The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the Book of Hebrews. This means that the Lord intended that the Book will be understandable for common people—in other words, good “bedtime reading.”
“We see Jesus,” it says (2:9); out of the shadows and confusion that so often prevail in our thinking, here is a clear, sunlit view of the Son of God:
(a) He is “the express image” of His Father’s person, “the brightness of His glory” (1:3). He is at the very top.
(b) He “upholds all things by the word of His power.”
(c) The same “word” that holds the Milky Way holds you and me from sin; it saves us deeply from it.
(d) The correct word that Hebrews uses is that it “purges” us from sin—a thorough cleansing. The purging process goes down into the heart and leaves us “at-one” with the Lord and at one with His vast unfallen universe.
(e) This high and holy Son of God is worshipped by all the angels.
(f) Because of His love for righteousness He is “anointed with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows” (vs. 9). In simple language, that means that Jesus is the happiest Person in all the universe.
(g) That is because He endured the cross—on which He died the second death for “every man.” That death is the final punishment for sin—the withdrawal of the Father’s reconciling face—what the Son of God endured as He hung on the cross.
(h) The holy angels minister this supreme happiness of victory over death to us “who shall be heirs of salvation.”
(i) We cannot endure the pain of the “second death,” but we can learn to appreciate what it cost Jesus to save us. This is what the Book of Hebrews wants to tell us—it’s a Book about the heart.
(j) Verse 14 (chapter 2) reminds us that in His incarnation Jesus “likewise took part of the same” nature as fallen men have, and “through [that] death He paralyzes Satan who had the power of death” (read it!).
(k) The death of Jesus did not destroy Satan; we still have him to contend with—but Jesus has paralyzed him. He is like the lions in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress who could roar at Pilgrim, but could not touch him.
(l) “The faith of Jesus” requires that we not be afraid of Satan.
(m) We are to believe Jesus when He says: “Let not your heart be troubled ...” (John14:1-3).
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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