Show Us The Father
Intro:
How many of you remember the opening 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan? The opening of Hebrews hits with the same velocity.
1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.
In verse one and two the author flatly states: God has spoken to us in many ways over the ages, and most recently he has spoken to us through His son Jesus.
(And I’m about to show you why that is the most stark and powerful revelation God has EVER given man)
- The Radiance of Christ in Glory
- The EXACT Representation of God in Christ
- The Sustaining of the Universe by the Power of Christ
I. The Radiance of Christ in Glory
“radiance” Greek: apaugasma (ap-ow’-gas-mah)
Definitions:
reflected brightness
of Christ in that he perfectly reflects the majesty of God
effulgence (radiant splendor, brilliance)
shining forth, of a light coming from a luminous body
out-raying
(image of Rock concert)
What happens to your senses when you are hit with a bright light of this magnitude?
Do you understand what’s happening right away?
What happens to the environment around you?
David Guzik:
Jesus is the brightness of the Father’s glory. The ancient Greek word for brightness is apaugasma, which speaks of the radiance that shines from a source of light.
i. In this sense, Jesus is the “beam” of God’s glory. We have never seen the sun, only the rays of its light as they come to us.
Even so, we have never seen the God the Father, but we see Him through the “rays” of the Son of God.
ii. The ancient Greek philosopher Philo used the word apaugasma to describe the Logos, the being or intelligent mind who ordered the universe.
The writer of Hebrews explained Jesus in terms that made sense to both first-century Jews and those familiar with Greek philosophy.
II. The EXACT Representation of God in Christ
“exact representation” Greek: charaktēr (khar-ak-tare’)
Definitions:
the instrument used for engraving or carving
the mark stamped upon that instrument or wrought out on it
a mark or figure burned in (Lev. 13:28) or stamped on, an impression
the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e facsimile
(image of a mirror)
What are the potential flaws of a mirror?
Matthew Henry:
The person of the Son is the true image and character of the person of the Father; being of the same nature, he must bear the same image and likeness.
In beholding the power, wisdom, and goodness, of the Lord Jesus Christ, we behold the power, wisdom, and goodness, of the Father; for he hath the nature and perfections of God in him.
John 14:8-10
Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?
The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works.
III The Sustaining of the Universe by the Power of Christ
“Upholding” Greek: Phero (fer-o)
Definitions:
to bear up i.e. uphold (keep from falling)
of Christ, the preserver of the universe
to bear, i.e. endure, to endure the rigour of a thing, to bear patiently one’s conduct, or spare one (abstain from punishing or destroying)
(Image of upholding)
In what ways do we fail to recognize and praise Jesus as the sustainer of the universe?
In what ways do we fail to thank God for his patience with us as a creation (both globally and individually)?
Jamieson/Fausset/Brown:
upholding all things–Greek, “the universe.” Compare this to Col 1:15, 17, 20, which enumerates the three facts in the same order as here.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: 16 for [y]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things [aa]hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [ab]it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the [ac]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Close/Application:
- You can not shut the light off, but you can close your eyes.
- Do not praise the mirror, praise the image bearer of God.
- Never cease to praise God’s enduring mercy second by second.