The Superior Messenger - Part 1

READ: Hebrews 1:1-4
"In many times and in many ways, long ago God having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, in these last days, he spoke to us in a Son, whom he appointed heir of all and through whom he made the worlds; who, being the radiance of his glory and the reproduction of his essence and bearing all things by the word of his power, having made purification for the sins, sat down on the right of the Majesty on high, having become so much superior to the angels, so much as he has inherited a name more remarkable than theirs."

REFLECT
We're going to slow things down as we work through the letter to the Hebrews and really strive to understand, what I believe may be, the most important message to the church today. At first reading, it may not seem very relevant to any Gentile Christian, because obviously this letter was written to Jewish Christians who had grown so tired in their struggle to be faithful Christians that they were contemplating a return to Judaism. Yet, here in lies the relevance - the author's response to their weariness was to show that Jesus Christ is far and away superior to anything and to anyone.

In our world today and especially in our religious world, it is so easy to grow weary as we strive to live out our commitment to Jesus. What Hebrews teaches us is that we grow weary when we lose sight of what being a Christian is all about - that is, we've lost sight of Jesus. He is at the very centre of the target. He is the very foundation of our faith. He is the reason, the motivation and the goal for all that we do. When we get back to fixing our eyes on Jesus and thus keeping him clearly before us, we find the strength and determination and desire to live out our commitment once again.

Right off the bat, the Hebrew writer tells us that to walk away from Jesus is to ignore the superior messenger. Jesus is God's final and complete revelation to humanity. He is superior to the prophets who spoke to our spiritual forefathers. He is superior to the angels through whom the law of Moses was communicated. Who else is there to listen to, if we don't listen to God's Son, who not only teaches us about God and his will through his word, but who is, in his very being, "the radiance of his glory and the reproduction of his essence" (i.e., his = God's)?

PRAY
Father, help me today to keep my focus on Jesus. Thank you for reminding me through the letter to the Hebrews that Jesus is the supreme and final messenger who not only communicated your will and lived it out in his life, but he was (and is) in his human existence the embodiment of your nature. I know that right now in my personal life I am feeling the spiritual battle more keenly and consistently than I have in a long time. I feel weary many days, but when I take some time to centre my thoughts on Jesus, I find the strength and the motivation to take up your full armour and press on!

OBEY
How focused are you right now on Jesus? Can you honestly say that you have fixed your eyes on him and that your goal today is to do everything you need to do with him as your goal? Are you growing weary in the spiritual battle? Do you know someone who is? What can you do today to open your heart and mind to truly hear Jesus' message?