Hebrews 1:3 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. (NIV)
We all think we know Jesus and want Him to be our friend. In our mind’s eye, we probably imagine Jesus to look like the Bible pictures we saw as children. In those drawings, He’s often smiling, looking handsome, and doing something special for someone else. Those are wonderful, reassuring images to have in our heads, especially when we approach Him with our prayers, worries, and concerns. There is, however, a different picture of Christ, which the First Century Christians had of Jesus. To them, He was mighty and powerful, majestic and glorious – attributes that were normally reserved for local kings or even the Emperor of Rome himself.
The Letter to the Hebrews, which we begin reading today, describes Jesus in these higher and heavenly terms. The Christ that we meet in the pages of this New Testament book is the princely Son that God knows. He sits on a throne in Heaven, on the right hand of God – a placement which symbolizes His position as the Heir to the Universe and the Lord of all Creation. He is probably still smiling and handsome, but He is also majestic and glorious, a divine sovereign with authority, a heavenly king with amazing power.
One day, we will get to see Jesus like this. For the first time in our existence, we will know Him as He truly is. At that moment, we will understand that the Universe revolves around Christ, so our lives are meant to be devoted to Him. We will finally understand our own role as servants and subjects in His everlasting Kingdom.
Questions for personal reflection
When I pray to Jesus, do I see Him as my helper or king? What images do I have of Jesus, and where did they come from?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the King of all Creation and the Lord of Life. Help us to see You as You are, so we might better serve You each day of our life on Earth, as well as throughout our eternal existence in Heaven. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send them to John by email to Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s drawing is one of John’s images of Christ called “Pop Ikon.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Ikon.
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