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That God would want to talk to us, reveal Himself to us, sinful as we are, unheedful of Him as we are, is beyond amazing. And when we ignore Him, retreat from Him, or outright disobey Him, He still keeps trying, still pursues us, still desires fellowship. What extravagant love. 

The intimate, Edenic fellowship between God and man was shattered by sin, setting God on a centuries-long aim to restore communication, to reveal Himself, to lead us into righteousness. “In times past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways” (Hebrews 1:1). Ponder that - rejected by us over and over, God continued to speak to fallen humanity through prophets, priests, and kings.

Every prophet, every priest, every king God used to voice His love, warnings, and pleadings anticipated the ultimate Word from God: Jesus Himself, the superlative everything, which is the main theme of Hebrews.

While Old Testament prophets delivered the word of God to the Israelites, Jesus became the ultimate, final prophet through whom God spoke, the fullest revelation of what He wants to say to us. Jesus is not just the mouthpiece of revelation; He is God’s communication in person: the picture of righteousness, the way back to God once and for all, the answer to all of our questions. 

Pause a few moments here to thank God for all the expressions of His pursuing love throughout the Bible. Praise Him for the ultimate expression of His desire to fellowship with us: Jesus, His final Word. 

While Old Testament priests offered sacrifices daily to cover the sins of the people, Jesus Himself became the ultimate, final sacrifice God required for sin. By “providing purification for sins” (1:3), Jesus guaranteed salvation for those who trust in Him and His atonement. That God would die for us - and not the other way around - is the very definition of incredible. As priests interceded with God on behalf of the people, through His own death and resurrection, Jesus became the ultimate, perfect priest, our direct line to God who even now intercedes with God the Father on our behalf. No more intermediaries.

That’s enough to fall on our knees in grateful adoration, so let’s pause a few moments here to praise God for the abundance of His blessings. Make it personal: Jesus is my priest, my intercessor, my sacrifice, my savior. Thank God for His amazing love and Jesus for His sacrifice on my behalf. 

While Old Testament kings led the Israelites into battle, Jesus, the ultimate king, leads us to victory as well: over sin and death. Those kings were supposed to rule according to Mosaic Law. King Jesus, the far superior king, “upholds the universe with His word” alone (1:3, italics added), no help from armies needed. Those kings acted as God’s representatives whereas Jesus is “the exact representation of God’s being” (1:3, italics added). He is the “radiance of the glory of God” (1:3); His face even shone with it on the Mt. of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:2). Louis XIV, the Sun King? A pale imitation. 

Take these final few moments of prayer to sit in awe and wonder at the power of Jesus’ words alone to uphold everything in the universe. Prayerfully anticipate what it will be like to live under His final reign in the kingdom to come.