Remembering that the theme of Hebrews is “Jesus Christ is better than…” the writer begins by establishing the authority of Jesus over all things and His rightful position to be seated next to God the Father. We must also keep in mind that Jesus was the perfect revelation of God and His life was meant to be a complete representation of what God is really like. In past times, God revealed Himself through Old Testament prophets (1:1). There are 39 books in the Old Testament and each one is meant to uncover God’s plan to redeem mankind while giving special insight as to how God interacts with man. However, in current times God revealed Himself by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, and the Father has given Him absolute rulership over the universe (1:2). Through the power of His words, Jesus controls the world and He has been given this position because He “purged our sins” and “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” The author of Hebrews is trying to help the reader understand that the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ caused Him to be a fuller witness to God than the former prophets and therefore they should listen to Him. He did not want his readers to ignore the witness of the Old Testament prophets, but rather see that Jesus had provided a fuller understanding of God and His forgiveness of sin. It is amazing how God loves us so much that He is continually interested in making Himself real to us! In the past He revealed Himself through prophets and then He sent Jesus (God in human flesh) so that we could could know Him personally!
Dear God, thank You for sending many ways to reveal Yourself to us, but thank You most of all for sending Your Son, Jesus, to save us from our sin and make a relationship with You possible!
