October 3rd Reflection by Bill Lynch

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

God Has Spoken by His Son

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Exaltation through Abasement

 Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere,
‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them,
   or mortals, that you care for them?
You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;
   you have crowned them with glory and honour,
   subjecting all things under their feet.’
Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,
‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
   in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’

Reflection
As the rising sun reveals itself slowly over the mountains of Tennessee, in the picture above, so too God reveals himself to us in various forms. Creation is just one of those forms in which God reveals himself. God has revealed himself in Christ Jesus most importantly of all. This passage takes us above and beyond and through creation and time to that awesome moment of God in Jesus revealed.

God reveals himself in flesh. God reveals himself in Jesus Christ. Jesus is heir to the universe. Jesus created the universe. Jesus sustains the universe. Jesus is the fulfillment of creation in his perfect glory. In Jesus we see the end from the beginning. God brings himself to all mankind in the beginning to grant eternal life in the end. Our salvation was worked out through Jesus Christ from the beginning, even when we are at the end.

We have Jesus, who began as a man and was made lower than the angels for a while on this earth. But now Jesus is a man exalted above all things on heaven and earth. Jesus suffered and died and rose again and became the fleshly result of our salvation. Jesus is the head of all salvation for what he did on this earth for us.  Therefore in the midst of the congregation and all people Jesus reveals himself as God to all people.

God reveals himself to us in the suffering and death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to see the dimensions of the salvation you graciously gave all people that you may be revealed in my life to those throughout time and space. --- Amen