Much More Than Just a Man Hebrews 1
When people of the world hear the name ‘Jesus’, what do they think? Who do they think Jesus is?
Most people today, even many who claim to be Christians, would say that Jesus was just a man; maybe a great teacher or even a prophet, but still just a man.
The question of what people think about Jesus is important enough that Jesus asked this very same question. Mark 8:27.
The Jews in Jesus’ time thought much the same thing as people today; that he was a prophet, but just a man. Mark 8:28.
Peter knew that he was more than just a man. Mark 8:29.
Thomas, confronted with the physical form of the risen Christ, came to the same conclusion. John 20:28.
The first chapter of Hebrews is one of many passages which elaborate on the question of who Jesus is. The whole book of Hebrews builds a case for Christ to a Jewish audience.
This chapter makes it very clear that Jesus is God.
The following is a short list of other bible passages which either claim or directly infer that Jesus is God.
Psalm 45:6-7, Zechariah 12:1, Mark 2:5-12
Mark 12:35-37, Luke 5:8-10, Luke 5:20-21
Luke 18:18-19, John 1:1-3, John 10:30-33
John 20:27-28, Romans 9:4-5, Colossians 2:9
John 2:19-21, John 10:17-18, Acts 3:14-15
Galatians 1:1, Romans 8:11
When God made Adam and Eve, they had direct fellowship with God: face-to-face in the Garden of Eden. When they sinned, that fellowship was broken.
After that (verse 1)…God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.
Sometimes that worked, but if you know your Bible, you know that most of the time it didn’t. (Luke 13:34, Matthew 21:33-46)
(Verse 2) God’s intention when he created mankind was that we would have fellowship with Him, but God cannot have fellowship with sin and all mankind is polluted with sin. So, God reached out to us through his beloved Son. (verse 2-3a) (also Philippians 2:5-11)
Jesus rose from the dead. (verse 3b) Some people don’t believe in the resurrection, but- 1 Corinthians 15:16
The resurrection is further confirmation that Jesus is who he says he is.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that Jesus is a created being - the archangel Michael, but the first chapter of Hebrews is all about him being creator (Verse 2,10) (not created) and much higher than any angel (not any ‘other’ angel)
Verse 6 says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (see also Philippians 2:10-11) But if Jesus is not God, worshipping Him would be idolatry. (Isaiah 42:8)
No angel is to be worshipped. (Revelation 22:8-9, Luke 4:5-8)
Today’s passage makes a clearly defined distinction between Jesus and all of the angels.
Angels are fellow servants. Someday we will stand in heaven with innumerable angels and together we will all bow down and worship Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All creation is subject to decay and will eventually be destroyed, but Jesus will remain, (verse 11-12) and victory belongs to him. (verse 13) (also Samuel 2:10)
There are many wrong ideas about Jesus, so we must read (study) our Bibles regularly so that we are not deceived by doctrines that tell us what we want to hear, rather than what we need to hear (the truth). (Hebrews 2:1-3, 2 Timothy 4:3-4)
We all know many people who don’t know who Jesus really is. If we know scripture well, we’ll be better prepared to engage with them and tell them the truth in love. Keep praying for them – that God will have mercy on them and open their eyes and that they will look to Jesus for their salvation.