WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:04.360 We're going to be, like Mike said, we're going to be in Hebrews chapter 1 this morning. 00:00:05.520 --> 00:00:10.320 So go ahead and open up Hebrews if you're not sure exactly where that is. 00:00:10.380 --> 00:00:11.560 It's toward the back of your Bible. 00:00:12.939 --> 00:00:15.919 Not quite to Revelation, but almost there. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:21.440 So find the back of your Bible, start flipping left, and you'll find it pretty soon. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:30.380 And while you're turning, I was wondering if you might join me with a little poll on interpersonal communication. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:34.620 Raise your hand if you'd like to receive messages. 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:40.260 What probably popped into your mind was text messages, but I'm just saying any message whatsoever. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:41.780 Any kind of message. 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:44.079 What are ways we receive messages? 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:57.140 Maybe some sort of electronic text, whether email, text, Facebook, Instagram, whatever communication you like that's electronic. 00:00:57.320 --> 00:00:58.739 Let's say that's option A. 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:01.280 Option B, a phone call. 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:02.899 You get a phone call for somebody. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:06.319 Or option C, you get a handwritten note. 00:01:06.459 --> 00:01:07.079 That would be cool. 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:08.900 That's a good way to receive a message. 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:11.379 Or option D, face-to-face. 00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:18.280 So I'm actually going to ask you to tell me which one you would prefer in the following situations. 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:22.479 So give me a one if it's some sort of electronic text. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:23.719 Two, phone call. 00:01:24.039 --> 00:01:27.219 Give me a three if it's a handwritten note. 00:01:27.919 --> 00:01:29.939 And four, face-to-face conversation. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.359 It kind of goes from less intimate to more intimate. 00:01:32.579 --> 00:01:32.759 Okay? 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:33.280 So you guys ready? 00:01:34.179 --> 00:01:34.739 One, two, three, four, four. 00:01:34.819 --> 00:01:35.659 Okay, so tell me. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:37.819 An invitation to a Christmas party. 00:01:37.819 --> 00:01:41.939 What would you prefer to be your invitation? 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:43.639 Four, face-to-face? 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:48.239 Or electronic, phone call, handwritten note? 00:01:48.839 --> 00:01:49.519 Okay, good. 00:01:49.739 --> 00:01:49.919 All right. 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:50.859 See, a lot of fours. 00:01:50.979 --> 00:01:52.299 That's kind of cool. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:53.059 All right. 00:01:53.119 --> 00:01:58.099 So how about someone's rescheduling a meeting that you're about to have in two hours? 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:01.119 How would you like to receive that message? 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:02.219 One, two, three, four. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:03.379 Okay. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:03.899 All right. 00:02:04.259 --> 00:02:05.539 So there are different preferences here. 00:02:05.539 --> 00:02:07.339 How about bad news? 00:02:08.359 --> 00:02:09.259 Health bad news? 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:10.719 Or job bad news? 00:02:10.939 --> 00:02:12.599 Or family bad news? 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:14.759 Okay, I see a lot of fours. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:16.459 Me too. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:18.079 How about good news? 00:02:18.979 --> 00:02:19.759 Health good news? 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:20.639 Job good news? 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:21.579 Family good news? 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:22.919 A lot of fours? 00:02:22.959 --> 00:02:23.199 Okay. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:23.780 All right. 00:02:24.359 --> 00:02:26.039 The way you communicate matters, doesn't it? 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:27.180 It's really important. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:29.439 It affects the relationship. 00:02:29.819 --> 00:02:34.659 If someone communicates a really important thing to you in a really not personal way, 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:37.319 it affects something. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:44.359 You can even, the way we communicate can depend on whether that message is communicated well 00:02:44.359 --> 00:02:44.819 or not. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:50.139 Have you ever had the whole autocomplete thing happen to you on sending a text message 00:02:50.139 --> 00:02:54.039 and it autocompletes something and then you send it and, oh my gosh, I didn't want 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:55.359 to say that. 00:02:57.639 --> 00:02:59.439 So the message might be affected. 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:03.299 The message might not even be relayed at all if the email comes too late, right? 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:04.799 The way we communicate matters. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:08.200 What about God's communication? 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:11.860 How does He speak to us? 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:16.640 How does He relay messages to us? 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:18.540 Does He speak? 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:20.620 Has He spoken? 00:03:21.939 --> 00:03:23.060 What has He said? 00:03:24.200 --> 00:03:29.160 What would He say or what does He say in certain situations? 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:34.919 Whether you've been a Christian for a long time or you're just wondering what this whole 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:40.579 God thing is about, anywhere on the spectrum, these questions really matter. 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:47.300 They matter because if God has spoken and if He continues to speak, then the question is 00:03:47.300 --> 00:03:53.000 how do we receive and how do we respond to those messages? 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:58.620 Well, Hebrews 1, 1 to 4 is going to say something to us about this. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:02.240 Before we dive in, let me clue us into what we're about to read. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:03.840 We're not normally in the book of Hebrews. 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:04.840 This is what's going on here. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:11.740 This is a letter written to a congregation just like us of Jewish believers. 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:14.439 They were Jews and then they had become Christians. 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:18.980 They had believed that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and they were being written to by a 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:19.279 pastor. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.259 And we don't know who it is, but some people think it's Paul. 00:04:22.259 --> 00:04:23.300 Some people think it's Apollos. 00:04:23.459 --> 00:04:24.039 We don't know. 00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:24.860 We'll find out in heaven. 00:04:25.039 --> 00:04:27.519 That's probably one of the first things that, no, that's not one of the first things I'm 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:27.920 going to ask God. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:30.039 I would like to know that someday. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:31.719 Who wrote Hebrews? 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:37.339 But it was written by a pastor who was very familiar with the Jewish religion, very familiar 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:42.180 with the Old Testament, and he's writing to Jewish people who were very familiar with 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:44.159 the Old Testament, very familiar with the Jewish religion. 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:45.759 So you're going to see that in just a minute. 00:04:46.599 --> 00:04:50.000 But the people he was writing to, these Jewish believers, they were on the fence. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:55.480 They had believed in Jesus, but now they're starting to take some flack for it. 00:04:55.699 --> 00:04:56.680 They're starting to take some heat. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:04.300 And the heat is making them start to wonder, is it really worth it to stick with Jesus? 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:08.959 Maybe he wasn't everything that the Old Testament was pointing to. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:10.860 Okay? 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:13.360 So with that in mind, let's read these first four verses. 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:22.379 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:05:23.340 --> 00:05:31.960 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, 00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:34.699 through whom also he created the world. 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:40.899 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:44.539 and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:52.300 After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, 00:05:52.419 --> 00:05:59.139 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.379 Thank God for his word. 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:06.699 So as a church, we've been asking this question, what child is this? 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:14.480 It's helping us to take a step back and ask, who is this baby in the manger? 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:16.500 What does that have to do with us? 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:22.779 Two weeks ago, we saw in Mike preach that he is the word made flesh in John 1. 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:26.639 We saw in Colossians 1 last week that he is the Lord of all. 00:06:27.659 --> 00:06:29.819 And here in Hebrews 1, something about the ones, 00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:33.519 we're going to discover that something else about him. 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:36.459 So, what child is this? 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:44.620 This child is God's full and final revelation to God's people. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:50.699 This child is God's full and final revelation to God's people. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:54.839 Now, when I say revelation, I'm not talking about the really cool last book of the Bible 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:58.239 with a bunch of dragons and beasts and living creatures covered with eyes. 00:06:58.599 --> 00:06:59.459 That's what I'm talking about. 00:06:59.679 --> 00:07:00.379 It's a really cool book. 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:00.959 Read it sometime. 00:07:02.159 --> 00:07:09.719 No, this child whose birth we're celebrating is the full and final revealing, 00:07:11.239 --> 00:07:16.500 unveiling of who God is and what God has done for his people. 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:19.160 This baby is God's communication. 00:07:21.459 --> 00:07:25.100 Jesus is God's full and final revelation to his people. 00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:26.519 That's the point of this passage. 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:29.319 And really, it's a good summary of the whole letter of the book of Hebrews. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:34.079 So, like the space shuttle has stages in its launch, 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:37.819 the author is going to make a staged argument. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.360 He's going to make his argument to prove that Jesus is the full and final revelation 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:45.379 to God's full and final revelation to his people in four stages. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:49.420 The first three are going to focus on who Jesus is and what he's done. 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:55.520 And the last one is a sparkling, logical conclusion as to what that means for us. 00:07:55.520 --> 00:07:56.900 So, four stages. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:57.879 Let's look at the first one. 00:07:59.060 --> 00:07:59.660 Stage one. 00:08:00.580 --> 00:08:03.780 Jesus completes Old Testament revelation. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:06.660 Jesus completes Old Testament revelation. 00:08:07.520 --> 00:08:09.280 Let's read those first two verses again. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:16.419 Long ago, at many times, in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:08:16.679 --> 00:08:21.000 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. 00:08:23.099 --> 00:08:24.879 Did you know God is a talking God? 00:08:26.719 --> 00:08:28.379 I'm really glad he's a talking God. 00:08:29.739 --> 00:08:32.059 The Bible opens with God talking. 00:08:33.459 --> 00:08:37.120 Not just because it's God's word, but he starts talking and then galaxies appear. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:40.940 God's words spin galaxies into existence. 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:43.539 But he doesn't just have words for galaxies. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:45.960 He has words for his people. 00:08:47.560 --> 00:08:50.500 God began speaking to his people from the beginning. 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.700 And the record of this revelation is in the first 39 books of your Bible, the Old Testament, 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:56.419 and not even all the way there. 00:08:57.060 --> 00:09:02.220 So, the first big chunk of your Bible is the record of this revelation. 00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:09.920 God used his spokesmen and spokeswomen to reveal himself to his people in various ways and at various times. 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:16.500 And God wasn't just speaking to them about the weather or about high theological ideas. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:19.240 He wasn't just giving them a bunch of cold, hard rules to follow. 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:22.460 He was speaking redemptively to them. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:30.240 He broke in with his words into their cursed existence because of their rebellion against him. 00:09:31.060 --> 00:09:34.340 And he spoke the promise of his blessing and his grace. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:39.580 He spoke this blessing to a random guy he chose by grace named Abraham. 00:09:40.560 --> 00:09:45.180 Then he showed this man's descendants what kind of predicament they were in when they were in slavery in Egypt. 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:48.939 And then he promised his grace to them to deliver them and he does it. 00:09:49.359 --> 00:09:52.439 He reveals his glory and holiness to them on Mount Sinai. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:57.120 He invites them near to his presence to experience his glory. 00:09:57.479 --> 00:10:00.579 He rebukes them when they forsake him for false gods. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:04.259 He forgives them when they repent and they turn to him and worship again. 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:10.659 And all the way through Israel's history, God continued speaking in various ways and in various times, 00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:18.719 progressively revealing both himself and his purposes for a complete salvation for his people. 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:23.279 And by the way, this is really important for the first people who are reading this letter to the Hebrews. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:25.620 This is their story. 00:10:26.199 --> 00:10:26.980 They were Jews. 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:33.839 And this pastor is writing this to them to help this weak church see that everything about their story 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:38.000 was pointing forward to the end of the story 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:44.360 when God would unveil his full and final revelation to his people, the Jews, 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:47.899 and then gloriously extend it to all people. 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:57.740 He's trying to help them see that everything God had revealed to them so far had been true but incomplete. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:07.120 Not until a full and final revelation came would their whole story make sense. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:13.700 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son. 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:18.220 Let's just notice the contrast that this pastor is making in these first two verses. 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:24.019 First notice, long ago versus in these last days. 00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:27.860 This is pointing out how this revelation is progressive. 00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:30.439 Long ago, he started revealing himself. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:34.480 But then these last days, the progression is complete. 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:40.019 Now look at the two phrases, by the prophets and by the son. 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:42.019 Two different kinds of communication. 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:46.019 Two different kinds of message relaying. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:49.919 One is through the prophets, the other in his son. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:53.480 Look next at who receives the communication. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:56.279 To our fathers. 00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:58.399 He spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:11:58.539 --> 00:12:03.399 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:05.519 He's bringing it home to them. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:09.600 Lastly, the last one's kind of implied this contrast. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.860 But notice that it says, at many times and in many ways. 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:18.419 You could almost interpret that in many ways as in various parts. 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:21.019 A part here, a part there. 00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:25.120 So, God revealed himself partially, in parts. 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:27.240 But now, it's the whole. 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:34.379 Literally, the text reads, he has spoken to us in son. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:36.399 There's no article there. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.679 And so, the way you could paraphrase it almost is by saying, 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:46.960 God, having spoken partially, has now spoken son-ishly. 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.040 He almost abverb-izes it. 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:53.080 The prophets were God's spokespersons. 00:12:53.180 --> 00:12:55.400 They spoke God's revelations to his people. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:13:00.200 But the son, the son embodies God's revelation to his people. 00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.620 One commentator wrote, 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:07.940 It's as if God's people were used to hearing God's voice on the radio through the prophets. 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:11.280 But then he shows up at the front door in person. 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:13.040 In the son. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:17.059 Jesus completes Old Testament revelation. 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.360 Do you feel the weight of that? 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:20.360 God has spoken. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:24.179 He spoke partially, partially, progressively, partially, progressively. 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:25.159 And now, it's done. 00:13:26.599 --> 00:13:27.620 Jesus completed it. 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:29.019 God has nothing more to say. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:32.339 He showed up in person. 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:35.279 To communicate the message. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:40.319 And that thought leads us naturally to the second stage of the pastor's argument. 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.259 The second stage is this. 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:47.279 Jesus is the eternal son of the Father. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:50.879 Jesus is the eternal son of the Father. 00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:52.740 I'm going to warn you, this is going to make your brain hurt. 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.360 It makes my brain hurt. 00:13:55.319 --> 00:13:56.759 Let's look at verses 2 and 3. 00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:58.179 The middle of verse 2. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:01.279 He has spoken to us by his son. 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.919 And then it starts to describe the son. 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:04.919 Whom he appointed the heir of all things. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:08.179 Through whom also he created the world. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.939 He is the radiance of the glory of God. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:14.580 And the exact imprint of his nature. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.840 And he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:25.980 Here, the pastor is demonstrating Jesus' absolute godness. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:34.700 He's focusing particularly on the son's pre-existence in eternity as the son of the father. 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:37.280 And then he becomes the child in the manger. 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:39.960 So let's look at that first part. 00:14:41.300 --> 00:14:47.100 So God created the universe in all of its vastness by speaking through his powerful word. 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:53.920 We learned that from John 1 that Jesus is that creative word through whom God made the world. 00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:58.980 Mike pointed out last week too that he is the one through whom God made everything. 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:09.060 This is pointing to the cooperative effort of the father and the son participating together to speak all things into existence. 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:14.639 This child is the eternal son without whom nothing would have been made. 00:15:15.199 --> 00:15:22.119 He shares the father's absolute self-existent authority as creator of all. 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.239 But he's also the heir of all. 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.000 Did you notice that? 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:35.099 That means just by virtue of his sonship, just by being who he is as the son of the father, 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:37.620 the whole universe is his personal property. 00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:40.800 It belongs to him. 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:43.940 He owns the pews you're sitting on. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:48.399 The car you drive, the constellation Orion, 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.200 every cent you have in the bank, it's his. 00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:58.080 It all exists for him. 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:01.980 He owns you and he owns me. 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:06.539 He and the father made all things so that it would belong to the son. 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.200 But that's not all. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.000 Check out what comes in verse 3. 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:12.300 I hope your jaw is dropping already. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:18.080 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:22.000 He upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.759 Okay, let's take that first phrase. 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:28.420 Imagine the sun, S-U-N, 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.360 the sun, the star at the center of our solar system, 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:33.360 without light. 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.259 A little hard to imagine. 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.539 Wouldn't really be the sun, would it? 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:44.800 That's the image that the pastor is giving us about the relationship of the eternal sun and the father. 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:46.980 We're doing a lot of spiritual bench pressing here, guys. 00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:50.060 I'm sorry, but this is like, this is awesome stuff. 00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:57.639 In the same way that you can't separate the star, the sun, from the light of the sun, 00:16:58.339 --> 00:17:02.879 the father does not exist apart from the sun and the sun does not exist apart from the father. 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:11.960 He is the radiance, the outshining, the visibleness of the father's glory. 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:16.420 The father is glorious and he is seen to be glorious in the sun. 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:24.800 All the excellence of who God is is perfectly made seeable in the eternal sun. 00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:28.840 The pastor makes his point another way in the next phrase. 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:30.140 The ESV captures it pretty well. 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:34.340 He is the exact imprint of God's nature. 00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:39.079 When important people wrote documents in ancient times, 00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:41.879 they were on a scroll and they rolled the scroll up 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:46.559 and they poured hot wax on it, on the little, where the paper ends, 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:52.099 and then they pushed a metal or wood seal onto the wax 00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:55.839 to create an exact imprint, reduplicate, 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:57.699 reduplification, oh my goodness, 00:17:57.700 --> 00:18:06.220 reduplication of what was on the seal to show the approval that this was theirs. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:12.000 That is that word there, that exact imprint. 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:16.299 There's no difference between what's here and what's here in terms of what is there. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:21.940 But the eternal sun is not the exact imprint of what God looks like. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.620 That's not the point. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.580 God is spiritual. 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.180 He's not physical. 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:32.620 Rather, he is the exact imprint of his very being, his essence. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.720 In the words of one writer, 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:42.420 what God essentially is, is made visible in the sun. 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.759 In the words of the Nicene Creed, 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:53.060 the sun is very God of very God, light of light. 00:18:53.059 --> 00:19:01.419 All of God's godness shows up exactly and visibly in the sun. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:08.960 But just in case we're not fully clear on what this pastor is trying to say about this eternal son's unique oneness with God the Father, 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:11.960 he throws in this rather insignificant little phrase, 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:15.539 he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:20.500 Okay, don't get the Greek god Atlas in your mind, 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:23.039 the guy who's holding up the world on his shoulders. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:23.980 Don't get that in your mind. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.900 It's not like that. 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:26.660 Rather, get this image in your mind. 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:37.180 The entire universe and all of the universe's history is a rowboat floating along a steady stream of Jesus' powerful word. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:41.240 He bears it along. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:50.220 He carries all of existence to its proper end simply by virtue of his immense authority. 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:56.720 In other words, Jesus isn't just the one through whom God created the cosmos. 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.819 He's not just the owner of the universe. 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:02.620 He's not only an exact visible reduplication of God's godness. 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:09.440 He is the one whose powerful word carries on the entire fabric of space and time along to its appointed conclusion. 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:13.019 History is going somewhere. 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:19.900 The eternal son is taking it there by the power of his word. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:29.259 Every atom, every ray of light, every speck of dust, every human life, every political figure, 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:35.680 every plot of Satan is moving exactly according to the word of the eternal son 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:37.279 simply because he is who he is. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:41.079 Who else should be God's full and final revelation? 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:44.619 Stage three. 00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:52.519 Jesus is the exalted priest king of God's people. 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:57.220 Jesus is the exalted priest king of God's people. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.720 Look at the middle of verse three. 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:09.259 After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:17.519 If the author focused on the son's pre-existence and eternity with the father in the last stage, 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:25.319 now he's highlighting how the eternal son entered into the fabric of space and time. 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:31.599 That he created to accomplish the salvation of God's people. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:39.019 He came to be the priestly mediator between God and his people. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:45.579 And he also came to reestablish God's loving rule over his people. 00:21:45.959 --> 00:21:49.839 In short, he came to be their priest king. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:56.539 Now, we're going to have to flip a little bit to the middle of the book of Hebrews to kind of expand on this. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:59.439 The author expands on this idea significantly in chapter 9 and 10. 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.319 So flip there with me. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:04.379 While you're flipping, let me give you the background. 00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:11.659 Back in the Old Testament, God gave his covenant people a system of sacrifices 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:19.140 that allowed him, the holy God, to dwell near his sinful people in a fancy tent called the tabernacle. 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:24.560 And that he also gave them a whole bunch of priests, too. 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:32.040 And these priests were the people who offered the sacrifices that were animals to God on behalf of God's people. 00:22:32.820 --> 00:22:35.300 Why, do you ask, did they need to make sacrifices? 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.360 Well, God is holy. 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:41.179 Why, God's people were unholy in their hearts and actions. 00:22:41.699 --> 00:22:46.479 If they lived near him without dealing with their unholiness, it would be dangerous for them. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:48.939 Not because God's bad and mean, but because he's so good. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:57.079 The priests and the sacrifices were the way that God's people could be close to God in safety and in peace. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:01.679 The animals took the punishment for the sin of God's people. 00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:07.240 And therefore, God received that sacrifice as a substitute for the punishment that God's people deserved. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:12.779 Therefore, God's people could be near him and experience his glory and beauty without being afraid of punishment. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.579 But the problem was, these sacrifices had to happen all the time. 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.919 Daily, in fact. 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:22.399 Because God's people sinned all the time. 00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.619 Daily, in fact. 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:26.719 And the priests themselves sinned. 00:23:26.719 --> 00:23:33.119 Which meant that they had to offer sacrifices for themselves first before they could offer sacrifices for God's people. 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:42.019 So the whole system was just a temporary solution until something permanent could be done about the sin of God's people once and for all. 00:23:42.479 --> 00:23:46.359 So let's read Hebrews 9, verses 11 through 14. 00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:55.199 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, 00:23:55.799 --> 00:24:00.619 then through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:05.500 he entered once for all into the holy places, 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:08.359 not by means of the blood of goats and calves, 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:15.059 but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:20.039 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:23.719 and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:27.759 how much more will the blood of Christ, 00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:31.559 who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:36.240 purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.879 So what's the pastor saying? 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.819 Jesus isn't just the priest. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.839 He's also the sacrifice. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:51.460 He's the sacrifice that willingly lays himself on the altar as the substitute for God's people. 00:24:52.139 --> 00:24:54.599 He purified God's people as priest, 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:58.940 not only because he was uniquely qualified to be the perfect priest between God and humanity, 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:00.420 being both God and man, 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.940 but also because he offered himself as the sacrifice. 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:09.279 The whole sacrificial system and the whole priesthood were just placeholders. 00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:15.180 They were pointing forward to how the eternal Son would enter into our world as one of us, 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:19.080 descend to the lowest place of humiliation and death on a cross, 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:22.660 only to rise again in exaltation and be seated at the right hand of God 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:26.120 as the vindicated, glorified King over God's people. 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:28.220 He's not a dictator. 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:31.480 He's the king who reigns as a suffering servant. 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:35.920 He went to the lowest of depths for God's people, 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:38.380 for you and for me. 00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:40.880 And now he's exalted, 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.279 reigning on high. 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:48.140 Just move one chapter over into chapter 10 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:50.320 and look at verse 11 of chapter 10. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:57.539 He contrasts the priests of the Old Testament with what this priest has done 00:25:57.539 --> 00:26:01.419 and how it points to his kingship. 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:05.159 And every priest stands daily at his service, 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:07.319 offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.799 which can never take away sins. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:15.180 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:19.180 he sat down at the right hand of God, 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:23.379 waiting from that time until his enemy should be made a footstool for his feet. 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:25.460 For by a single offering, 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:30.159 he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:33.840 When our priest, 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.540 the eternal son, 00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:38.120 stepped into God's holy temple in heaven, 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:41.240 bearing his own blood as a sin offering 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:43.400 to take away the guilt of God's people 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.640 and accomplish our redemption, 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:46.820 he sat down. 00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:50.960 Unlike the Old Testament priests, 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.200 whose job was never done, 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:54.960 therefore they were always standing at their post. 00:26:55.620 --> 00:26:56.460 Next sacrifice. 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.840 Next sacrifice. 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.319 Next sacrifice. 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.880 Once for all, 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:06.700 this priest accomplished a one-time sacrifice. 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:10.059 And he is the unique priest and king, 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.620 and he is not standing 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:13.640 because his job is done. 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:17.200 And now he sits enthroned, 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:19.500 exalted at the right hand of the Father, 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:21.319 sharing his majesty 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:24.539 until one day all things will be under his feet. 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:27.279 Who else is more uniquely qualified 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:29.119 to be God's full and final revelation? 00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:33.859 This is what God has planned all along 00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:35.759 for the salvation of his people. 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:39.159 And he brought it about through the eternal son. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:43.439 No one else could have done this. 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:47.299 And that's what leads us to the last stage 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.559 of the pastor's argument. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:51.379 He finishes with a logical conclusion. 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:52.940 Here it is. 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:56.839 If Jesus is God's full and final revelation, 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:02.639 it's impossible to find a better alternative. 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:06.619 If Jesus is God's full and final revelation, 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:10.740 it's impossible to find a better alternative. 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:13.480 Look at the end of verse four. 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:16.700 Having become as much superior to angels 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:18.920 as the name he has inherited 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:21.339 is more excellent than theirs. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:24.180 Here the pastor introduces a word 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:25.259 that pops up again and again 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.620 through the letter to the book of Hebrews. 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:28.620 It's that word superior. 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.440 Literally, it just means better. 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.240 And in this verse, 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.299 the pastor's comparing Jesus to angels 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:37.579 and demonstrates that he is better 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:40.539 simply by virtue of the name that he has inherited. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.899 But why angels? 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.759 It seems a little random. 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:45.339 Well, in Jewish thought, 00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:47.639 the angels were God's messengers. 00:28:48.379 --> 00:28:51.659 They were the revealers of God's will 00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:52.259 and God's purposes. 00:28:52.419 --> 00:28:53.599 They were his communicators. 00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.619 They carried his messages. 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:57.139 So if God revealed something in the Old Testament, 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.839 he did it through his messengers, the angels, 00:28:58.919 --> 00:29:01.599 especially when God gave the law on Mount Sinai, 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.699 he gave it through angels. 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:07.920 They were revered as the carriers of God's revelation. 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:11.799 And these people that the pastor's writing to 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:14.039 are tempted to say, 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.799 well, Jesus is just another angel, right? 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:19.220 Just another version of God's messengers? 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:20.779 No. 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:24.740 Now, because he is both eternal son 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:27.519 and exalted priest king, 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:30.160 his name is far greater than the angel's name. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:34.940 His authority, his power, his identity is far better. 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:38.840 The angels are not the exact imprint of God's very being. 00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:42.160 The angels are not the radiance of God's glory. 00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:44.700 The angels never offer themselves on a cross 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:46.420 for God's people for crying out loud. 00:29:46.800 --> 00:29:48.460 The son is not just another angel. 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:49.980 Oh, no. 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:52.040 He has the name above all names, 00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:54.320 at which every knee will bow 00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:56.120 and every tongue will confess 00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:57.759 that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:01.440 The angels can't claim the title of savior. 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.059 Jesus can. 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:06.539 There's no better alternative to the son. 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:09.740 He is supremely superior to any teacher, 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:12.619 any supposed possessor of truth, 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.539 any motivational speaker, 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.640 any health program, 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.019 any exercise plan, 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:18.259 any entertainment package, 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.440 any earthly pleasure, 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.279 any job, 00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:21.180 any Christmas bonus, 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.940 any new car. 00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:23.599 He is supremely better. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:27.659 This pastor wants his people to see that Jesus is better. 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.740 He is superior. 00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:29.839 He is excellent. 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.779 He is satisfying. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:35.199 There's absolutely no better alternative apart from him. 00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:41.359 But neither is he a helpful add-on to our lives 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:44.299 that when things get tough can be tossed aside. 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:48.279 Either this child is the full completion 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:50.799 of what God has said and says to his people, 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:53.039 or you reject everything that God has said. 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:56.259 Either this child is the eternal son 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:58.639 who exhibits the father in every aspect, 00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:01.099 carrying your life and all of history with it 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.200 to its specific end, 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:05.299 or you forfeit a complete knowledge of who God is. 00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:09.799 Either this child is the exalted priest king, 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:11.279 or who redeemed God's people 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:13.159 through his own priestly self-sacrifice, 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:15.000 or there is no redemption. 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:17.600 There is no forgiveness of sins. 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.700 There is no hope in our lives 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:21.460 except the frightful expectation 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.540 of God's holy judgment. 00:31:23.800 --> 00:31:26.080 There is no better alternative 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:28.620 but to see this child for who he is 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:31.000 and adore him in his excellence, 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.320 in his supremacy, 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:34.060 in his immense power, 00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:37.000 and in his self-giving love. 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.779 What substitute for him 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:43.259 is worthy of your confidence and affection? 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:47.359 Whose voice would you rather hear? 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:51.440 Whose solution to your problems 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:53.319 would you rather seek? 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:57.619 I'm not sure where you find yourself this morning. 00:31:58.899 --> 00:32:01.419 This passage speaks to us loud and clear 00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:05.720 about how incredibly majestic the son of God is. 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:10.559 Let God's word about this son 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:13.099 wound and heal your heart. 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:13.159 Lord, 00:32:13.939 --> 00:32:18.159 are you putting your trust in something 00:32:18.159 --> 00:32:19.939 or someone other than this eternal, 00:32:20.179 --> 00:32:20.839 exalted son, 00:32:20.959 --> 00:32:22.039 thinking that it is better? 00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:27.039 There is no love more fierce 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:28.579 than your priest king's love. 00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:32.399 There is no redemption more effective, 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.659 no purification for sin, 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.339 more cleansing. 00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:39.720 There is no power greater than the one 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.919 who is sustaining 00:32:40.919 --> 00:32:43.500 and carrying every detail of your life 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:45.319 along by his powerful word. 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.339 You can trust him. 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:50.119 There is no message 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:51.799 more full or final 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:54.079 than the one that God has spoken in his son. 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:57.039 Let this truth pervade your mind 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:59.919 and astound your heart this morning. 00:33:00.959 --> 00:33:02.559 Let's gaze upon this child. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:05.419 He is the fullness of everything God has ever said. 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:08.119 Make him your treasure, 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.440 your truth, 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.679 your peace, 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.659 your joy. 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.319 Let's pray. 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:24.259 Father, we see that you have spoken 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:27.059 sun-ishly. 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:29.859 You have revealed yourself 00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:30.579 through 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:33.599 your son. 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.179 Oh God, 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.279 would you help us to see 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.899 how we are seeking better alternatives? 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:42.919 Would you cause us to behold 00:33:42.919 --> 00:33:43.960 and delight in him? 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.720 Would you cause him 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:50.319 to stand out in our minds 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:52.879 as exalted, 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.679 reigning on high? 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:58.700 Help us, God, 00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:01.160 to trust in his priestly work for us. 00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:05.160 Exalt him in our midst, 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.120 in our hearts today. 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.320 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:08.660 Amen. 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:38.639 Thank you.