Jesus is Better (Hebrews 1:1-4)
The sermon outline can be found here in the ministry guide.
We are constantly seeking and searching for something better. We pursue better grades at school. We look for better jobs with better pay and career prospects. We upgrade ourselves to get better skills. We buy better cars and better homes. We hunt for better food and travel on better holidays. We want better entertainment. We exercise and diet for better health and better looks. We seek for ways to have better relationships and better marriages, as well as to be better parents with better, more successful children. We even look for better religious and spiritual experiences.
Basically, we want a better life. Our constant quest for better reveals our deeper fears and desires. We pursue better because we desire control, comfort, and security. We desire meaning, direction, and purpose. We desire wellbeing, pleasure, and peace. And we’re fearful of disappointment and failure if our desires are unfulfilled.
This quest for better can make us worried and anxious, leaving us in a constant state of restlessness and discontentment. It can fill us with envy, greed, and selfishness. Worst of all, our yearning for a better life can draw us away from God and the gospel. How might we be tempted to chase after other things that we think are better than Jesus?
We begin a new sermon series on the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. God is the ultimate Author of Hebrews, but the human writer is anonymous. It probably isn’t Paul or any of the other apostles. The writer was not an eyewitness to Jesus but received the message from others who had heard it first-hand from the Lord. Some think Barnabas or Apollos wrote the letter. Like them, the author was a friend of Timothy’s (Heb 13:23) and knew the Old Testament Scriptures very well. But in the end, we say with the ancient scholar Origen, “Who actually wrote the epistle, only God knows.”
What’s more important for us is to understand why Hebrews was written and what it has to say to us today. The letter was originally written to Jewish and Gentile Christians, possibly of the church in Rome. These believers were in spiritual danger. To avoid trouble and trials, they were tempted to stop believing the gospel and to return to Judaism. It seemed to them to be better to go back to Old Testament practices, with its priesthood, temple worship, and animal sacrifices.
We don’t need to do something to turn away from Jesus, we just have to do nothing.
Most of us are probably not thinking of reverting to these Old Testament practices. Yet, like the original audience of Hebrews, we’re also tempted to turn away from Jesus to what we imagine to be “better” things—whether it’s career, relationships, wealth, success, or anything else. Turning away from Jesus doesn’t always involve dramatic, shocking apostasy. More often than not, it’s a gradual decline in our affection and zeal for Jesus. We don’t need to do something to turn away from Jesus, we just have to do nothing. This was the case for the first recipients of Hebrews.
Like them, how might we be growing tired of following Jesus? We will become bored of Him, if we allow our distracted hearts to get colder towards the gospel. How have we become dull of hearing God’s word? How might we be struggling with spiritual sluggishness? Perhaps we’ve grown comfortable living with our sins instead of fighting them. We’ve stopped striving after holiness and Christlikeness. We’ve become disinterested about our growth in Christ, and indifferent to the spiritual health of our brothers and sisters in the church. We’d rather seek our own ease and convenience than to do spiritual good to others by helping them know and follow Jesus. How might we be drifting slowly but surely away from the gospel?
Hebrews is not light reading. It helps us understand how the whole Bible fits together, by showing us how Jesus fulfils the Old Testament. For example, there are many connections between Exodus and Hebrews. The instructions for tabernacle worship ultimately point to Christ. Hebrews contains solid food, but it’s not academic. Hebrews shows how theology must be practical, and how practice must be shaped by theology. To be faithful Christians, we need both truth and life. Hebrews reads more like a sermon. The author warns and encourages, urging us to press on and not give up. Hebrews is a “word of exhortation” (Heb 13:22)—a written sermon—calling us to hold fast to the gospel.
Hebrews wants us to see the all-surpassing glory of Jesus, that we might treasure Him more. Only by beholding the glorious Son will we press on in faithfulness to him.
Hebrews’ main message can be summed up in three words: Jesus is better. Press on in Christ because he is better than the Old Covenant law, priesthood, and sacrifices. He is better than any sin or idol that we are tempted to cling on to. He is better than anything we try to replace Him with. Just as our physical eyes are drawn to the light, so our hearts are attracted by glory. The trouble is we are often too easily satisfied by fake glory. Hebrews wants us to see the all-surpassing glory of Jesus, that we might treasure Him more. Only by beholding the glorious Son will we press on in faithfulness to Him.
Hebrews jumps straight in without any greeting or introduction. The opening verses set the stage for the rest of the letter by stating upfront that Jesus is better. This is the big idea: God has spoken by His Son, Jesus, our Prophet, Priest, and King.
God has ultimately spoken to us by His Son
Some think that even if God exists, He is distant, disengaged, and disinterested. Others think we are meant to figure God out on our own, and that there isn’t a single, objective truth about God. He is who we make Him out to be. But Hebrews 1:1 and Hebrews 1:2 refute both of these ideas. God is not far from us. He is not silent. No, God has spoken. He has graciously taken the initiative to make Himself known to us.
Verses 1 and 2 differentiate how God spoke in the past (“long ago”) from how he has now spoken “in these last days”. Basically, God has spoken in two stages. In the first, which is the era of the Old Testament, God spoke by the prophets at various times and ways. For example, God spoke to Moses with storm and thunder and to Elijah in the low whisper of a still, small voice. God spoke at different times, in different ways, through different prophets, but there wasn’t a final, definitive word from God.
The point is not that the Old Testament is irrelevant or wrong, but that it is partial and incomplete. The Old Testament is an unfinished story that awaits an ending. But now, the second stage of God’s revelation has arrived: He has sent His Son to finish the story. When the Bible speaks of the “last days”, it doesn’t mean a time in the future immediately before Jesus’ second coming. The phrase “last days” refers to the time between Jesus’ first and second comings. We are living in the last days now.
The last days have already begun, because Jesus is God’s supreme revelation. He is God’s final word, completing God’s revelation. All the promises, expectations, and hopes of the Old Testament find their “yes” and “amen” in Jesus. Hebrews wants Christians to realise how much better we have it now than folks in the OT. We have the amazing privilege of living in the age of fulfilment. Christ has already come—God has kept His promises. God has spoken to us by His Son.
God calls us to repent and believe in His Son. … Don’t forsake the gospel for anything else; we won’t find anything better.
This is a personal message for you and me: God calls us to repent and believe in His Son. Therefore, we should pay careful attention to Jesus. Don’t go back to the types and shadows of the OT now that the fullness of God’s revelation has come. Don’t forsake the gospel for anything else; we won’t find anything better. Don’t presume to expect an extra word or sign from God; he has already spoken fully and finally in Christ. Will we not trust Him today?
Beloved, do we feel as though God is silent? Remember these verses in Hebrews and take heart. We can be assured that God is not distant or disinterested, because He has spoken to us by His Son. Jesus is the Word made flesh to come and dwell among us. “We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14)” God has spoken; will we listen?
Jesus is the centre and climax of God’s revelation. The Old Testament looks forward to His coming; the New Testament looks back on His earthly ministry and also looks forward to His second coming. Now, Jesus continues to speak to us through His finished word, the Bible. Scripture is our final authority. The Bible is sufficient. It is enough to equip us for every good work, to live a life that is pleasing to God. Jesus leads us through His word. This is how we know God’s will for us. Don’t go beyond the Bible. Our experiences, ideas, impressions, or feelings are not finally authoritative. Don’t expect some special sign from God. Trust instead in the word of Christ to direct our decisions and guide our steps. Seek godly counsel from other Christians who point us to the Bible.
God has spoken to us by His Son. Why must we listen to Him? Because of who Jesus is and what He has done. Hebrews 1:2-3 go on to present seven glorious truths about Jesus, the Son. The number seven points to His perfections. He:
Is the heir of all things
Is the Creator of the world
Is the radiance of God’s glory
Is the exact imprint of God’s nature.
Upholds the universe.
Has made purification for sins.
Has been exalted to God’s right hand.
These seven truths reveal that Jesus is the King, Prophet, and Priest we need.
Jesus is the King we need
Jesus’ kingship is described in three ways. First, God has appointed Jesus “the heir of all things (Heb 1:2)”. This refers to Psalm 2:8, which says of the Messiah, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” Jesus fulfils the covenant God made with David in the Old Testament, that one of David’s descendants would rule as king forever. Worship Jesus for He is God’s promised King. All of creation belongs to Him.
Second, God created the world through His Son (Heb 1:2). King Jesus rightfully rules over all things because he made all things. He is fully God because only God can create something from nothing. John’s Gospel makes a similar point about Jesus: “The Word was God... All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. (Jn. 1:1, 3)” So, we ought to listen to Jesus because He is our Creator.
Third, Jesus not only made all things, but He also “upholds the universe by the word of His power (Heb 1:3)”. The Son’s word is powerful. It literally sustains everything. Without Jesus, everything falls apart. Therefore, we should listen to Him. Colossians 1:17 puts it this way: “In Him all things hold together.” This humbles us. We proudly imagine the world revolves us. We’d like to think we can control our lives, and even the lives of others. But here, we are reminded of this basic truth: We owe our lives and existence to King Jesus. He sustains us and even the entire universe we live in. Parents, we can entrust our children to God. Be faithful to raise and teach our children, but we can’t control or manipulate them to do what we want.
All things were created by Jesus, all things are sustained through Him, and all things will reach their intended end in Him.
All things were created by Jesus, all things are sustained through Him, and all things will reach their intended end in Him. What comfort! “Upholds” is in present, continuous tense, meaning that Jesus is ever-working His sovereign will for the eternal good of His people. Because He upholds all things, He will not fail to complete the work He began in us. Don’t fear disease and death. It will ultimately end well for God’s people. Jesus said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:29-31)”
Our idols are terrible masters. We think we control them, but they end up controlling us. Idols over-promise and under-deliver. But we are safe in the hands of King Jesus. He is our assurance, hope, protection, and security. Jesus is the King we need. Is He your King?
Jesus is the Prophet we need
The Old Testament prophets were God’s messengers. They revealed God by faithfully speaking what God told them to say. But the Son does more than that. He perfectly and fully shows God to us because He Himself is God. For example, if we want to get to know someone really well, the best thing to do is to directly hear from the person. So, who better to reveal God than God Himself? Hebrews 1:3 states two key truths about who Jesus is—the essential nature of His being: “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature.”
Recall in Exodus 34 how Moses’ face shone because He had been talking with God, so much so that the people were afraid to come near. Jesus’ glory is even greater. Unlike Moses, Jesus doesn’t merely reflect glory. He radiates and shines forth God’s glory, for He Himself is glorious. If Moses is like the moon that reflects the sun’s light, then Jesus is the sun in all its brilliance and brightness.
The word “imprint” (the Greek word is where we derive the English word “character”) refers to the image made by a stamp or seal. In New Testament times, coins were pressed with the image of the Roman emperors. Today, a photograph is the exact imprint of what someone looks like. In a similar way, Jesus is the perfect likeness of God. His character and nature are identical with God’s. When the apostle Philip asked Jesus, “Lord show us the Father”, Jesus replied, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. (Jn. 14:9)”
The only way for us to know God is by knowing His Son. Jesus is the Prophet we need because only he can reveal God fully to us.
Therefore, the only way for us to know God is by knowing His Son. Jesus is the Prophet we need because only He can reveal God fully to us. “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made Him known. (Jn. 1:18)” Only the Son can show us the Father’s glory: His grace, mercy, steadfast love, patience, compassion, faithfulness, holiness, and righteousness. Do we desire to know God, to grow in godliness? It is by beholding the glory of the Lord Jesus that we are “being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18).” Look to Jesus. Worship, trust, and obey the glorious Son.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Therefore, pay careful attention to Jesus. On the Mount of Transfiguration, God the Father said this of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him. (Mt. 17:5)” May God shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of His Son! If we have come to know Jesus, then how are we reflecting His glory to others in love, grace, and mercy? If we bear the name of Christ, then do we also bear His image?
Jesus is the Priest we need
Because of our helplessness, we need Jesus the true King to rule over us. Because of our ignorance, we need Jesus the final Prophet to reveal God to us. Because of our guilt and shame, we need Jesus the perfect Priest to save us.
We have all sinned against the holy and righteous God, who made us to worship Him. But instead of glorifying Him, we’ve turn aside to our own ways. God is just to judge us for our rebellion against Him. As long as we are not right with God, we will keep searching for ways to deal with our guilt and shame. Some try to harden the conscience by denying sin or judgment. Some throw themselves into their work. Some try to distract themselves with pleasure. Some try to do good works, hoping to earn enough merit.
Jesus is better than any of our attempts at self-help. God has spoken to us by His Son—not just in word, but also in action. … Jesus bore God’s wrath in the place of all who would repent and believe in Him.
Jesus is better than any of our attempts at self-help. God has spoken to us by His Son—not just in word, but also in action. God, whose grace abounds to undeserving sinners like us, has sent His beloved Son to save guilty rebels. The seven statements culminate with the glorious truth of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross (c.f. Heb 1:3).
Jesus bore God’s wrath in the place of all who would repent and believe in Him. When we trust in Jesus to save us, He exchanges our guilt for His perfect righteousness. Jesus “offered Himself without blemish to God (to) purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Heb 9:14b)”. Only Jesus can make us truly clean and right with God. Turn to Jesus today and find rest for our souls.
The Old Testament priests had to stand daily, offering the same animal sacrifices again and again. This was a sobering reminder that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb 10:4). But Jesus sat down because His work was done. He offered Himself once for all time. Jesus paid it all. Mission accomplished. It is finished. The once-crucified Saviour is now the exalted Lord, seated at God’s right hand in glory. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has defeated Satan, sin, and death.
Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon the throne
Jesus is the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King who meets our deepest need. Repent and believe in Jesus. Beloved, lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus and rest in His finished work. Full atonement, can it be? Hallelujah! What a Saviour! God has spoken to us by His Son. Don’t neglect such a great salvation; don’t trust or hope in anything else. Jesus is better. Jesus is enough.