BETTER THAN ANGELS
Hebrews 1:1-4 (NLT)
1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
The Book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers. They had left Judaism but were facing severe persecution from their countrymen and wanted to go back to the Judaic system. The Book of Hebrews was written to show the superiority of Jesus and Christianity over Judaism. The author spells out how Jesus is better than angels, Moses, the Aaronic priesthood, and the law. My Thomas Nelson Bible has a great statement: "In short, there is more to be gained in Christ than to be lost in Judaism."
Hebrews is not light reading, and it helps to have some understanding of the Old Testament. But it's a wonderful book, and there are many outstanding truths to be gained from its pages.
Our verses for today begin with the contrast of Jesus and angels. The author starts right off by saying that God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors, but now God has spoken through His Son. And it's the Son that God has promised everything to by inheritance. And through the Son, God created the universe. That ought to settle everything. Judaism was founded on God's word to the prophets, but Christianity is founded on God's Word through His Son. That's a big difference; the Son is greater.
I do like how the NLT translates verse three. "The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God." No one else or no other created being can say that. And He sustains all things by the word of His power. That in itself is saying so much. God created all things through Jesus and upholds and sustains all things through the word of His power. No wonder the author of Hebrews is sold on Jesus as superior to anything or anyone. Jesus' involvement in the creation and sustaining of all we can see and comprehend puts Him in a far different and elevated league.
But wait, there's more. Jesus cleansed us from our sins and then sat down at the place of honor on the right hand of the throne of God. To people steeped in Judaism, this holds great significance. The Judaic system had sacrifices and offerings in order to cover the sins of God's people. But those animal sacrifices had to be made every year. Jesus completely purged us from all our sins and sat down. No longer would there have to be sacrifices made every year. Jesus did it once and for all and sat down, signifying that the work was done.
This position at the right hand of God was never given to any angel. God gave Jesus a name and authority that is greater than any angel. The author of Hebrews goes on to give additional reasons why Jesus is greater than any angel and, in fact, it's angels that worship Jesus. He does not worship angelic beings; they work for Him.
APPLICATION
Because I am writing to people who are primarily from non-Jewish backgrounds, convincing you that Jesus is better than Judaism is not as necessary. But to people who were facing heat about leaving the Judaic system, a clear, concise presentation was needed.
There are still people today who elevate angels to a place of honor with Jesus, but that is elevating them way too high. You'll notice in the Scriptures that angels did not ever encourage anyone to worship them. Yet when Jesus was on the earth He never stopped anyone from worshipping Him.
There are angelic beings, and they are real, but they are not to be sought after or worshipped. We worship the One that angels bow down to. The only One who cleansed us from our sins and has given us a place of honor with Himself. Jesus is better than angels.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for cleansing me of my sins. You are exalted and worthy of my praise and devotion.