Hebrews 1-2

What’s Happening? 

Aptly named, the book of Hebrews was written to Hebrews—people of the Jewish faith. As Hebrews, they prized the Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament, above all other revelation. After all, their Scriptures were delivered through burning bushes, mountaintop miracles, powerful prophets, and notably, even angels themselves. But now, other Jews are claiming that there is a new revelation from God spoken through a Jewish carpenter named Jesus. Understandably, many Hebrews were extremely skeptical. 

So in the opening chapters of Hebrews, the author shows his Jewish readers that Jesus is a better messenger than even the angels who delivered their Hebrew Bible. In the past, God used angelic servants to communicate with his people, but now he has spoken to them through his Son, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2, 5-7). Jesus is not a just servant but the Creator-God himself (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus is the rightful heir of God’s universe and so the ultimately authoritative messenger (Hebrews 1:5). Whatever he says carries an authority and power no angel has ever had (Hebrews 1:4). And the message he brings is that he has been given all authority to pardon sins, do justice, and judge evil (Hebrews 1:8-13). 

The author warns his readers not to reject Jesus’ message. In the past, to disobey or reject messages delivered by God’s angels came with stiff consequences (Hebrews 2:1-2). So, rejecting the authoritative message of God’s Son would invite an even more dire punishment. (Hebrews 2:3-4). No reader of Hebrews who believes in the authority of angels should reject the authority of God’s Son. 

Besides, according to Scripture, mortal humans have always carried more authority than immortal angels. In Psalm 8, the psalmist reflects that while God made humans “lower” than angels (since humans can die), God nevertheless gave mortal humans authority over all of creation (Psalm 8:4-6; Hebrews 2:5-8). And while no mortal has experienced the full authority God intends for us, God has made himself mortal in Jesus—and he has been crowned as the ultimate authority over all creation (Hebrews 2:9). Unlike angels who have always remained immortal, Jesus became mortal for our sake so that through his own suffering, mortality, and resurrection he can raise all mortal humans to the authority God has always intended for them (Hebrews 2:10). 

Jesus is a better messenger than any God’s people have received in the past. He has delivered a better message, so his Hebrew readers should listen to him.

Where is the Gospel?

At one point, the author of Hebrews tells us it’s “fitting” that the Creator-God would save his people from mortality and death by suffering and dying himself (Hebrews 2:10). It’s fitting because Jesus considers us his family—his brothers and his sisters (Hebrews 2:11-13). And since Jesus’ brothers and sisters had bodies and bones cursed with suffering and death, it was fitting for Jesus to take on body and bone if he is to free his family from suffering and death (Hebrews 2:14-15). God has never acted this way towards the angels—only to humans (Hebrews 2:16).

And since God has become human in Jesus, since he has suffered like us, and since he has been tempted like us, he not only delivers a better message—he is our message (Hebrews 2:17-18). In Jesus’ death our sins are pardoned, justice is done, and evil is judged. And in his resurrection Jesus has taken his throne and restored humanity's authority over all creation. Unlike any angel, Jesus has, in his own body, both delivered and lived the message that humanity will one day rise to rule. And while it’s true we don’t experience our authority as fully as we would like, our brother Jesus has been crowned and is waiting for his family to join him.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who has spoken to us through his Son. And may you see Jesus as God’s Son who is given all authority to save humans like you and me.