JESUS IS ABOVE ALL - Hebrews Chapter One

This was preached as a sermon so the format is a little different. 

A visitor came to see a friend at his home and was surprised to discover hanging upon the wall of his friend’s bedroom a faded, water discolored life preserver. He asked why is that hanging on your bedroom wall.

His friend replied, “That isn’t an ordinary life preserver to me. It kept me afloat for ten hours after the steamer on which I had embarked had been sent to the bottom of the ocean by a submarine. I keep it where I can see it the last thing at night and the first thing in the morning. It helps to keep me thankful and appreciative.”

If Christians kept Christ before them more consistently, they would not only be far better Christians, but far more grateful Christians. The thought of pleasing Christ would be with them the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.

A proper vision of Christ High and lifted up will keep us doing what we are sup post to do and it will keep us from doing those things that we should not do.

So tonight we are going to take a look at Jesus. Hebrews chapter 1.

Jesus is Above All

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. Heb 1:8 But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom. Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Heb 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; Heb 1:12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Renan, the Frenchman, said, “In Jesus is condensed all that is good and exalted in nature.” Thomas Paine, the infidel said, “The morality that He preached has not been exceeded by any.” Disraeli, acknowledged the fact that, “Jesus has conquered Europe and has changed its name to Christendom.”

Thomas Jefferson said, “Jesus Christ has given to us the most sublime and benevolent code of morals ever offered to man.”

David Strauss, said, “Jesus remains the highest model of religion within the reach of our thoughts.”

While those men acknowledged that Jesus was good, and moral, and that Jesus had great influence. Their view of Jesus totally misses the mark. They refused to see Jesus for who He really is.

Jesus is more than a good man. More than a religious figure. More than a man who taught morals. He is so much more. Jesus is above all.

Have you really seen Jesus High and Lifted up? Do you realize His great position? Do you see Jesus above all? Do you let that great truth affect what you do and what you don’t do?

Tonight let us consider some of the ways that this text shows us that Jesus is above all.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, …

First Jesus is above the prophets.

Here we have a contrast between the old and new revelations. The old came in bits and pieces over the course of many centuries. The new came by the Son. The prophets spoke the Word of God - Christ is superior because He is the Word of God.

The prophets were vehicles to record God’s Word – Christ is the embodiment of The Word.

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

God’s revelation of Himself to man in the past was done thru dreams and visions and prophets. And while the prophets were good men like Moses, or Elijah, or Isaiah they are nothing compared to Jesus. What God gave to them was indeed truth. But it was often in type and figure.

Now God’s revelation of Himself to man became visible, tangible, and personal. He could be seen, touched, and listened to. Man could now watch the principals of the Word of God lived out before them by the perfect sinless almighty Son of God.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, …

If speaking by the prophets was sufficient then God would have stopped there. But it was not sufficient. God was not done speaking to man. There was yet to come a better way. The best way. God would reveal Himself to man directly thru the Son.

There were many who put Moses and the prophets on a pedestal. They idolized Moses but did not care for Jesus. They had it all messed up and backwards. Jesus is above the prophets. Jesus is above all.

Many people missed that fact back then, and many miss it today. Some will idolize some dead prophet. They got it wrong. Today there are those who will idolize some preacher. They will put their eyes on a preacher and not keep their eyes on the one who is above all. They got it wrong. Keep your eyes on the one who is above all teachers, preachers and prophets. Keep your eyes upon Jesus.

Second Jesus is above all, for He owns all

Heb 1:2 …whom he hath appointed heir of all things

Jesus is the designated Heir of All Things. God the Father has declared it. Everything belongs to Jesus. He has been appointed heir of all things. All things. Wicked man does not like that. They will often rage against it. This is mentioned in Psalm chapter 2.

Psa 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], Psa 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

The wicked will rage but it is in vain.

Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psa 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.

God the Father has given it all to Jesus and He has the right and the power to do what He wills with what is His.

Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Psa 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.

Be careful how you treat Jesus. Everything is His. Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills. Psa 50:11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field [are] mine. Psa 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof.

Psa 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: Psa 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

You might have some problems, but if you are saved you also have Jesus. He owns all things. He has infinite resources to help you. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Third Jesus is above all, for He created all.

Heb 1:2 …by whom also he made the worlds;

Jesus truly is the Great I Am. He made the worlds. All the fish in the seas and all the animals on the land. From the powerful eagle to the fragile Jelly fish. From the fast cheata to the slow snail. From the terrifying lion to the tame lamb. Jesus made it all.

He made the worlds. Plural. That is more than just planet earth. Go out at night and gaze upon the heavens. See the uncountable number of stars. Each one a sun. Many of which dwarf our own sun in size. All that great expanse. All the comets, the nebulas, moons, planets, and stars. All of it was made by Jesus.

The entire universe. With all of it intricate deltails and complexity. Man and all his investigating and studying cannot even scratch the surface on understanding even a fraction of it all.

And Jesus just spoke and it was done.

Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. Psa 33:7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Psa 33:9 For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.

If you only think of Jesus as a babe in a manger, you are not seeing the whole picture. If you only think of Jesus as a man on a cross, you are missing it. Jesus is so much more. Jesus is the creator. Jesus is above all. Jesus is above the prophets. Jesus is above all, for He owns all Jesus is above all, for He created all.

Forth Jesus is above all, for He upholds all things by the word of his power.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,….

Everything is held together by Jesus. We look at the universe and see what we call laws. There is the law of gravity for example. They can understand the math and figure the pull of gravity, but no one understands how gravity works. Scientists cannot figure out why all the parts of atoms don’t fly apart.

I can explain it all in one word. Jesus. He made it all and He holds it all together. And He makes sure that it all goes according plan. An asteroid could come and hit the earth and destroy everything. Lost men like to write books and make silly shows about that. They like to speculate how it will be winter all the time. But I know that it will never happen.

Gen 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Winter will come and then spring and then summer and fall. And day and night shall not cease. Why. Because Jesus who is above all, keeps it all running according to His plan. When Jesus speaks the physical universe responds. And He upholds more than the physical laws of the universe.

Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He puts kings into power and He takes them out of power. In His wisdom sometimes He gives men a David or a Solomon to rule, and sometimes He gives a Saul.

You might be surprised at what goes on, but none of it is a surprise to Jesus. Jesus is above all. Jesus upholds all things.

Fifth Jesus is above all, for He purged our sins by Himself.

Heb 1:3 …when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

On the cross Jesus cried out loudly and triumphantly it is finished. He had by Himself purged our sins. No one helped Him. No one could. There was no one else qualified. He was the only one that was that could finish the work. He was the only one to live a sinless life.

The Old Testament Tabernacle is a very interesting study. We spent 3 months on it a few years ago in Sunday school. Every piece of furniture pointed to Jesus. The altar, the candlestick, the laver, the Table of Shewbread. All of it. But I find it very interesting that something is missing in all the furniture. Something that man puts in every home, every office. You are sitting on one right now.

No chairs. No place to sit in the Tabernacle. Why? Because the Old Testament Priest’s job was never done. They were never finished. Man’s sacrifices can’t finish the job.

Heb 10:4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; 1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Rites cannot save you. Sacrifices cannot save you. Eating a cookie cannot save you. Some man cannot save you. Only Jesus. He did it all by Himself. When he had by himself purged our sins. You cannot help Jesus get rid of your sins. Your good works do nothing to purge sins. Your baptism cannot take your sins away. Jesus did it all by himself. All you can do is accept it.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus paid it all. Out of Love He went to the cross for you and for me. Jesus is worthy.

Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Jesus is above all for He purged our sins by Himself. No one else could.

Sixth Jesus is above all, for He is sat down on the right hand of God the Father.

This is the ultimate position of honor. This place belongs to no one else. It belongs to Jesus and Him alone. Only Jesus is exalted in this way.

Phi 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Phi 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; Phi 2:11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

No one else is given this position. God the Father has highly exalted Jesus, above every one and every thing. And God the Father will never exalt anyone else this high. I am here to tell you tonight that Jesus is above all.

Seventh Jesus is above all angels.

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

The answer to those questions is no one.

God never said to the angels, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. God the Father never said to the angels, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son. What did God the Father tell the angels. Let all the angels of God worship him.

There are many references to angels in the Old Testament. They are powerful, immortal and awesome. They were God’s executioners, protectors, helpers, and witnesses. It took only one angel one night to wipe out an entire army of 185,000 men. They are powerful. But they are nothing compared to Jesus. Jesus is above all. Look at what God the Father said to the Son.

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Eighth Jesus is above all for Jesus is God.

In verse 8 you have God the Father calling the Son God. Jesus is above all because Jesus is God.

Daniel Webster was dining with a company of literary men in Boston. During the dinner the conversation turned upon the subject of Christianity. Mr. Webster frankly stated his belief in the divinity of Christ and his dependence upon the atonement of the Saviour.

One said to him, “Mr. Webster, can you comprehend how Christ could be both God and man?” Mr. Webster promptly replied, “No, sir, I cannot comprehend it. If I could comprehend him, he would be no greater than myself. I feel that I need a super human Saviour.”

The Mormons have it wrong. Jesus was not a man first who grew into a so-called godhood, and He is not the brother of Lucifer. The Mormons are wrong. The Jehovah’s Witness’ have it wrong. Jesus is not some lesser god. Little g like they put in their false corrupted book.

O’ open your eyes tonight and see Jesus for who He really is. The Almighty creator who died for His creation. God going to the cross for fallen man. That God would do that for sinful man. Perfect, Holy, Almighty God suffering for our sin. How can anyone doubt the Love of God.

Ninth Jesus is above all for Jesus loves righteousness, and hates iniquity.

Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Jesus is pure. He is holy. He is righteous. He never makes a mistake. Never dabbles in iniquity. Jesus loves righteousness. More so than we can even begin to comprehend. This puts Him above all.

Tenth Jesus is above all for Jesus does not change.

Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: Heb 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; Heb 1:12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

To change would mean that you were not perfect. It would mean that something was lacking before. Or what you changed makes you less perfect than you were. Jesus never changes because Jesus is perfect. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

He has always been perfect, He is perfect today, and He will be perfect tomorrow. This also makes Jesus above all. No idol, no priest, no preacher, no prophet, no angel, or anyone else comes close to Jesus.

Jesus is above all prophets. Jesus is above all, for He owns all Jesus is above all, for He created all. Jesus is above all, for He upholds all things by the word of his power. Only Jesus could purge our sins. Only Jesus saves. Only Jesus is sitting on the right hand of God the Father. Only Jesus has been highly exalted above all others. Jesus is above all because He is perfect and does not change. Jesus is above all because Jesus is God.

A.W. Tozer said. “The greatest need of the moment is that light-hearted, superficial religionists be struck down with a vision of God high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple.” – A.W. Tozer

It was true when He said it and it is more true today. We need to see Jesus for who He is when We reach for the TV Remote. When we are tempted to gossip. When we don’t feel like putting tracks on doors. A proper vision of Jesus will totally change your life.

Have you ever really considered just exactly who it is that died for your sin?

If you ever got even a glimpse of Jesus High and Lifted up, you would fall upon your knees. You would bow in humble adoration. You would forsake your sin. You would have a real practical working knowledge that Jesus sees everything that you do all the time.

Have you really seen Jesus High and Lifted up? Do you realize His great position? Do you see Jesus above all? Do you let that truth affect what you do or don’t do?

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