).
That’s Jesus. – angels don’t even compare to Him
V. There is a New Age approach to angels that I would call the “Touched by an Angel” theology.
Don’t get me wrong. I like "Touched by an Angel" I believe it is a family friendly show that says more right about God than many shows have done for years. And yet, because it is a TV show, written for the masses, it has one inherent falsehood built into it. The theme of “Touched by an Angel” is God loves you (this is true). And so, because He loves you, you have an angel looking out for you. It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter what you believe. You have this special angel sitting on your shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to help you out. Sorry… that’s not how it works.
Look again at Hebrews 1:14. Who are angels sent to serve? “Those who will inherit salvation.”
Who are they? They are those who belong to Jesus Christ. "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" (John 3:16)
In other words, as powerful as angels may be, they can’t help you if you aren’t saved. AND more importantly, they can’t save you. The writer of Hebrews is telling us, "you can do without angels – but you can’t do without Jesus.
The message of God’s word is "You won’t be saved by angels" and "you won’t be saved by good works." The only way thing that will free you from your sins so that you can receive the grace of God is by the blood of Jesus Christ.
CLOSE: Near the city of San Jose dos Campos, Brazil, is a remarkable facility. Twenty years ago, the Brazilian government turned a prison over to two Christians. The institution was renamed Humaita, and the plan was to run it on Christian principles. With the exception of the 2 full time staff, all work is done by inmates. Families outside the prison adopt an inmate to work with during and after his term. Chuck Colson visited the prison and made this report:
"When I visited Humaita, I found the inmates smiling - particularly the murderer who held the keys, opened the gates and let me in. Wherever I walked I saw men at peace. I saw clean living areas, people working industriously. The walls were decorated with biblical sayings from Psalms and Proverbs….
(later) My guide escorted me to the notorious prison cell once used for torture. Today, he told me, that block - houses only a single inmate. As we reached the end of a long concrete corridor and he put the key in the lock, he paused and asked, ’Are you sure you want to go in?’
"’Of course,’ I replied impatiently. ’I’ve been in isolation cells all over the world.’ Slowly, he swung open the massive door, and I saw the prisoner in that punishment cell: a crucifix, beautifully carved by the Humaita inmates - the prisoner Jesus, hanging on a cross.
"’He’s doing time for the rest of us,’ my guide said softly."
Angels can’t do that for you. The nice people down the street can’t do that for you. Your friends, politicians, people with prestige and wealth. No one can do that for you. The only one that can serve your time, who can take your punishment for you is Jesus Christ.
SERMONS IN THIS SERIES
Better than Angels - Hebrews 1:1-2:9
The Jesus Fixation - Hebrews 2:14-3:14
The Only Priest - Hebrews 7:1-7:28
New and Improved - Hebrews 8:6-8:13
The Better Blood - Hebrews 9:11-9:28
