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Devotionals Hebrews

Saviour

Today we consider the Sixth Wonder of Jesus as we unpack Hebrews 1:2-3 to grasp the Identity of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have seen Jesus’ Lordship as He is Heir of everything that exists

Heb 1:2 whom he appointed heir of all things

Jesus is the Creator, together with the Father and Spirit

Heb 1:2 through whom he made the universe

Jesus is Light

Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory

Jesus is the Image of the Father

Heb 1:3 the exact representation of his being

and Jesus is the Sustainer

Heb 1:3 sustaining all things by His power Word

Now sixthly we see Jesus as Saviour. Like you, I do not believe in coincidence! In us looking at the Identity of the Lord Jesus today we see Jesus as Saviour or Healer… and today is Good Friday.

Heb 1:3 After he had provided purification for sins

I am caution in using the word “healer” because for many, as they hear the word “healer” they immediately think that “healer” means healing diseases. This is not what the text implies, and neither does

Isaiah 53:5 by his wounds we are healed

or

1 Peter 2:24 “by his wounds you have been healed”

Mean or imply physical healing. Look at both verses in their context:

Isa 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all

1Pe 2:22 “He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

In both cases Jesus is given as Healer, but not in the physical sphere! The context of both verses show Jesus as Healer, as in Saviour from sin. Always remember we need to place Scripture into context to prevent making a few words a pretext, meaning we superimpose our intention onto the Word in place of letting the Word say what God intends it to say. Now think of the primary purpose of Jesus’ coming to planet earth. Paul put it like this to Timothy:

1Ti 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

Jesus came to heal man … by dealing with his sins so that he will stop rebelling against God so that the relational break between God and man might be healed … restored … so that reconciliation might be what it was initially and intended to be in the Garden of Eden. Today being Good Friday or perhaps better, Bloody Friday or even Sacrificial Friday, we need to ask the question … What did Jesus do on the Cross? The writer to the Hebrews comes to our defence, saying:

Heb 9:26b But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Another question to ask is … What then is the main issue of His sacrifice? There are two aspects. The first is “penal”. Jesus suffered in our place as He paid our sin price. The other is “sacrifice” … Jesus shed His blood for us! You see, only blood pays for sin … and the blood needed to be pure … sinless blood. So in Jesus shedding His blood, the blood was the blood of a righteous life; the blood of a sinless being … because that blood and that blood alone cleanses and delivers from actual sin and guilt in this life … and … that blood cleanses and delivers from the power of future sin and guilt in this life … plus …. that blood delivers from the presence of sin and guilt in the life to come. The word purification in our text is a great word. When you think of man who is sin laden … because of sin he cannot live in harmony with his fellow human kind nor can he live in harmony with the rest of creation.

Ro 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

From Genesis 3 that’s the condition of creation and mankind. Sin affected and affects the smooth working of a perfect universe! Now let’s think of the blood again:

1Pe 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

That’s waiting for you and me who believe! Yet in the present reality it is different … we rejoice in what will be and look for that … but:

1Pet 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Remember … Jesus’ Blood purifies … His blood cleanses. This is how it works: When God saves a soul, God breaks the power of the indwelling sinful nature at the moment you place your faith in the Lord Jesus! He purifies you; He cleanses you; He accepts you as if you have not sinned … because the Blood cleanses you of all sin and guilt! Then … at death … you lose that sinful nature and receive a glorified body where you only have the divine nature indwelling. That is what the blood does … It saves you in this live from all sin and guilt and saves you for the next life to be like Jesus. That is the restoration of God’s image and likeness completed!

Dear Lord God Almighty … as I consider the Identity of Your precious and glorious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for me … my only response is … Thank You my Lord and God. Help me to live worthy of the glorious restoration of the image and likeness intended for me. To You be glory through Jesus … Amen.

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