As I was driving home after meeting a friend for lunch today, I was once again struck by the beauty and the wonder of the cloud formation in the skies. There are people who love to “cloud gaze” as opposed to “star gaze”. Depending on your imagination, it’s quite remarkable what you will see as you look at the various shapes the clouds tend to form as they drift through the skies. It’s rather fascinating what you could see … the wonders of the clouds. Today we conclude our short study looking at something far greater than the wonders of the cloud and their formation and shapes … far greater than the Seven Wonders of the World … we look at the Seventh Wonder of the Seven Wonders of Jesus revealed in Hebrews 1:2-3. I include verse 1 and 2a because we actually started there.
Heb 1:1 “n 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.
In seeking 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
Jesus is the Sustainer
Heb 1:3 sustaining all things by His power Word
Jesus is the Saviour
Heb 1:3d he had provided purification for sins
and now today we see Jesus is LORD.
Heb 1:3e he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven
The Levitical priests never sat down when they went about their work … be it at prayer or praise or sacrifice … they were always standing. What is significant about their standing is that their work was never done. The slaughtering of bulls and goats were ongoing. It was endless … yet it could never remove sin! It could never deal with sin once and for all. Yet our Lord Jesus’ work on the cross was a once, for all sin sacrifice. When He died substitutionally, He did so for all the sin of all believers of all time. His work was completed at His death … for there He paid the sin price in full because He offered the perfect sacrifice, which the Father accepted … so no further sacrifices were needed. This is why He sat down! No more sacrifices … the end of the Levitical Priesthood and its animal sacrificing! This is reason the Curtain in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom … we no longer need a mediator in the shape of an earthly priest. We have direct access to the Father through the Son! You see, the Son … “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven!” Yesterday we saw Jesus as Saviour or Healer from sin … today we see Jesus risen … He not only rose from the dead, He ascended into heaven and is seated at the “right hand of the Majesty in heaven” … that position is the power seat. He is LORD. You have to remember that Jesus the Son of God together with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are One God … therefore Jesus on the power seat means that the Father reigns through the Son by the Holy Spirit.
The word “LORD” comes from the Hebrew word “Yahweh” (I add the vowels) which when translated into Greek is “Jehovah” and then into English is LORD. LORD is God’s proper name. As you read through the Scriptures you will often see God’s name given as “LORD”. Small caps are used to depict that this is a holy name. It is not a title … it is God’s proper name. A name to be honour, loved and revered. When God dealt with Abram, He used this name
Ge 15:7 He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”
8 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” Abram responded in reverence … “O Sovereign LORD”.
Many call their “gods” lord … but none are LORD. When the Bible calls Jesus LORD …
Rev 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers
… it makes Jesus equal to the Father who is also called like this.
1 Tim 6:15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
So here is the important thing … If Jesus (God) is Lord of lords and King of kings … and as you cannot separate God from His Word … you cannot separate God as Lord from His name LORD. Now for Him, Jesus to be your Lord and you call Him LORD, it has to mean that He is Lord over your heart (emotions), soul (spiritual dimension), strength (your body, energy and deeds) and your mind (both the intellectual or academic as well as the thought pattern, scheming and intentions). He must be Lord of all because He reigns over all from the Power Seat in glory.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the heavens and earth. Mercifully help us never to be blasphemous as we carry Your name because we are Christian. Help us to live for Your glory, always. Amen.