The Word Made Flesh

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2a)

Throughout Old Testament history, God’s interactions with mankind had been through those specially gifted individuals known as prophets. What they revealed about God through their ministrations paled in comparison with the ultimate revelation of God – God Himself, manifest through the man, Christ Jesus.

The author of Hebrews sets forth seven characteristics of Christ which point to His fulfillment of and superiority over their former ways. First God has “appointed [him] heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2b). This was expected, as the Spirit had said through the psalmist: “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Ps. 2:8). And now, “being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs” (Tit. 3:7) with Him.

Second, Christ “made the worlds” (Heb 1:2c). John had said as much in his gospel: “all things were made by him” (John 1:3a). As Creator, Christ is fully God Himself, and not to be contained solely within the confines of Judaism. Third, Jesus was “the brightness of his glory” (Heb 1:3a). Where the former prophets had visions of the glory of God (Isa. 6), truly Peter, James and John had witnessed this firsthand on the mount of transfiguration where Jesus “was transfigured before them…his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). Indeed, the apostle John indicated the vision of Isaiah was Christ Himself: “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory and spake of him” (Jo 12:41).

Fourth, Jesus is “the express image of his person” (Heb 1:3b). This might be better rendered “the exact copy of His substance.” Jesus himself said, “He that has seen me has seen the father” (Jo 14:9b). Fifth, Christ is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb 1:3c). The psalmist had attributed to God the day-to-day operations of the creation: “He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Ps 33:9). Now, however, it is clear that “for of him, and through him and to him, are all things” (Rom. 11:36).

Sixth, he has “purged our sins” (Heb 1:3d). Only God can forgive sins against God, and Christ asserted this authority many times. He carried out this authority, indicating He actually possessed it (Matt 9:6), and thereby proving His divinity, for “who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mar 2:7). Finally, Christ has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3e). The work of a priest (i.e. an intercessor to God on man’s behalf) was an ongoing task. As man continued to sin, more intercession was needed. By His dying words on the cross, Christ declared the priestly function completed and took His place at the right hand of the Father. In the same way, God’s revelation of Himself to mankind was fully revealed through His Son, the man Christ Jesus. Amen. RST