Hebrews 1:1-3

 

About Hebrews

This letter was written to a Greek speaking Jewish congregation who had begun following Jesus but began to consider going back to the ways of the Old Covenant. The author of the letter is going to demonstrate that Jesus is far better than anything else. … This is an important concept to understand. We should always remember that Jesus is better, and nothing compares. Inverse to everything else, we should see Jesus as bigger and bigger as we grow and mature. C.S. Lewis illustrates this in a scene in Prince Caspian with a conversation between Lucy and Aslan. Aslan appears larger to Luvy’s eyes and Aslan explains that as she grows up, he will also appear larger and larger. 

 

Hebrews opens up by referencing how God spoke to His people in the Old Testament: through the prophets and various other ways (v. 1). Then it goes on to tell us how He speaks to us now: through Jesus (v. 2a). From there, it tells us why we should listen to Jesus. 

 

You should listen to Jesus because: 

  1. He is the Creator of everything (v. 2). … It’s good to be reminded that Jesus created everything. When we see the beauty of creation and experience the awe it inspires. we feel the desire to worship the One who made it. Why does this mean we should listen to Jesus? When you make something, you also know how to fix it. When we feel broken, there is only One who can fix us. The Creator, Lord Jesus. 
  2. He speaks as God (v. 3a). … The prophets spoke for God, but Jesus speaks as God. The prophets were like the moon, reflecting God’s glory at a much diminished level. Jesus is God and radiates the full glory of God. 
  3. He sustains everything all the time (v. 3b). … Jesus sustains us and all of creation. Sometimes, we get so busy it’s like we’re spinning plates that are balanced on sticks. But we hit our limit and can’t sustain it any more. Jesus never hits a limit. He is capable of sustaining everything all the time. We should listen to Him because He sustains us and our loved ones and everyone and everything else. 
  4. He paid for your sins (v. 3c). … Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. His death on the cross grants us forgiveness for our sins, freedom from our sins, and eternal life in Heaven. And He paid in full. There were no discounts, no sales, no returned items at a reduced price. He fully paid for each and every sin. Since He has shown His love for us in this way, we should listen to Him. 
  5. He is the rightful King (v. 3d). … When His work was done, He sat down at God’s right hand in Heaven. All the heroes before and afterJesus will bow down before Him. All the leaders of this world will bow down in front of Jesus. One day we will all recognize what is already realty: Jesus is lord of all. 

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

  • Exalting Jesus in Hebrews by Albert Mohler
  • Hebrews for You by Michael Kruger
  • Hebrews REC by Richard Phillips
  • Hebrews: Preach the Word Commentary by Kent Hughes
  • Hebrews ESV Expository Commentary
  • Hebrews by Grant Osborne