Thursday, September 6, 2018

The Brightness and Express Image of God Hebrews 1:3



The writer of Hebrews shared how “God spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets”, but has “in these last days spoken unto us by his Son”, “whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds”. In chapter one and verse three of Hebrews, we see Jesus as “the brightness of” God's “glory” and “the express image of his person” where we read:

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The verse begins, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,...” The writer began, “Who being” or “who is and is come to be” “the brightness” which means “the reflection, effulgence and shining forth of a light coming from a luminous body” “of his glory” which refers to “his opinion, judgment, view, estimate, splendor and brightness”, “and the express image” or “the instrument used for engraving, carving or stamping” “of his person” which means “his setting or placing under, substructure, actual existence and foundation which is firm”. Jesus was the full “illumination” of God's “glory”, and He was the “full impression” of what God is like.

The verse goes on to say, ...and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins,...” The writer continued, “and upholding” or “carrying and bearing with the suggestion of force or speed” “all things” which means “each, every, any, all, the whole and everyone” “by the word” or “that which is or has been uttered and given in discourse by a living voice” “of his power” which means “his strength and ability for influence and performing miracles”, “when he had” or “at the time he made, produced, constructed, formed and fashioned” “by himself” which means “his own self and means” “purged” or “cleansed, purified and washed” “our sins” which means “to miss the mark” and refers to “our mistakes, wrongs, wanderings and violations from God's law”. Because Jesus held everything within His power “by the word”, He was able to “cleanse and purify” us from our “sins”.

Finally the verse says, “...sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Finally the writer said, “sat down” or “set, appointed, fixed, settled down and conferred a kingdom on one” “on the right hand” which refers to “a place of honor and authority” “of the Majesty” or “greatness and divinity of God” “on high” which means “lofty, exalted, uplifted, eminent in influence and honor”. After Jesus rose from the dead, fifty days later He ascended into heaven where He sat “on the right hand” or “the position of authority” by God.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we begin to understand the position and power within Jesus Christ. Not only was He “like” God, but He was God come in the flesh and was able to “cleanse” people from their sins. After He paid the price by giving His life on the cross, He rose again and sits in the powerful position of power directly next to God Himself. No one else in history could accomplish these things, and no one ever will. Jesus is superior to all the prophets who spoke on God's behalf, and ultimately their words were pointing directly to Him.

Next time we see the how God's Son Jesus was “made so much better than the angels”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.




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