Jesus Is Greater!

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 (Jesus Christ). God promised everything to the Son (Jesus Christ) as an inheritance, and through the Son (Jesus Christ) He created the universe (worlds, ages). ³ The Son (Jesus Christ) radiates God’s own glory (light) and expresses the very character (image, representation) of God, and He (Jesus Christ) sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He (Jesus Christ) had cleansed (purified) us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. Hebrews 1:1-3 (NLT)

The book of Hebrews opens with an important announcement: “In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets …. now in these last days God has spoken to us through His Son” (see Hebrews 1:1-2, NCV). The theme of the New Testament book of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior!

Long ago the living LORD God of heaven and earth spoke and instructed His people through His servants the prophets (see Hebrews 1:1). One of greatest prophets God spoke through was His servant Moses (e.g., see Numbers 12:7; John 9:29; Hebrews 3:2, 5). The living God revealed His glory, goodness, and character to Moses (see Exodus 33:18-19; Exodus 34:5-8). Many biblical scholars believe Moses wrote the first five books of the Holy Scriptures – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

Moses faithfully served and worshipped the living LORD God and instructed the people in God’s moral commandments (Deuteronomy 34:10-12; see also Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Hebrews 3:2, 5). Because of Moses’ faithfulness, the living LORD God knew and spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend (Deuteronomy 34:10; see also Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:8). Even more, Moses was a faithful leader and shepherd to God’s people, the ancient Israelites (e.g., see Ex. 32:30-35; Hebrews 11:24-27). Through his devotion, the all-powerful God performed on behalf of His servant Moses great miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of all Israel (Deuteronomy 34:11-12; see also Deuteronomy 4:34).

Indeed, Moses has no equal in later biblical history as God’s humble, obedient, and faithful servant except for the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., see Deuteronomy 18:15, 18). But it would be more than a thousand years before One greater than Moses would appear — the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, there were many great and powerful prophets of the living LORD God such as Abel, Joshua, David, and Zechariah that faithful declared God’s message (e.g., see 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21). These faithful servants and prophets of God, again and again, declared God’s message – to turn from evil, wickedness, and idolatry and turn in faithfulness and obedience to God and His righteous ways (e.g., see 2 Kings 17:13; 2 Chronicles 36:15; Jeremiah 7:3, 13; Jeremiah 25:4; Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 29:19; Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 14:6; Ezekiel 18:30). These faithful prophets of God instructed the people to correct their evil and deceitful deeds such as  oppressing and exploiting foreigners, the fatherless, the poor, and the widow and shedding innocent blood and instead to act justly toward one another (e.g., see Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 14; Deuteronomy 24:14; Isaiah 1:16-17; Jeremiah 7:3-7; Jeremiah 18:11; Jeremiah 26:13; Jeremiah 22:3; Micah 6:6-8). Also, the prophets encouraged the people not to steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, nor follow other gods (e.g., see Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Jeremiah 7:9-11; Matthew 19:18-19).

Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the prophet’s message of repentance (turning from sin and turning to the living God in faithfulness, love, and obedience), and they continued in their wickedness, evil, and idolatry (worship of other gods) (e.g., see Jeremiah 7:25-26; Jeremiah 44:4-6). Instead of obedience to God and His commandments, the people killed the prophets of God – from Abel to Zechariah (e.g., see Matthew 23:29-32; Luke 11:48-51; Acts 7:51-53).

Finally, the living LORD God sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, in the last days to reveal His glory, instruct the people, and give eternal life (Hebrews 1:2-3; see also John 3:16-17; John 17:3, 6, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25). The LORD God chose His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice long before the world began to bring salvation, and He has now revealed Him in these last days (e.g., see Hebrews 9:26-28; 1 Peter 1:20). Jesus Christ was the Great Prophet predicted by Moses, and He spoke God’s Word faithfully to the people (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; e.g., see also John 1:44-45; John 6:14; John 12:49-50; John 17:8; Acts 3:22-23; Acts 7:37-38). By faith, Moses had the confident assurance and hope that the living LORD God would bring Jesus Christ as that Prophet (see Hebrews 11:1-2, 26-27).

The Lord Jesus Christ was more than the Great Prophet predicted in the Old Testament because He was also the following:

·         Son of the living God (see Matthew 16:16; Matthew 17:5; John 20:20-31);

·         Long awaited Messiah (see Matthew 1:1, 17; Mark 1:1);

·         King of the world (see Matthew 2:2; Hebrews 1:3, 8-9);

·         Great High Priest (see Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 6:20); and

·         God incarnate (human flesh) (see Matthew 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:1-4).

The book of Hebrews provides practical instruction on the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., see Hebrews 7:1–10:18). The opening verses of Hebrews declare and announce the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the word “better” and “greater” are used more than twenty-five times as the author shows the supremacy and greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is “better than the angels” (see Hebrews 1:4) because He gives “a better hope” (see Hebrews 7:19) and “better promises” (see Hebrews 8:6) as the “author of eternal salvation” (see Hebrews 5:9). Through His sacrificial death, the Lord Jesus Christ is greater because He has cleansed us and cleared our record of all sin by His blood (Hebrews 1:3; see also Titus 2:14; Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 10:10, 12; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 3:5) and “obtained eternal redemption” (see Hebrews 9:12). The Lord Jesus Christ shares with all believers in Him “the promise of eternal inheritance” (see Hebrews 9:15) and “better life after the resurrection” (11:16, 35). Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ’s throne is forever (see Hebrews 1:8), and He is a Priest forever (see Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:17, 21). The Lord Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (see Hebrews 13:8).

The book of Hebrews reveals the Lord Jesus Christ as the climax and fulfillment of all the Holy Scriptures (see Luke 24:44-47). For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Son the Lord Jesus Christ with a resounding “Yes! And through Christ, our Amen” (e.g., see Romans 15:8; 2 Corinthians 1:20).  The book of Hebrews declares that the Lord Jesus Christ is GREATER than:

·         Prophets (see Hebrews 1:1-3);

·         Angels (see Hebrews 1:4-14; Hebrews 2:5);

·         Moses (see Hebrews 3:1-6);

·         Joshua (see Hebrews 4:6-11);

·         Aaronic high priests (see Hebrews 5:1-10; Hebrews 7:26-8:2);

·         Levitical priests (see Hebrews 6:20-7:25);

·         Tabernacle ministry (see Hebrews 8:3-6; Hebrews 9:1-28);

·         Old covenant (see Hebrews 8:7-13); and

·         Old Testament sacrifices (see Hebrews 10:1-14).

The author of Hebrews makes clear that Jesus Christ is Lord and God (Hebrews 1:2-4; see also Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-5, 10, 14, 18; John 20:28; Romans 1:4; Romans 9:5; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:6, 11; Colossians 1:15-20; Colossians 2:9). The Lord Jesus Christ reflects the same and exact character, nature, Presence, imprint, Name, representation, and glory of His Father, the living LORD God (Yahweh) (Hebrew 1:3, 5-6; see also Luke 9:32; John 1:1-5, 14; John 14:9; John 17:11-12; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 2:6, 9; Colossians 2:9; 2 Peter 1:17). In other words, the Lord Jesus Christ reflects the Person, Presence, and Glory of the living LORD God (e.g., see John 1:1-2, 14; John 17:5, 24). The Name of Jesus Christ has the same power as His Father the LORD God to bring salvation to all who come to Him by faith and repentance (e.g., see Joel 2:32; Luke 24:47; John 14;6; Acts 2:21, 38; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:43; Romans 10:13; Hebrews 10:20). The eternal LORD God revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the exact image, revelation, and illustration of His Father, the living LORD God (Hebrews 1:3; see also Matthew 3:16-17). The Lord Jesus Christ is the complete expression of the living God in a human body.

Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe; for by Him, the living LORD God “made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2, 10; e.g., see also John 1:3). Jesus was God’s mediator in creating the world: “For through Him God created everything” (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16). The Lord Jesus Christ upholds all things by that same powerful Word (Hebrews 1:3; see also Colossians 1:17). The Lord Jesus Christ is the God of Creation and the God of Providence (Wisdom) who guides and regulates the universe (see Hebrews 1:3).

Even more, the living LORD God has given His Son Jesus Christ the world as an inheritance (Hebrews 1:2; see also Psalm 2:8; Matthew 11:27; Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19; John 1:3). In other words, the LORD God who is the Father of Jesus Christ has given and entrusted everything to His Son (e.g., see Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18; John 3:35; John 13:3).  Jesus Christ has become the firstborn and Royal Heir of God (Hebrews 1:6; see also John 1:18; John 3:16; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18). Through your faith in God’s Son Jesus, all faithful believers also become children and heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ and His glory (e.g., see John 1:12-13; Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 3:29; Galatians 4:7; Titus 3:7). The living God sends His angels to care God’s children who will inherit salvation (see Hebrews 1:14).

Finally, the living Jesus Christ is now seated “on the right hand of the Majesty on high,” the place of honor (Hebrews 1:3; see also Psalm 110:1-2; Mark 16:19; Luke 22:69; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2). The fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the LORD God indicates that He is actively ruling with His Father as Lord of all (see Hebrews 1:2, 13). One day the Jesus Christ as the Great I AM, who is now seated in the place of power at His Father’s right hand, will come on the clouds of heaven to reward all faithful believers (e.g., see Psalm 110:1; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30-31; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7). As God, Creator, Prophet, Priest, and King, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior is GREATER than ALL!  

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

NLT Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).