Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Hebrews 1:1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamim, he has spoken to us through his Son, to whom he has given ownership of everything and through whom he created the universe. 3 This Son is the radiance of the Sh’khinah, the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by his powerful word; and after he had, through himself, made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim.[Hebrews 1:3 Psalm 110:1]
4 So he has become much better than angels, and the name God has given him is superior to theirs.; 2:5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the ‘olam haba — which is what we are talking about. 6 And there is a place where someone has given this solemn testimony:
“What is mere man, that you concern yourself with him?
or the son of man, that you watch over him with such care?
7 You made him a little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor,
8 you put everything in subjection under his feet.”[Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:5–7(4–6)]
In subjecting everything to him, he left nothing unsubjected to him. However, at present, we don’t see everything subjected to him — at least, not yet. 9 But we do see Yeshua — who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels — now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for all humanity. 10 For in bringing many sons to glory, it was only fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of everything, should bring the Initiator of their deliverance to the goal through sufferings. 11 For both Yeshua, who sets people apart for God, and the ones being set apart have a common origin — this is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers 12 when he says,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”[Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:23(22)] (Complete Jewish Bible).
When we see Jesus, we see the imprint of God's very being here on earth. We see the power of surrender--Jesus stooping to touch the despised, wash feet and bless children. The mystery of our faith and redemption is hidden in Jesus revealing the power of compassion--suffering with, and raising up not by force, but by trust in God's faithfulness alone.
The Bible, start to finish, is a profound discussion--dare I say argument--about power. There is the crumbling of the tower of Babel, the clamor of military might, the cataclysm of mountains shaking, the scream of prophets and the calloused arrogance of the powerful. From the many and various ways we might expect a God of the universe to control, Hebrews turns our focus to a Jesus who sustains with promise and transforms with servant love. Though we don't yet see everything bowing to promise, Jesus turns down force, quiets the volume, calls us sisters and brothers and teaches us to trust.
Jesus--still, small voice of God--help us hear you. Free us from the clamor. Open our imaginations to your astonishing power and enable our hearts to trust. Amen.
Paul Rohde, '82
Campus Pastor, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Hebrews 1:[ch. 1] 1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,2 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.
3 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,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. ...
[ch. 2] 5 Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.
6 But someone has testified somewhere, "What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?
7 You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor,
8 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,
9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 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.
11 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,
12 saying, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you." (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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