Missing out the Middle Man
Opening Prayer
Jesus, You are exalted and rightly to be praised! Blessing and honor to You.
Read Hebrews 1:5-14
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[5] For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? [6] And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” [7] In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” [8] But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. [9] You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” [10] He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. [11] They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. [12] You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” [13] To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? [14] Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does the Father relate to the Son?One of the themes of Hebrews is that we have direct access to the Father through Jesus. Come boldly to him now.Angels are making a comeback. In the 2012 UK census, even 7 per cent of atheists said that they believed in angels. Angels give us a way of engaging with the supernatural without talking directly about a God of whom we are unsure. At the time the letter to the Hebrews was written, angels were of great interest in the Jewish community. They were seen as representatives of the heavenly world and God’s messengers. Angels acted as “middle-men” in people’s relationships with God. Sometimes they were referred to as “sons of God”. But if that was the case, who is Jesus?The writer uses a series of Old Testament quotations to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus over angels. The quotations are ambiguous. It is not always clear whether they refer to Jesus or to human beings. The psalms quoted would have been used in ceremonies involving Israel’s kings. In Jesus all the hopes and potential of what it means to be human are fulfilled. Jesus is the one who sits on the throne of heaven (vs 3,8), while angels – far from being intermediaries with God – are servants, not only of him but of all who, through Jesus, are made children of God (14).
Apply
At a time when many people believe in angels, how would you explain the uniqueness of Jesus?
Closing prayer
Mediator, You have given all that You might bring me back to God and for this I am forever grateful.
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