READ: Hebrews 1
This first chapter of Hebrews is like a testimony on a witness stand in
a court of law, or a document used as a piece of evidence. This chapter is
proof of who Jesus is and who the angels are. When we read through the first
four verses we see how God has given Jesus a special role, and given Him all
that He is and has. God has kept nothing apart from Jesus. Even the very name
God gave Jesus is above all other names.
If we just looked at Jesus and saw this much (that Jesus had the very
nature and imprint of God, and that His very Name gave Him authority over
everything) we would have enough evidence to testify that Jesus is God. Yet,
much of this chapter is spent paying attention to what God Himself says about
His Son.
The Jews understood that God was the final authority and Creator. He was
above all things and nothing else should come between them and God. Nothing. No
one. If anything did, it would be breaking the first two of the Ten
Commandments. So for them to see quoted from their very own Scriptures what God
has said of Jesus must have been mind-blowing. If we put ourselves in the shoes
of those early believers, it is easy to understand why so many could not accept
Jesus. They were diligently obeying the Law! This is why it is so important
that God Himself – in His very own words – explains who Jesus is.
Jesus’ identity was confirmed by what God has said about Him and to Him.
Because the Jews understood that God cannot lie, and if God said these things
in their well-accepted Scriptures, how could they then go against what God
said? This chapter establishes the identity of Jesus based on God’s
relationship with Him.
Verse 9 of this chapter holds a nugget of blessing for us. It says, “…therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” This basically says that
Jesus was anointed more than anyone else – more than people and more than
angels – with joy. The fullness of joy can only be found in Jesus. There is
nothing else and no one else who will bring as much joy as Jesus.
This means those who have much, or those who have little, those whose
life circumstances are awful and tragic, and those for whom life seems to slide
along smoothly… all have the same access to joy. Because Jesus is the fullness
of joy and we all have access to Him, there is nothing that can hold us back
from joy except our own unwillingness to embrace him. This is truly a blessing
that can never be stripped from us!
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1.
Take a few minutes to worship Jesus for who He is.
Let Him know how majestic, powerful and amazing He is. If it is helpful to you,
consider turning on a worship song that helps remind you of His magnificence
and sing along or use the words as launching pads for your own words of praise.
2.
Are you full of joy? Ask Jesus what is holding you
back from experiencing even more joy in Him. Ask Him what you need to do or
know today that will raise the level of joy you are living in right now.
3.
Jesus’ identity came from what God said about Him.
Where does your identity come from? Who does Jesus say you are? What does He
say about you? Spend the next few days listening to what the Holy Spirit says
about your identity.
