Hebrews 1 Devotional

The Final Word Is a Son

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”Hebrews 1:3 (BSB)

Hebrews begins with a God who speaks. In the past he spoke through the prophets, at many times and in many ways (1:1). Now he has spoken by his Son (1:2). Then the chapter piles up who this Son is: heir of everything, the one through whom the universe was made, the shining of God's own glory and the exact imprint of his being, who holds all things together by his word (1:2-3). Through a chain of Scripture quotations, the rest of the chapter shows that even the angels are servants who worship him (1:6-7, 14).

The most remarkable line sits in the middle of verse 3. After he made purification for sins, he sat down. Later the letter spells out why that matters: the old priests stood day after day, but this priest offered one sacrifice and took his seat (10:11-12). The one who sustains the universe dealt with sin himself, and the work is finished. You do not need to look for a fuller word from God than the one he has spoken in Jesus.

To think about: What voices are you listening to more closely than the word God has spoken in his Son?