Hebrews 1:2 tells us that in these last days God has spoken to us through His Son. This passage demonstrates how God’s speaking and revealing Himself through the Son is a proclamation, is personal (being), and is event (what He does). To put it another way, Jesus is something God speaks, something God is, and something God does. We have looked at Jesus as proclamation and as being, this week we turn to Jesus revelation as something God does. We see the Son doing four things in this passage and each reveals something extraordinary about the character and nature of God. What these great acts reveal about God can be seen by examining what is required for the Son to do what He has done. In other words, what does it take to pull of any one of these great acts of the Son?
First, He created all that fills time and space, in the physical and nonphysical realms. What does it take to pull off creating the time-space continuum of the universe? It requires the wisdom and intellect to create the very laws of physics that govern and operate the ordered universe. That is, the ability to conceive of the very dimensions that all the laws of physics seek to unravel! But, even beyond this uinimaginable brain power, it also requires the capacity to bring into very existence what does not exist. This would require a source of power and ability that is inconceivable. Man has been able to make great strides in understanding the intelligence and vast brain power behind the order of the universe, we don’t even have a category, or field of study to examine or explain how the material universe came into existence! Thus, the creation of all things reveals a wisdom, power, and pure ability that goes vastly beyond our ability to comprehend!
Second, the Son sustains all that He has made. The universe is not simply a machine that God created, and is now able to run all by itself. The Son is actively carrying it along toward a clear goal and purpose. Any machine requires energy to run. The energy required to run the universe is immense to say the least, but it can and has been measured. At one time, scientists were convinced that since the expanding universe is using up energy, the expansion of the universe must certainly be slowing down (like a ball hit with a bat gradually slows down and eventually falls to the ground). But in 1998 the discovery was made that the expansion of the universe is actually accelerating! How is that possible? Scientists have no idea, but they have given it a name, dark energy, and dark matter, to describe a phenomenon they cannot see or account for. But the writer of Hebrews knew how it is possible - the eternal Son is sustaining it, bearing it along to its final goal,. And that simply by His unlimited energy! This reveals the incredible and endless power of God, and that He is a God who acts and works with great purpose, not randomly.
Thirdly, the Son makes purification for sin. What is noteworthy here, is that the work of creating and sustaining the entire universe is accomplished by the Son effortlessly as He simply speaks and it is done. But, that is not the case in the work of dealing with sin. In making purification for sins, the eternal Son must become the incarnate Jesus. God must unite His infinite, divine nature with a human nature in the physical body of a baby in Bethlehem. This was required because the only way for a just and holy God to deal with the penalty and consequences of sin was to become a man and take upon Himself the full judgment of sin, which is death. If creation shows the incredible wisdom and power of God, His work of redemption shows both is unswerving justice and commitment to do what is right, and His infinite love for the people He created in His image!
Lastly, Jesus the incarnate Son, after dying for sins, rose again and sat down at the right hand of majesty. He sits on the throne of God - a place of highest authority and honor next to the Father. What is required to rule over all of heaven and earth? Nothing less than one who is supreme in wisdom, power, righteousness, love, and the very glory of God! The universe needs a King, and who else would anyone want to rule over all things?. Jesus alone, is worthy to sit on that throne - the one who made all things, sustains all things, became one of us so He could suffer and die in our place - that is the one who reigns and before whom we worship!
