Do You Hear What I Hear?

A few years ago, our faculty wrote advent devotional reflections for our campus newsletter. This is the one I did on the incarnation & Hebrews 1.

Do you Hear What I Hear?

The letter to the Hebrews opens with a majestic declaration about divine discourse. The writer says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:1-2).


In just these few words, the writer masterfully pulls together many of the threads that will dominate this remarkable epistle: The textual and theological relationship between the testaments, the grand storyline of the Bible, the story of the covenants, the person and work of Christ as the fulfillment of Scripture, and the relationship between the past, present, and future words and actions of God.


The same God who spoke “long ago” speaks “in these last days.” The time of “our fathers” is connected to “us.” The revelation “by the prophets” is connected to the revelation “by his Son.” Here, the writer also puts a magnifying glass upon the nature and identity of the Son and emphasizes that the one who became incarnate was God himself. The writer says that the Son is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. Reflecting on this passage, the theologians at Nicaea will later affirm that the Son is God of God and Light of Light.


The elevated angels are messengers of God and sent to minister in God’s world; but the Son needs no mediation; when He wants to deliver divine discourse, He simply speaks; He is above the angels, and this is precisely the mysterious scandal of the incarnation. The shock of the Gospel is that the one who was by nature above the angels, for us and for our salvation, was made lower than the angels.


All of a sudden, for a little while, we see the son where he’s not supposed to be, among the sons surrounded by sin and suffering. The bread of life, here tasting death for everyone. The radiance of God’s glory, here bearing the shame of human sin.


The final lines of the prologue in Hebrews 1:3–4 capture the movement from the Son’s incarnation to the Son’s exaltation. After making purification for sins, the writer says, the son sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.


In just a few words, the writer has given us so much to consider: In these last days, the Son speaks, the Son makes purification for sins, the Son sits at the right hand of Majesty. He is the true and better prophet, priest, and king.


Sometimes it’s tempting to limit our reflection on the “incarnation” to the birth of Jesus we remember during the Christmas season. However, the NT witness draws us into a wider view where we are able to behold the incarnation of Jesus from beginning to end.


The one who was laid in a manger after His human birth was also laid in a tomb after His human death. And when He rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God in the heavenly places, He unleashed “the power of indestructible life” (Heb. 7:16). The song of the new covenant was now no longer an overture.


Do you hear what I hear?

At the advent of the Son’s incarnation, the angels sing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Lk. 2:14). When the Son enters into glory at His messianic exaltation, the angels echo their Christmas song as God declares, “Let all God’s angels worship him” (Heb. 1:7).


The season of advent marks the mystery that in these last days God has allowed us to overhear a song of so great a salvation.


He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Advent
February 5, 2025
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