JESUS -Name Above All Names - Studies in the Book of Hebrews #1

Text: Hebrews 1&2

Good morning to everybody gathered at the West Side Church of Christ. We have been brought together because of our great love and admiration for Jesus Christ who loved each of us to the point that he willingly gave up his life.
I can't imagine where I would rather be on the Lord's Day than with the Lord's people eating the Lord's Supper, singing the Lord's praises and hearing the Lord's word.
This morning we will begin another sermon series this time on the book of Hebrews. This is a magnificent book that for some reason or another doesn't get the attention it deserves. Lord willing we will be doing things a little different this series however, as we will be covering this series on the first Lord's day morning of each month for the next 6 or 7 months.

To start things off this morning I would like to ask the question, why?
Perhaps you could fill in the rest of the question whatever way you want, but why?
Why be here this morning?
Why come back this evening?
Why change our lives?
Why dedicate our lives?
Why change our lives and become Christians?
Why become very dedicated and zealous Christians?
Why pour our hearts into the church community?
Why remain true to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Why not go on to more exciting and challenging themes?
WHY?

I don't know how many of you are or were familiar with the television show Cheers, but the character that I really got a kick out of was the mailman Cliff. One day Frasier was trying to introduce to his cronies some culture and wanted to read a tale of two cities by Charles Dickens. Reluctantly Norm, Woody, Cliff & the rest decided to give it a try.
Frasier began, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times…"
Immediately Cliff made the comment similar to, boy this Dickens character sure liked to cover all bases didn't he?
You know that's the type of world we live in, except when it comes to the Bible and its main character Jesus Christ, its different, it has to be me or nothing to do with me.
One of the more intriguing things about the Bible in today's world is the way that the Bible has put itself into the position it is in. You see we live in a world that prides itself on this being a possibility and it would be very naļve or conceited to think this is the absolute truth. We feel more comfortable in dealing with theories and hypotheses than with conclusions.
Well, the Bible deals it straight. Either the Bible is totally right or totally wrong. The Bible is the word of God or it isn't. There is no in-between. Jesus is the One true Lord of all or he isn't lord at all. C.S. Lewis put it this way "Jesus is Lord, liar or lunatic". Jesus is the only path to God or He isn't a path at all!

So, in the book of Hebrews, the writer determines to answer our question of why follow Him?
As you read this magnificent book, you will discover that there is one major theme presented in it:
Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.
You can divide it up into three main focuses:

the Person of Jesus Christ.

the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

the New Covenant of Jesus Christ's blood.
Although we do not know exactly who wrote this book we can be sure that the Source behind these words is God. (2 Timothy 3:16,17, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

This morning we want to introduce the book by looking at the first 2 chapters. One of the things you might find about this book is that it corresponds well with the messages of Jesus in the four gospels.
The message in the first two chapters is Listen to him. Matthew 17:5

Vs.1-4- God having spoken by the prophets now speaks to us by His Son!
God spake and has spoken- God uses words to convey His will to man! It has always existed in the form of understandable messages. The writer though says, the prophets were the message bearers in days gone by, they spoke truly, but God now speaks through His Son!
God has no other avenue to convey His will today than through Jesus! What is so special about Jesus?
He is heir of all things and was an active instrument in creation. Colossians 1:16! Not only that: He is the image of God - John 14:9, made purification for our sins & sat down at the right hand of God.
What you have now is this:
why follow Jesus? He is the source of God's message to man. All things were made through him and for him. Jesus is the image of God. Jesus cleansed the sins of God's children & finally, Jesus sits in heaven beside the Father.
Now, the Hebrew writer says, not only is Jesus better than the prophets, he is better than the angels, why?
Because of his name! Ephesians 1:20,21- no body in heaven, in earth anywhere did what he did!
I ask you, why should you dedicate your life to him?

5-14- How much is Jesus better than the angels?
Jesus is God's only begotten Son (5). John 3:16, 1:14. Now, the writer tells us that angels worship him. Why is the writer bringing up angels here instead of great religious men?
We'll see later on!
Now, the writer tells us Jesus is eternal! (8,12) He is an eternal king and he will never see an end. Everything perishes and decays but not Jesus!
Heb.13:8, Micah 5:2
What you have so far is this:
Jesus is better than the prophets and the angels. What is this telling us?
Why is this important to note?
This is how he sets up now, why you and I should find the joy in being a Christian. We are serving and becoming like the one who is the express image of God!
I ask you, why should you dedicate your life to him?

2:1-4- Because Jesus is better than both prophet and angel, we should listen to him!
As Peter was told by God to not equate Jesus with Moses & Elijah, we need to see that the message of Jesus is more important than the message of the angels. When one transgressed the angel's word he paid a punishment. What was the word spoken by angels?
Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19- the Old Testament. If the Old Testament punished, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
How shall we escape if we simply neglect the great word from Jesus Christ?
John 12:48, Luke 6:46.
God does not want to punish, but the great word has been revealed to neglect it is like saying thanks but no thanks!
I ask you, why should you dedicate your life to him?

8-18- man hasn't conquered everything yet, but we do see something! (9-11- key phrase)
Jesus- the one, who is greater than all, was made lower than the angels to die on behalf of every man!
He was crowned with glory and honour for this supreme sacrifice!
Who else had died for you?
We're not asking on who died for your cause, but who died for your salvation?
This is God's grace that Jesus who did no wrong died for all of us who have!
Many sons are brought to glory because of this, Jesus the author or cause or leader of salvation is a perfect sacrifice! What did this accomplish?
His work in death destroyed the power of the devil and has delivered us who had the fear of death. The Christian can now cross the river Jordan singing My Jesus will be a waiting to help me across.
My Great-Uncle J.C. Bailey at one of his last times in India said with confidence before Aunt Myrtle died, that when he goes he will hold his wife's hand on this side and let go of it when he holds Jesus' hand on the other side.
I ask you why?
What is the Hebrew writer's conclusion:
he became like us, to become our merciful and faithful high priest- to work in our behalf (1 John 2:2) and to aid us when we are tempted. He knows what we go through, he defeated what we go through for the purpose of helping us defeat what we are going through.
Jesus is the name that is above all other names.
He has given us the living message from God that following the lead of Jesus results in purification from past wrongs, glory for those of us dishonoured and life to follow death.
Why?
Why should we follow him?
Let me ask you the great question the first two chapters of Hebrews ask:
how shall we escape if we neglect?
Are we neglecting the life and commitment that Jesus wants?
Do we put off the call to accept Jesus Christ in baptism?
Do we put off the call to love the things he loves and to hate the things he hates?

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