Hebrews 1:1-5: a reflection

1God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. 3His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs. 5For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?”

Hebrews opens by declaring that God, who had spoken to the fathers in many and various ways through the prophets, has now spoken his final and fullest word: his own Son. In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, the writer says, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; the radiance of God's glory, the very image of his substance. God had spoken before, truly, through the prophets, in many ways over long ages; but now he has spoken in the fullest way possible, by his Son, who is the very radiance of his glory. In the Son, God's word to us reaches its climax and fullness. God's fullest and final word to us is his own Son. God has spoken most fully by his Son. The Son is God's climactic word to us. In Christ, God's word to us reaches its fullness.

Notice the movement Hebrews traces: from God speaking in many ways through the prophets, to God speaking by his Son. God had truly spoken before, through the prophets, at many times and in various ways, giving real words from himself. But now, in these last days, he has spoken by his Son, and this is a word of a different order: for the Son is the radiance of God's glory, the very image of his substance, the one through whom the worlds were made. When God speaks by his Son, he speaks not merely another prophetic word, but his fullest and final self-revelation, for the Son is God's own glory made visible. This tells us where to look to hear God most fully: to Christ, the Son, in whom God has spoken his climactic word. We can seek to hear from God in many places; but God's fullest word is his Son. To listen to Christ is to hear God's fullest and final word to us. God has spoken his clearest word in his Son; to Christ we should listen. The Son is God's own glory made visible and his fullest word. To hear God most fully, look and listen to Christ.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's fullest and final word to us is his own Son, and to Christ we should listen. We can seek to hear from God in many places and ways, and God has indeed spoken in many ways; but his climactic word, his fullest self-revelation, is his Son, the radiance of his glory, through whom he made the worlds. To hear God most fully is to listen to Christ. Do not look past the Son to hear from God; listen to Christ, in whom God has spoken his fullest word. Listen to Christ as God's fullest and final word to you, for God, who spoke to the fathers in many and various ways through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the worlds, the radiance of his glory and the very image of his substance; for God had truly spoken before through the prophets, but in the Son he has spoken his climactic and fullest word, not merely another prophetic message but his own glory made visible, so that to hear God most fully we look and listen to Christ, in whom God's word to us reaches its fullness, rather than looking past the Son to hear from God elsewhere.

Lord, Hebrews opens by declaring that you, who had spoken to the fathers in many and various ways through the prophets, have now spoken your final and fullest word: your own Son. In these last days you have spoken to us by your Son, the writer says, whom you appointed heir of all things, through whom also you made the worlds; the radiance of your glory, the very image of your substance. You had spoken before, truly, through the prophets, in many ways over long ages; but now you have spoken in the fullest way possible, by your Son, who is the very radiance of your glory. In the Son, your word to us reaches its climax and fullness. Show me the movement Hebrews traces: from your speaking in many ways through the prophets, to your speaking by your Son. You had truly spoken before, giving real words from yourself. But now, in these last days, you have spoken by your Son, and this is a word of a different order: for the Son is the radiance of your glory, the very image of your substance, the one through whom the worlds were made. When you speak by your Son, you speak your fullest and final self-revelation. This tells me where to look to hear you most fully: to Christ, the Son, in whom you have spoken your climactic word. I can seek to hear from you in many places; but your fullest word is your Son. Take that to my heart, for your fullest and final word to me is your own Son, and to Christ I should listen. Keep me from looking past the Son to hear from you elsewhere; help me listen to Christ, Lord, in whom you have spoken your fullest word, that I may hear you most fully by looking and listening to your Son.