The central message of the Book of Hebrews is “Consider Christ.” In the first half of Hebrews 1:2, consider why He came. That is, He is God’s final word. Then, in the second half of verse 2 and into verse 3, we see who He is through seven characteristics of the incomparable Christ. So as we take up our study of Hebrews 1:2-3 we joyfully affirm that the best thing we can do is to preach Jesus Christ! This great text will allow nothing else. The grand theme of these verses is the supremacy of Christ as God’s final word. Christ is held up like a great jewel to the sunlight of God’s revelation, and as the light courses through it, seven facets flash with gleaming brilliance. We have given these facets names so they can be easily followed and assimilated. Christ is: Inheritor, Creator, Sustainer, Radiator, Representor, Purifier, and Ruler.

Inheritor: It is natural for the writer to first emphasize that Christ the Son is the Inheritor because sons are naturally heirs. Thus the text naturally flows from sonship to heirship (v. 2a). The writer, in stating here that Jesus is “the heir of all things,” is also consciously identifying him with the Lord’s “Anointed” and “Son” in Psalm 2. Thus Jesus is specifically said to be heir to Planet Earth and its peoples. But the promise also embraces the universe and the world to come. The immense scope of Christ’s inheritance comes from His dual functions as Creator and Redeemer. As Creator of the universe, He is its natural heir. Scripture is clear: everything in the physical universe is for Him and to Him and will consummate in Him as heir of a new creation. But in addition to His natural inheritance as Creator, as Redeemer He has also earned a vast inheritance of souls renewed through His atoning work of reconciliation on the cross. We are His inheritance! This is a mind-boggling truth, to say the least.

Creator: Having introduced the Son’s superiority as Inheritor of all things, the thought naturally moves to His supremacy as the Creator of all (v. 2b). The stupendous creative power of Christ created every speck of dust in the hundred thousand million galaxies of what we know of the ever expanding universe. Jesus was the agent in whom and through whom the entire universe of space and time was created. Everything was created by Him – everything corporeal, all things incorporeal, everything substantial, all things insubstantial.

Sustainer: But not only is He Creator, He is also Sustainer (v.3c). He is not passively upholding the universe, He is actively holding up all things. He does this by His spoken word. Just as the universe was called into existence with a spoken word, so it is sustained by the utterance of the Son. We cannot create the tiniest speck of dust; much less a mayfly, but He created the universe. He can do what we can never do, materially and spiritually. He can create in us clean hearts (Ps. 51:10). In fact, He can make us into new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). He can do it out of nothing. He can take whatever you are – your nothingness – and create a new person. There is nothing in your soul that is beyond the creative power of God. You are not an exception to His creativity, no matter how unique you may imagine yourself or your problem to be. But He is also our Sustainer. He can sustain the universe; He can sustain the struggling, harried church. Jesus is adequate for everything.

Radiator: The fourth facet of the Son’s superiority brilliantly sets forth His relation to the Father (v. 3a). The ESV translation “radiance” here is proper, as against some others that use “reflection.” Jesus does not simply reflect God’s glory; He is part of it! This is shown on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:3). It is His own essential glory, but it was also the Father’s. This is what blinded Paul on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:3).

Representor: The following phrase balances out His identity by emphasizing that He is also the Representor of God: “and the exact imprint of His nature” (v. 3b). The word translated “exact imprint” refers to the image on a coin that perfectly corresponds to the image on the die. Jesus is therefore completely the same in being as the Father. However, there is still an important distinction – both exist separately, as do the die and its image. Jesus is a superior revelation of God. When we see Him, we know just what the God of the universe is like. We know how He thinks. We know how He talks. We know how He relates to people. God has spoken in His Son. It is His ultimate communication, His final word, His consummate eloquence. Oh, the superiority of the Son!

Purifier: We have been all over the universe with the cosmic Son, and then suddenly He is introduced as the priestly Purifier who paid for our sins with His own blood. The thought almost sounds an aside – “After making purification for sins” (v. 3d). Ceaseless cosmic activity and then boom, His once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins! Actually this a cosmic achievement because Jesus did something no man or priest could ever do: offer alone the sacrifice that paid for all sins. That had to be the work of a cosmic being!

Ruler: The immensity of His cosmic achievement is given perspective by the phrase that follows: “He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (v. 3e). He is Ruler. The overarching significance here is that priests never sat down. Levitical priests always were standing, because no sacrifice was complete. But Jesus, a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, sat down (Heb. 10:11-12). From the cross Jesus shouted, “It is finished” (John 19:30) and then, reassured, took His seat forever. Jesus’ colossal work underlines the utter blasphemy of the thought that we can pay for our own sins with works of righteousness. There is only one way to purity, and that is the blood of Christ. The only way to justification is by faith in His blood (Rom. 3:25; 5:9). Lastly, there is the ultimate significance of Jesus’ sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven – and that is His ruling exaltation! It is here, in this supreme exaltation at God’s right hand, that Christ intercedes for us (see Rom. 8:34). The thought is utterly sublime but true – this glorious cosmic being at the apex of is splendor is praying for you and me! Can it really be? Yes! God’s Word says it is so.

Hebrews 1:2-3 Reflection questions:

How are you preaching Christ daily?

Do you see why we can do no better than to preach Jesus Christ?

Do you know this Son? Has His eloquence spoken to you? He is God’s final word. There is no other!