September 14, 2020

The J-Word

Hebrews 1

Mark De La Torre
Monday's Devo

September 14, 2020

Monday's Devo

September 14, 2020

Central Truth

Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore He is superior to angels and all of creation. His name and identity as the Son make him worthy of all glory and all of our praise.

Key Verse | Hebrews 1:3b-4

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 1

The Supremacy of God's Son

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be to him a father,
    and he shall be to me a son”?

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God's angels worship him.”

Of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds,
    and his ministers a flame of fire.”

But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
    the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

10 And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11  they will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment,
12  like a robe you will roll them up,
    like a garment they will be changed. 1 1:12 Some manuscripts omit like a garment
But you are the same,
    and your years will have no end.”

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Footnotes

[1] 1:12 Some manuscripts omit like a garment

Dive Deeper | Hebrews 1

My wife and I are days away from the birth of our first child. Consequently, we have discussed many names. We want the name of our son to have a significant meaning for his life. We chose the name Will ("determined protector") Everett ("brave") because our prayer for Will is that in a culture of compromise, he would be a man who is a brave and determined protector of the purposes of Christ.

In a similar way, the author of Hebrews begins this book by talking about the power of a name. The writer desires to show Christ's superiority over others and starts by proving how Jesus is superior to angels. Hebrews 1:4 argues that this comparison is as simple as stating that Jesus has received a far more excellent name than the angels. The author goes on to explain that the superior name that Jesus has received is "Son of God." No angel has been named as God's Son, and therefore none has the power or the inheritance that comes with that name. Therefore, Christ is clearly superior to angels.

Philippians 2:9-11 says, "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord . . . ."

For most of my life, when I would hear that "there is power in the name of Jesus," I would understand that to mean, "Jesus is powerful." It was not until I was in Cuba last year, where witchcraft was predominant, that I understood that there was truly power in simply uttering the name "Jesus." I could say any word to these people without reaction, but there was a physical change in their demeanor after I mentioned the name of Jesus.

Chuck Anderson, one of my mentors, has told me: "We live in Dallas, Texas. Everyone is willing to talk about God, but it is when you drop the J-word that everyone freaks out."

Today, proclaim boldly the good and powerful news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you speak the name of Jesus with boldness? If not, what hinders you from doing so?

2. Your mouth may speak the name of Jesus with boldness, but does your life support your proclamation that Jesus is truly the Son of God? What should characterize your daily life when you have come to understand this truth?

3. What are some other names that are given to Jesus in the Bible that particularly encourage you?