Our Constant Star: Advent Day 6

Read & Journal

Read Hebrews 1:1-4. Meditate on what you’ve read by considering these questions:

• Jot down two lists in your journal. In one, write down what these verses teach you about God the Father. In the other, record what you learn about Jesus.

• Look closely at the passage. What references to light do you notice?

• How does this passage help you to understand Jesus’ eternal nature? Jesus’ role in creation? Jesus’ relationship to the Father? Explain.

• What does it mean to say that Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory” (CSB) or “radiates God’s own glory” (NLT)?

• Why is it important that the writer stresses that Jesus is “the exact expression” of God the Father?

• This passage shows us that Jesus is superior to the angels, has the divine substance of the Father, and reflects God’s glory into the sin-darkened world. If you are a Christian, this is your Savior. Are you living like these facts are true? Why or why not?

• Where in your current circumstances or thought patterns do you need to see the radiance of God’s glory? Ask Jesus to shine in those places today.

Ponder

Scripture doesn’t tell us who wrote the book of Hebrews, but whoever it was, the author packed a ton of theological truths into four short verses in Hebrews 1:1-4. Like the first few verses of John’s Gospel, this passage has much to teach us about Jesus, his role and what his Advent accomplished on behalf of believers.

To dig into this, let’s take a little time to examine a few phrases you read in Hebrews 1:1-4:

“Long ago God spoke … In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son” The book of Hebrews was likely written to Jewish Christians who were facing persecution, possibly during the reign of Nero (AD 64-68). As Jews, they would have agreed that God had revealed himself to his chosen people again and again throughout their history. He had spoken through the prophets, revealing truths about himself and pointing toward the coming Messiah. He had spoken through visions, angels, events and people. And finally, he had spoken through his Son, the Word of God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. “Heir of all things … made the universe through him” These phrases point to the overwhelming superiority of Jesus. He isn’t just some prophet or a good teacher; He is the very son of God. Jesus is the heir of all things, meaning that he will ultimately have control over creation. At the same time, Christ played an active role in creation, sharing the status of Creator with the Father. “Radiance of God’s glory … exact expression of his nature” These phrases help us to understand Jesus’ relationship to the Father. “Radiance” comes from the Greek word apaugasma, which is only used here in the Old Testament and can be translated actively or passively (“reflection”). “Exact expression” is the Greek word charaktēr, which means “impress” or “reproduction.” The imagery it calls to mind is that of a die or seal that was used to make impressions. While the Son and the Father are distinct Persons in the Trinity, they are of the same substance. The Son bears the qualities and characteristics of the Father.

Long before he came to live among us as a man and before he assumed his rightful place at the right hand of God, Jesus was and is divine. He is eternal; he shines with God’s own glory; and he has made a way for us to know the Father.

As we near the end of this first week of Advent, set aside some time to simply meditate on the wonder of what God has done for us in Jesus. In these days leading up to Christmas, we’re counting down the days and actively choosing to remember and focus on Jesus’ Incarnation, that the very Son of God put on flesh and came to live among us, to be like us, to face the frustrations and fears we face and the temptations that seek to ensnare us. Sometimes, in the busyness of the season, it’s easy to love the story and miss the wonder and power of it.

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem isn’t just a nice story. It isn’t just supposed to make us feel warm and fuzzy and loved. Don’t miss the bigger picture today.

Before the foundations of the world, Jesus was. Before the world knew day from night, our holy, righteous, powerful God was setting his plan of redemption in motion. And in the fullness of time, at that precise moment in Bethlehem, God began his rescue operation. The Son of God and the Son of Man, fully God and fully human, was here.

And his mission was to save us from sin at all costs.