The Cradle That Rocked The World (Heb. 1:1-3)
Intro. Hebrews is a book without a formal introduction, the writer, who we believe was Paul, didn’t speak of salutations to the elect etc. The author did not identify himself as he did in most of his letters.
It is a powerful book, one that reaches from the sacrificial offering of the Old Testament to the glorious fulfilling in Christ Jesus. It gives descriptions of our Lord that are so beautiful it is hard to believe it was done with few words. It delves into many aspects of the Jewish life, but there is much there for the Gentile Christian to learn.
It speaks of the superiority of Christ Jesus over the Judaistics beliefs held in that day. The writer begins by telling how Jesus is the greatest prophet, priest and king.
I. God The Son As Heir Of All Things:
What a statement! In three verses, the writer has spoken of Jesus, as heir of all. He is creator and administrator of the universe, prophet, priest and king. How can anyone not see that though man may have penned the words, God is the author?
A.W. Pink said, we see here three things, the character in which Christ is viewed, His appointment unto the inheritance, and the scope of His inheritance. Paul spoke of this in (Gal. 4:1) “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;”
One who inherits may have to live like others, although all the estate belongs to Him. I always think of Abraham, God said,
Gen 12:1-2, Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
God was saying, Come out, I’ve got a land for you; you are to have it all.
Heb 11:8-9, By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Jesus knew He was heir of it all, so should you and I, we are joint-heirs with Christ, heirs of God. Look around you your Father owns it all. Everything was made by Him and for Him and His people.
II. God The Son As Creator:
Why is our belief about creation so important? It establishes whatever view we would have of God. Look at Heb 11:1-3, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we under-stand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Col 1:16-17, For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
John 1:3, All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
If we are to believe that Jesus is the true Son of God, we must first establish, just how great and powerful He is. John says, look about you, whatever you see was created by Jesus. He is the mighty creator of the universe. And if He created the universe, is there anything too hard for Him?
Into the midnight darkness of nothing Jesus the Christ walked and declared “Let there be..” and there was. In the beginning he created the heavens and the earth. This was none other than Jesus. Why is it so important that John stated it in the 3rd verse of his epistle? Paul pointed this out in the first chapter of Colossians.
And the writer of Hebrews states in the eighth verse,
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: Heb 1:8-10
The angels worship him, the writer of the book of Hebrews would have us to know He is greater than angels, greater than Moses, Aaron,
III. God The Son As Administrator:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. What does this mean? Our Lord is absolutely sovereign in all things. No planet or star can leave it’s habitation in the heavens, except it be given permission by God’s Son?
All of the laws of the universe are merely the laws and directives of this precious child called Jesus. He is the giver of life, we have no life outside of him. He is the vine and we are the branches.
IV. God The Son As Prophet:
What is a prophet? He was the one who represented God to the people. It was he in the Old Testament that declared, “Thus saith the Lord.” Whatever God had to say to his people he said thru his prophets. He spoke thru Jesus in the last days or the time following his birth, death and resurrection. We are living in the last days.
And most assuredly he spoke for the Godhead. He represented God to man and man to God. What a Savior! He showed unto man the very heart of God so there could be that reconciliation.
V. God The Son As Priest:
The priest represented the people unto God, just as the prophet represented God to the people. And more than that he purged our sins by offering Himself as our sacrifice. Delivering up His own blood to sprinkle on the mercy seat before God.
And as our High Priest he makes intercession for us. When we sin before God He is there to plead our case.
VI. God The Son As King:
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Acts 2:30-31
This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was raised from the dead. As David ruled over the nation of Israel so Jesus rules over spiritual Israel. We bow to Him as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Phil 2:10-11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
