Rev. Don Campbell
Hebrews 1-6
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 21, 2019, 2019
“JESUS SHARES HIS INHERITANCE”
If anyone has heard anything about Jesus, they have heard the familiar story of his birth: “And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David’” (Luke 1:30-32).
The backstory is found in our reading. We are made in God’s image, after his likeness, but the Babe in the manger 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” (1:3). He was the firstborn (1:6-9). He was the creator (1:10-14). Only one of these statements needs explanation. When the writer said that he was the firstborn, he was referring to Jesus’ preeminence as the context clearly shows (See “The Preeminent Christ,” 12/15 for a more complete study). However, the writer means something more: “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers” (Hebrews 2:10-11).
Jesus is uniquely the Son of God, but he shares his inheritance with us: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him”(Romans 8:13-17).
CONNECTIONS
1. What does John say about our share of heaven’s wealth? (1 John 3:1-3)
2. All mankind are made in God’s image, but who are the only ones who can legitimately claim to be children of God?
