Speaking in Jesus

An excellent chapel service today. (The publishing company I work for is part of a ministry, so we have chapel services on Wednesday mornings.) The speaker was David Livermore, and he taught from Hebrews 1:1-2: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe."

The book of Hebrews, he explains, makes the point that Jesus is the best of everything, and in the first verse, what the Scripture is really saying is that God spoke "in Jesus," meaning that Jesus is the language of God (yet more insight into John 1, where Jesus is the Word made flesh). God speaks in Jesus, like people from The Netherlands speak in Dutch and people from China speak in Chinese. Wow!

Then follows seven descriptives explaining who Jesus is, with seven, of course, signifying completeness. Interestingly, the speaker made the connection between the Westminster Confession and the statement that "the Son is the radiance of God's glory." But he didn't make the connection between the first statement--the Son is "the heir of all things," and therefore owns all things, even us--and Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 1. But that was okay, because I did.

In the seventh descriptive, which according to Hebrew custom would be the most important point, Jesus sits down. Why would His sitting down be significant? Jesus can sit down because His work is complete--there is nothing else for Him to do. "It is finished."