God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJV
The Paris olympic committee ensured that few would be cheering on athletes and many would be discussing debauchery when they chose to open the 2024 summer olympics with a drag show. The outcry was widespread. The association between the performance and Leonardo de Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper led many to call it an offense to Christians. The show was exclusively perverse, intolerant, and wicked. The connection to the painting however tells us as much of the state of so called Christianity in 2024 as it does of the world. Many people claiming the name “Christian” do not know the Christ of Scripture.
After introducing the Son in Hebrews 1:1, the rest of the chapter is answering the question: Who is the Son? The question is first answered in 1:2-3 with the seven perfections of the Son. First, He is the heir of all things. Second, He is the maker of the worlds. Third, He is the brightness of God’s glory.
We know that the Son of God is perfect in His person, work, word, and ways because He is the brightness of the glory of God who is perfect in His work, word, and ways. The English Standard Version translates the phrase, He is “the radiance of the glory of God.” How can sinful mortal minds comprehend such a statement? We confess we cannot comprehend Christ’s glory exhaustively. However, searching the Scripture, we can comprehend sufficiently for faith, life, and worship.
First, the Old Testament reveals the Shekhinah Glory of God. That is, the visible manifestation of the glory of Jehovah, the LORD, to His people. God did not limit His glory to books and tradition – He showed His power and glory visibly. He revealed Himself to Moses in the fire of the burning bush (Exodus 3:2). God revealed Himself to Israel in the cloud by day and in the pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:20-22). At certain times of worship the cloud of the glory of the Lord would fill the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) and the temple (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). On these occasions the people could not remain inside for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God and there was room for no one else.
Second, God promised the visible manifestation of the glory of the Lord in a person. Back at the garden, the Lord promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). Shiloh, the man of peace, would come from Judah whom all people would serve (Genesis 49:10). Isaiah said a Child would be born and a Son given. His name would be called, “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). No longer a cloud or fire but God was coming personally to His people. God would be with us in the flesh.
Third, the promised Son came to men. His name is called, “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father” (John 14:9)? No angel, man, or other creature in heaven or in earth has the glory and title given unto the Son. The Son is not “like” the brightness of God’s glory. The Son “is” the brightness of God’s glory.
Consideration of Christ’s glory should lead both to a question and a desire. First, the question and Lord willing in the next article we will consider the desire.
Who then will you liken to the Son? Will you liken him to a bird? Maybe a four footed animal? What about picturing him as a man? The height of all folly is to change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man (Romans 1:22). To think about Christ truthfully is to think about God for Christ is God. The foolish attempt to portray the Messiah on canvas or to picture Him physically in film, book, or play. God’s glory is great, it is above all the earth (Psalm 57:11). Christ is the Lord. That is His name. He will not share His glory with anyone else (Isaiah 42:8)!
What happens when men think they are wiser than God and exchange Him for images of corruptible men? He gives them up to the uncleanness and perverse sin they desire. The drag show at the 2024 summer olympics in Paris was evil in and of itself because men dressing as women and vise versa is sinful, an abomination to the LORD (Deuteronomy 22:5). As far as it mocked Christ it was more heinous than other evils. So far as it mocked a painting… there is less to be said. The painting itself also mocks Christ. Idolatry through false images of Christ precedes, “all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness…” (Romans 1:21-28).
You may be living in some perverse sin now. Perhaps you are married to or friends with someone in such sin. You may be pulled by your flesh to trust in, pray to, or plead with mute powerless images that someone claims is the Son of God. You may be looking to Christ but the darkness around you tempts you to despair or look elsewhere. Look to false Christ’s and you will find misery. Talk to men on old paintings, they will not answer. They cannot answer. They are merely counterfeits and imposters. They offer no help (Isaiah 46:5-6). How than can you escape sin’s power, penalty, and pain?
Look with faith to the true Christ. Christ calls you to look unto Him. Everyone who looks will be saved (Isaiah 45:22). Look where God has revealed Himself – His word the Bible. The Son of God is all powerful to save to the uttermost all who look to Him by faith for this reason – He is the brightness of God’s glory.
.
.
Listen to a Sermon on Hebrews 1:3.
.
.
0 Comments