Hebrews 1:2-4
There is such a pastoral purpose to Hebrews 1:2-4. This is some of the most profound theology about the person and work of Christ, and I want you to see that profound theology is not at odds with your current struggles in life. The deep things of God are intensely practical for us. What the author writes in these verses should impact how we live.
Gazing into the majesty and supremacy of Christ, in both his person and work, results not only in awe-filled wonder but also in the strengthening of our confidence. Understanding who Jesus is has a direct impact on our assurance. Because Jesus is better than everything else, when we hold fast to him, we have the boldness to face the struggles of life confidently.
There are seven descriptions of the Son in this text, but they are categorized into three sections.
These verses are all about the Son. The first verse gets us to the Son and the next three describe him in his person and work.
When we talk about “person,” we are talking about who someone is, who they are in their character and nature.
Think about your best friend. How would you describe them? Maybe you would say they’re loving, friendly, and driven. That’s what we mean when we talk about Christ’s person. We are talking about who he is and what he is like. Jesus is God, he knows all, he is all-powerful, he is eternal, etc.
A person’s work differs from their “person,” but they overlap. Often, you find out about a person through what they do. Scripture teaches us about Christ’s person through his work. He intercedes, sacrifices, redeems, makes propitiation for sin, etc. So when we talk about Christ’s person and work, we talk about who he is and what he has done, does, and will do.
Realize how important it is to understand Christ’s person and work. Our assurance is strengthened as we grow in our understanding of him. Consider this: have you ever had a flaky friend? Think of the person who shows up sometimes, someone who often drops the ball. Is he the person you will ask to pick up your kids from school tomorrow? Are you confident that your kids won’t be left at school for the rest of the day? No, of course not! Why? Because of what he has displayed about himself by his character and actions. He has developed a track record and has clued you into what they are like.
So, the writer of Hebrews asks us to look at Christ, who is always faithful and consistently good. We look at the one who is always interceding on our behalf. And when we have doubts, we are reminded again that Christ is not like us. He isn’t a sinner who drops the ball. Because of the incarnation, he is like us in human nature, but unlike us, he is without sin.
Now, I want you to see these seven descriptions, and then we’ll look at them in their three sections. He is the heir, creator, radiance, imprint, sustainer, purifier, and majesty.
Notice the way the author writes these descriptions. He compares a description of the Son to a description that may seem to contradict it. In this way, Hebrews displays the wisdom and glory of God in the incarnation.
Heir and Creator
“He (the Father) appointed [Son] as heir of all things” (v 2). What does it mean for the Son to be appointed heir? The commentator Philip Hughes is helpful:
“The distinction between Father and Son in the Godhead is a deep mystery of revelation; but God is one and we must always beware of sundering the divine unity by attempting to make the divine persons conform to the limitations of our human situation. The statement that the Son was appointed the heir of all things is a statement, rather, concerning the mediatorial office of Christ. In this connection, it is worth noting that the patristic authors and their medieval followers associated the statement with the words of the messianic second psalm: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (Ps. 2:8)—words which come immediately after and belong to the declaration: “You are my son, today I have begotten you,” a text which in the teaching of the apostles was seen as bearing a particular relation to the mediatorial work of Christ (see also the commentary below on v. 5). The heirship of Christ, then, is established within the perspective of redemption: his inheritance is the innumerable company of the redeemed and the universe renewed by virtue of his triumphant work of reconciliation. “The name ‘heir’ is attributed to Christ as manifest in the flesh,” says Calvin; “for in being made man and putting on the same nature as us, he took on himself this heirship, in order to restore to us what we had lost in Adam.”
Hughes, Philip Edgcumbe. 1977. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. The New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 38—9.
Understanding the “heirship” of Christ is already difficult enough, but look at what the author puts right next to it: “Through whom also he created the world” (v 2).
The Greek word “also” can be translated as “yet.” I think translating the word as “yet” helps to display just how much tension exists between these two realities. The Father has appointed the Son as the heir of everything, and yet it was through the Son that he created the world!
Do you see the tension there? How does someone inherit what is already theirs? Didn’t Jesus create everything? How and why does the Son inherit what is his?
Radiance and Imprint
“He is the radiance of the glory of God” (v 3). The picture here is of light from the sun. The writer uses analogical language to explain that the Son is the light that shines from the Father.
Think about it: the light of the sun is no different than the sun. We know that the sun is bright because of the brightness that shines from it. It would be impossible for us to think about something bright disconnected from its brightness. The generator of the brightness and the generated brightness are distinct yet one.
Theologians spent decades thinking through the implications of this verse’s language. The Nicene creed calls the Son “light from light.” It’s hard to speak about God using human language, so we must use the language God gave us in his Word when we speak about him. Jesus explained himself like this: ”If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father” (John 14:9). They are one in their being.
But then he gives another description: He is “the exact imprint of his nature.” “Exact imprint” is the word used for stamping coins. A person would press the stamp into the metal, and what is imprinted on the metal exactly resembles the stamp. The stamp and “the stamped” are not identical, yet identical.
In other words, the writer is telling us that the Son shares in the divine essence of the Father. He is not subordinate; he is not lesser. He is not a demi-god or a created being; he is exactly like the Father in his nature. But while being of the same nature as the Father, the Son is not the Father!
Sustainer and Purifier
“He upholds (or sustains) the universe by the word of his power” (v 3). Have you ever wondered why the universe does not fall apart? It’s because the Son holds all things together.
The laws of physics, science, and nature are incredible. We refer to them as “constants” because they are reliable. If you throw a rock in the air, it will fall back to the earth one hundred percent of the time. Scientists are able to measure the vibrations of atoms and set a clock to a frequency that is accurate to the nanosecond. The universe consistently works. The Son is why they hold together. Hebrews tells us that the Son sustains it by the word of his power.
Think about the intricate attention to detail it takes to juggle. I’m only able to keep three balls in the air at the same time. On a good day, I can do it while riding a unicycle. It would be silly to compare juggling a few balls to upholding the universe. But now see what the author does: “yet made purification for sins” (v 3).
As we continue through the Book of Hebrews, we’ll get used to seeing language like “purification.” It consistently draws on imagery and language from the Pentateuch, specifically in Leviticus. The word purification is used in Leviticus to refer to cleansing, sacrifice, death, and washing.
Maybe the tension isn’t as strong here as it should be because you’ve heard the old story a million times, but look what the author is saying! God from God, light from light, the reason everything is consistently holding together, is also the one who died to purify sinful people from guilt and iniquity! Death for us involves a ceasing of our ability to do anything. How could this Son who sustains the universe by the word of his power also and at the same time die and make purification for sins?
Majesty
We are told, “he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (v 4). To sit down at someone’s right hand refers to equality. So, particularly in this case, the writer is highlighting the Son’s equality with the majesty of the Father in his exaltation. The writer is speaking of the highest position. The majesty of the Father is impossible to compare with anything on earth. We cannot possibly relate infinity with anything in our understanding.
But look, we are told he sits down because he has become as much superior to angels as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Now how on earth did the one who is equal with God in his nature become superior to angels and worthy of sitting down in majesty? Do you see how this functions with the same tension as the first part did of the creator of the world inheriting all things?
Hebrews recognize the eternal godhood of the Son, the infinite majesty and glory due to his name because of who he is in his nature. But it also acknowledges that through the accomplishments in the incarnation, the Son has been given these things in a different way. The incarnate Son inherits not simply as our God but as our Messiah—our Christ, who stands in our place.
Hebrews is a sermon on Psalm 110. Here, we read about the LORD (YHWH) saying to David’s Lord (Adonai), “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool” (v 1). Hebrews 1:1-4 explains that Psalm 110:1 occurred at the resurrection and exaltation of the incarnate Son.
We’ll have to save Psalm 110 for another post another time!
Today, Hebrews tells us that Jesus is worthy of worship because he is God and worthy to be called Son and Lord because of his finished work as the God-man.
Conclusion
Hebrews is all about showing us that Jesus is better. So what we’re reading is about the incarnate Son fulfilling the role that Adam and Israel failed. It is because of Christ’s perfect work and obedience that he is crowned Lord of all. Because the Son became man, he can inherit all things even while being Creator and Sustainer. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is crowned king because of his completed work at Calvary’s cross. He is worthy of praise because of who he is and what he has done.
Jesus is the one who accomplished and applied our salvation. He holds us and keeps us in the good times and bad. He made purification for our sins. We don’t rely on our ability to defeat sin and death; we rest in him.
Thinking deeply about Jesus isn’t at odds with our current struggles. Instead, we find comfort and peace by directing our thoughts toward Jesus and his finished work.