Jesus: Supreme Over Angels and Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Exalted Position Above Angels

The book of Hebrews emphasizes the superiority of Jesus over angels, highlighting that while angels are significant as mediators of the Mosaic Law, Jesus is the exalted Son of God. His resurrection and ascension demonstrate His eternal and victorious rule, setting Him above all heavenly beings. This truth challenges believers to evaluate what they place above Jesus in their lives. It calls for a recognition of His supremacy and a commitment to prioritize Him above all else. The question posed is whether we truly believe Jesus is better than anything else we might pursue. [12:28]

Hebrews 1:3-4 (ESV): "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

Reflection: What is one thing in your life that you often prioritize over Jesus, and how can you begin to change that today?

Day 2: The New Covenant's Supremacy

Angels played a crucial role as mediators of the Mosaic Law, underscoring their importance in the divine order. However, the author of Hebrews argues that Jesus, as the mediator of the new covenant, is far superior. This comparison serves as a reminder to remain faithful to Christ and not revert to old ways. The new covenant in Christ surpasses the old, offering a more profound relationship with God. Believers are encouraged to embrace this new covenant fully and resist the temptation to return to previous religious practices. [19:34]

Hebrews 8:6 (ESV): "But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises."

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to rely on old habits or traditions instead of embracing the new life offered in Christ?

Day 3: Cultivating Awe for Christ

Living in awe of Jesus should be a daily priority for believers. Recognizing His superiority should lead to a deeper devotion and a desire to share His greatness with others. This involves aligning one's life with His priorities and resisting distractions that diminish our awe. The call is to live in such a way that the awe of Christ shapes our lives and influences those around us. By doing so, believers can inspire others to see the beauty and majesty of Jesus. [36:04]

Psalm 33:8-9 (ESV): "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."

Reflection: How can you intentionally cultivate a sense of awe for Jesus in your daily routine, and who can you share this awe with today?

Day 4: Understanding Biblical Typology

Biblical typology is a method used to see how the Old Testament points to Christ. The author of Hebrews uses this method to demonstrate Jesus' fulfillment and superiority over the old covenant. Understanding typology helps believers see the continuity of God's plan and the fulfillment of His promises in Christ. This insight encourages a deeper engagement with Scripture, allowing believers to see Christ's work throughout the Bible and appreciate the richness of God's redemptive story. [24:54]

Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV): "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ."

Reflection: What Old Testament story or figure can you study this week to better understand how it points to Jesus?

Day 5: Guarding Against Spiritual Drift

The original audience of Hebrews faced the temptation to drift away from their faith, a challenge that remains relevant today. The author warns against this drift and encourages believers to actively pursue a greater awe of Christ. This involves engaging with Scripture, prayer, and fellowship to maintain devotion and resist the pull of lesser things. By staying anchored in Christ, believers can guard against spiritual drift and remain steadfast in their faith journey. [42:21]

Hebrews 2:1 (ESV): "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."

Reflection: Identify one area of your spiritual life where you feel you might be drifting. What practical steps can you take this week to anchor yourself more firmly in Christ?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through the book of Hebrews, we are reminded of the many debates in life about what is superior, from Coke versus Pepsi to Mac versus PC. However, the most significant debate addressed in Hebrews is the superiority of Jesus over angels. The author of Hebrews, whose identity remains unknown, writes with a pastoral heart to a group of Jewish Christians likely in Rome, who were tempted to revert to the Mosaic Law. The central message is clear: Jesus is better. This is not just a theological assertion but a call to remain steadfast in faith.

The author uses biblical typology, drawing connections between Old and New Testament events, to illustrate Jesus' superiority. The principle of escalation is evident, where the new covenant in Christ surpasses the old. The structure of Hebrews alternates between exposition and exhortation, a method we strive to emulate in our teaching. The author argues that Jesus is superior to angels, not because angels are unworthy, but because Jesus is the exalted Son of God, who rules eternally and victoriously with truth and righteousness.

Angels, awe-inspiring as they are, served as mediators of the Mosaic Law. Yet, Jesus, through His resurrection and ascension, is exalted above them. The text challenges us to consider what we place above Jesus in our lives. Do we truly believe Jesus is better than anything else we might pursue? The call is to live in awe of Jesus, recognizing His supremacy and allowing that awe to shape our lives and influence others.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus' Superiority Over Angels: The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus is superior to angels, not because angels are insignificant, but because Jesus is the exalted Son of God. This superiority is rooted in His resurrection and ascension, which demonstrate His eternal and victorious rule. This truth challenges us to evaluate what we place above Jesus in our lives. [12:28]
2. The Role of Angels and the Mosaic Law: Angels served as mediators of the Mosaic Law, a role that highlights their importance. However, the author of Hebrews argues that Jesus, as the mediator of the new covenant, is far superior. This comparison serves as a reminder to remain faithful to Christ and not revert to old ways. [19:34]
3. Living in Awe of Christ: Our daily priority should be to live in awe of Jesus and instill that awe in others. Recognizing Jesus' superiority should lead us to a deeper devotion and a desire to share His greatness with those around us. This involves aligning our lives with His priorities and resisting distractions that diminish our awe. [36:04]
4. The Importance of Biblical Typology: Understanding biblical typology helps us see how the Old Testament points to Christ. The author of Hebrews uses this method to demonstrate Jesus' fulfillment and superiority over the old covenant. This insight encourages us to delve deeper into Scripture to see Christ's work throughout. [24:54]
5. Resisting Spiritual Drift: Like the original audience of Hebrews, we are tempted to drift away from our faith. The author warns against this drift and encourages us to actively pursue a greater awe of Christ. This involves engaging with Scripture, prayer, and fellowship to maintain our devotion and resist the pull of lesser things. [42:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:55] - Introduction to Hebrews
[12:28] - Why Compare Jesus to Angels?
[19:34] - Jesus' Superiority Explained
[24:54] - Understanding Exaltation
[31:37] - Eternal and Victorious Rule
[36:04] - Living in Awe of Christ
[39:38] - Prioritizing Christ in Daily Life
[42:21] - Resisting Spiritual Drift
[45:00] - The Role of the Table in Worship
[48:00] - Aligning with Christ the Victor

Sermon Clips

The author wants his audience to know that Jesus is better than anyone or anything. And this is where, as we go through the series, you just need to be constantly asking yourself, and I need to be constantly asking myself this, do I really believe Jesus is better than X? Do I really believe Jesus is better than this? [00:21:37] (19 seconds)

You will never regret worshiping Jesus. He deserves it. One of the things that I tell people, this statement is not original with me, but I've shared it so many times, is that understand this, is that following Jesus is not just right, it is also best. It's not just the right thing to do, it's what's best. [00:37:51] (23 seconds)

The decisions that we make have to be in line with the priorities of God. And so, you know, the way we talk versus over what's important to have a testimony of how Christians should act. Prioritizing work over what Christ prioritized and gathering together. Prioritizing hobbies over what Christ has said that we must do. [00:38:56] (27 seconds)

We need to make sure that we're not making decisions that go against his priorities. The decisions that we make have to be in line with the priorities of God. And so, you know, the way we talk versus over what's important to have a testimony of how Christians should act. [00:38:56] (23 seconds)

Jesus is superior to angels because he is the exalted Son of God, exalted in his resurrection, in his ascension, Son of God who eternally and victoriously rules over his creation with truth and righteousness. It's beautiful. It's awesome. [00:33:49] (16 seconds)

The author leans on that quite a bit. And there's always the principle of escalation, whereas the new one is greater than the older one. And so we see this with Jesus a lot. Jesus is a temple. He fulfills the temple, and he's a better temple. [00:05:35] (15 seconds)

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