The Superior Messenger - Part 2

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
As I write this entry, we are fully into the "Christmas Season". The religious world continues to try to make Jesus the focus by reminding people that "Jesus is the reason for the Season" and "Put Christ back in Christmas." The reality is, as far as most people in our society are concerned, Jesus has some stiff competition, especially in the "person" of Santa Claus. The truth is that even when people do acknowledge Jesus at this time of the year, it is about a baby born in a manger in some obscure Jewish town. And that's usually where they leave Jesus until next year.

I always have been a big Charles Schultz fan, so much so that I earned the nickname "Chuck" in high school. It might have also been that I was about as good a pitcher as Charlie Brown! The only bible I knew at that time, and I knew it by heart, was from Luke 2. I can still hear Linus' dramatic reading of, what is perhaps, the best known passage of scripture. And it is a great and majestic passage that gives me chills to read when I try to imagine myself as one of the shepherds that night. However, if that's all people know about Jesus, they don't know much.

Here in Hebrews 1:1-4, we learn at least seven things about Jesus.
1. God appointed him "heir of all".
2. It is through him that God "made the worlds".
3. He is the "radiance" of God's glory.
4. He is the "reproduction" of God's essence.
5. He bears "all things by the word of his power".
6. He has made "purification for the sins".
7. He "sat down on the right of the Majesty on high".

In experiencing humanity, it is absolutely mind blowing that God chose to become a human being from the point of conception on (the true miracle). Truly, as the Hebrew writer will later remind us, Jesus became like us in "every way"! However, let's not miss the point - he came into this world as God's superior messenger, communicating not only the will of God, but demonstrating throughout his life and his death and his resurrection, the very nature of God. However you celebrate Christmas - not at all, as a cultural holiday or as a time of gratitude for the birth of Jesus - don't leave Jesus as a baby in the manger, because you will have missed the point. When Jesus' disciples asked, "Show us the Father and that will be enough for us," Jesus replied, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."

PRAY
Father, I thank you so much that you, God, decided to take on flesh and experience human existence in this sinful world from the moment of conception on. Truly Jesus was (and is) like us in every way and so I know that I have a high priest who can sympathize with my weaknesses because he was tempted in every way just as I am! While he doesn't know what it is like to sin, because he never did, he knows even more painfully that I do what it is like to be tempted. He refused to give in to that temptation so Satan had to truly pour it on! I am so grateful for you Jesus and your determination to live a life that was totally pleasing to our Father and that because of that you are able to be my Saviour! Thank you seems so inadequate, but it's all that I can say with my words. I pray that today my life demonstrates my gratitude, that through you Jesus, I have access to the throne of God's grace!

OBEY
Do you know God? Are you getting to know him better? Will you take some significant time over the next few weeks to truly fix your eyes on Jesus and get to know God in a deeper and more personal way than ever before?