The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ~Hebrews 1:3
We’re starting Hebrews at church this week, and therefore, on my blog as well. As an academic, I love this book – the author writes it like a research paper, gathering all the possible references on a variety of topics, methodically making his case for the deity of Christ. But taking that academic hat off, this book is somewhat frustrating. It is among the least written about and preached on books in the New Testament; in my opinion this is because it doesn’t read as easily as the other epistles, the author is not known, and it reaches back into the Old Testament in ways that other New Testament books simply do not.
But within that, there are some gems on truth that cut to the soul.
Scholars debate who the author is on this book, but whoever he was, he had a truly unique way with words.
Back when I was single and therefore had a room to decorate all on my own, I used to find those gems and create word art for my walls. Some of my absolute favorite Bible verses come from this book. The one I pulled for today is one of those verses.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory.
Radiance. Do you radiate anything? My kids radiate energy and words. They can talk your ear off without even asking permission first.
Jesus radiates God’s glory. My boys’ words disappear the instant they’re spoken, but Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago and still that radiance is felt today. When Moses ascended the mountain to receive the Law back in Exodus, it was said that he radiated God when he came back – he had a unique glow to him. But that faded too because Moses was human. Jesus continues to radiate God’s glory.
And yet grammatically, it’s actually God’s glory that radiates Jesus. In our human logic, the thing that is radiated is always something intangible – light is radiated from the son, energy is radiated from an energetic child. It cannot be touched yet effects everything around us. If Jesus is what is radiated, that’s a whole different dimension that I cannot comprehend. What is the source of this radiance? God the Father. Jesus is the EXACT representation of Him. More exact than a two copies of the same book. Jesus is EXACTLY like the Father.
The Son sustains all things by His powerful word.
Jesus spoke the world into existence. Genesis just says God created the world. John 1 clarifies which part of the Trinity did the speaking: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things were made through him…And the Word became flesh (John 1:1, 3, 14).
Jesus spoke and the world came to be. Of course He can sustain all things. I don’t even know how to pull that into an application except to praise Him. He who spoke this world into existence can sustain each of us through our struggles, our fears, our busy calendars. He created us to worship Him, and as He sustains everything, He will also rearrange your life in order for you to be able to fully worship Him. And just like He used words to create the world, He made us in His image, using primarily words to worship Him, often set to melody or a whispered prayer.
When salvation was complete, He sat down beside God the Father in heaven.
Did Jesus take a break? Maybe. The Bible talks a lot about the Sabboth. But Jesus is also ruling from there. How can our God be One and yet Jesus is sitting beside the Father? I don’t know. All I know is that I’m thankful He sent His Son into the world to save us, and that He continues to send His Holy Spirit to teach and to guide us.
Someday when we see clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12), the mysteries of how all that works will make sense. In that day, we will praise Him all the more.