“WHO IS JESUS?”
Hebrews 1:1-4
Lesson for September 6-7, 2014
Scott Susong
[TEACHERS: YOU HAVE BACKGROUND MATERIAL, DETAILED OUTLINE OF THE BOOK, LESSON
SCHEDULE WITH ESSENTIALS AND LIFEWAY LEADER GUIDE ALL OF WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE
RECEIVED IN YOUR CLASS BOX. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THESE ITEMS, CONTACT YOUR STAFF
PASTOR. SO – IN THIS LESSON I WILL NOT INCLUDE VERY MUCH BACKGROUND ON THE BOOK OF
HEBREWS, SINCE YOU ALREADY HAVE IT]
INTRODUCTION
The opening lines of a novel or a play are extremely significant. Some have withstood the test of time
and become famous. Those opening lines often set the tone for the entire work. Try these on for
size…[TEACHERS: ADD YOUR OWN!]
“It was the best of times it was the worst of times.” A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens.
“Call me Ishmael.” Moby Dick, Herman Melville.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in
want of a wife.” Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen.
“It was a dark and stormy night.” By Snoopy from the Peanuts cartoon.
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” 1984, George Orwell.
“There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” The Voyage of the
Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis
Today we begin a study of the Book of Hebrews and the opening lines are among the most powerful
in the entire Bible. They refer to the most significant subject we could possibly study – a Person – the
Person of Jesus Christ. It sets the tone for the entire book.
BIBLICAL/HISOTRICAL CONTEXT
Hebrews is one of the greatest, most profound books of the Bible and at the same time one of the
most challenging and difficult to understand. The purpose was to reassure Jewish believers that their
faith in Jesus Christ as Messiah was secure and legitimate. Because of the significance of Jesus Christ
and His work, the recipients of this letter were to shift their faith from customs and traditions to a
Person – the Person of Jesus Christ.
APPLICATION: That is a challenge for any of us – going through the motions of rituals vs. walking with
Jesus Christ by faith.
I.
HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US? 1:1-2a
The writer starts with the subject of God. In fact, the first word in book is “God” – a good place to
start! He then moves immediately to what is called the doctrine of revelation, that is, how God
speaks to us. We cannot know spiritual truth unless God reveals it to us.
John Owen, the Puritan writer and Pastor, stated “…revelation denotes any immediate informative
communication from God, disclosing things which could not otherwise have been known.” [J.I. Packer,
A Quest for Godliness – The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life, pages 84-85]
So, how did/does God speak to us?
A. God Spoke Long Ago to the Fathers in the Prophets, verse 1.
This speaks of OT revelation. This was through the fathers (Patriarchs – Abraham, Moses, etc.) and
prophets (Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc.). Prophets were men supernaturally gifted to make God’s will
known to man. Sometimes the prophet predicted future events and sometimes not. The word
“spoke” means revealing God’s will.
This revelation was in “many portions”. It was partial – parts, pieces, piecemeal. It was also
progressive – little by little – because we can only take so much at one time. The Lord did not dump
the whole load on us at one time.
ILLUSTRATION: Progressive revelation is like a clock striking – with each gong you get closer to the
truth but must keep listening.
Verse one also says this revelation is “in many ways” – it is diverse. We have an infinitely creative
God; He does not always communicate with man in the same way. What were some of the ways?
1) The burning bush to Moses, Exodus 3.
2) Isaiah in the Temple, Isaiah 6.
3) The still small voice to Elijah, 1 Kings 19.
4) Visions and dreams to Daniel.
B. God Has Spoken to Us in His Son, verse 2a
The phrase “in these last days” refers to the times of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, on the earth. After the
close of the Old Testament 400 “silent” years elapsed. Then, God broke the silence speaking to man
in/through His Son. The OT revelation through the fathers and prophets builds toward and points to
Jesus Christ!
II.
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?, 1:2b-4
God spoke to man through His Son, Jesus Christ – so, who is He?
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“heir of all things” – this means possessor, proprietor; to gain possession of. He is supreme.
In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
Hebrews 2:8 says, referring to Jesus Christ, “Thou has put all things in subjection under His
feet.”
“through whom also He made the world” – see also John 1:3; Colossians 1:16. [TEACHERS: I
WOULD SELECT PEOPLE IN YOUR CLASS TO READ THESE ADDITIONAL VERSES TO THE CLASS.]
“He is the radiance of His glory” – Jesus Christ is the brightness of God’s splendor and
grandeur. He radiates in a visible way who and what the Father is. See also John 1:18.
“the exact representation of His nature”. See also 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. This is why Jesus said
things like, “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father”(John 14:9). The centerpiece of His
ministry is Himself! Not His teachings, His sayings, etc.
“upholds all things by the word of His power”. See also Colossians 1:17. The word translated
“uphold” or “consist” means to carry along or to bring toward a goal. Jesus Christ bears all
things toward the fulfillment of His plan – God’s plan will be done! “Word” = command; His
powerful word. See also Psalm 33:6.
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“When He had made purification of sins,” – this means the removal of sin, the forgiveness of
sin – a cleansing. The word is “catharsis”, a purging. This happened through a single, definite
act at a point in time: on the cross. This powerful Person died for our sins! See also Titus
2:14; Hebrews 9:13-14. It is a removal of sin and guilt so that worshippers are fit to approach
and appear before God.
“He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”. He sat down for two reasons: (1) His
work was finished. See also Hebrews 10:12, 12:2. (2) He sat down to rule. See also Hebrews
8:1, 10:12, 12:2. The right hand is the place of highest honor; Majesty = greatness.
John Brown, in his commentary on Hebrews said, “He sat down not only in the divine
Presence, but on the divine throne – on the divine right hand, to sway the scepter of the
universe, and to be head over all things, to His body, the Church.”(page 36).
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“as much better than the angels”. He is human and divine, the God-Man, much better than an
angelic being. See also Ephesians 1:21 and Philippians 2:9. The idea that Jesus Christ is better
is a theme in the book. The word “better” is mentioned 13 times.
His roles…
PROPHET – He upholds all things by the word of His power.
PRIEST – He made purification of sins.
KING – He rules at the right hand of the Father. He is Lord!
APPLICATION/PRINCIPLES
1. What a powerful passage of scripture! The more we take a good, long look at the Person of Jesus
Christ – the Christ of the Bible - the more we will grow to maturity as Christians.
Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on Hebrews said, “In the Christian life, if you do not go forward,
you go backward; there is no permanent standing still.” (page 9)
2. By taking a good long look at the Jesus Christ of the Bible we guard against false teaching and false
teachers. Satan will always offer counterfeits. We guard against false teaching by studying the real
thing, the genuine item!
3. By seeing that Jesus Christ is superior we guard against falling back into either a life of legalistic
ritual or a lack of discipline in our Christian walk.
4. Rather than be in a hurry to “apply scripture to our lives” – it is better to saturate our minds with
the truths about Jesus Christ – to listen and learn, to sit at His feet as Mary did (Luke 10:39) and to ask
Him to teach us the things we need to know.