For a few days, I would like to examine the identity of the Lord Jesus Christ because many people are confused about who Jesus is, whilst others try hard to befuddle sincere, yet naïve Christians. Often we hear Jesus is just a man and there was nothing Divine about Him … so please join me as we consider our Lord’s identity, reading the start of Hebrews together.
Heb 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Before getting to the topic, let me deal with verses 1 to 2a.
Heb 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.
Thank the Lord that He was not silent with reference to His Rescue Plan announced in Genesis! Although an exposition of the following verse will have to wait for another time … consider God’s first promise to send a Messiah:
Ge 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Here we have what is known as the first Messianic Promise. Throughout the Old Covenant God reveals more and more detail about this promise. Verse 1 says clearly “in the past” God spoke … how? To the forefathers of Israel through the prophets. Repeatedly over the years through the prophets, God, using many different vivid methods addressing the people, yet they were stubborn, refusing to repent preferring to remain in their idolatrous behaviour, committing spiritual adultery with manmade “gods”.
Then He sent His Son to planet earth. He came preaching and teaching the Kingdom of God, yet as the prophets were rejected, He was too. If we thought John the Baptist was fiery as a preacher … Jesus was even more so! Consider this parable:
Mt 21:33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
They killed the prophets (servants) … and they killed the landowner’s (God’s) Son (Jesus). As they refused to listen to the prophets, they refused to listen to the Son of God too!
You see God spoke through His Son … “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” … even a casual reading of the Gospels reveals how the Father spoke through the Son … yet their intent was murderous!
Mt 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Other places speak of their intent to kill Him.
Now the important matter for you and me to get is … “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” … see … “in these last days”. Many look for “these last days” to be in the future, yet the way the language is constructed in this verse is that these last days are from the First coming of Jesus … His Incarnation, to His Second Coming … when He brings all things to an end as we know it and ushers in the Judgment Day and the results of that Judgment.
So here’s the thing … right now, as you read this Daily Note, you are living in the Last Days and the end of it could come at any time … even right now! Are you ready for this momentous event? Remember, once Jesus returns, there is no second chance. You cannot say to God, “Eish … give me 10 minutes to make things right with God.” When He comes, all opportunities end … it’s final … right then you are either in His Kingdom and on your way to glory … or you are outside His Kingdom and on your way to hell. You have the time right now … how will you chose?
Dear God, thank You for speaking through Your Son Jesus. Your Gospel is clear and pointed. If someone reads this note and is uncertain or unsaved, mercifully touch their heart to respond in obedience to Jesus’ call. Amen.