Lesson 10 | Trace Themes
What’s at Stake: Knowing God
Gain:
Our Hearts’ Wonder
At the beginning of Hebrews, the author traces two themes through biblical revelation, and places them side-by-side: God’s Son and God’s angels. He does what this lesson will teach you to do!
As he traces these themes, he reaches out and pulls verses into his argument that show us the superiority and glory of Jesus, prompting our hearts to wonder, informing our worship, and establishing our confidence in Christ. He shows us the lesser glory of angels alongside the greater glory of the Son.
Loss:
Misunderstanding the Stakes
So if Jesus is indeed incomparably greater than angels, how does that impact our daily life? The author of Hebrews makes an explicit connection in verse 1 of chapter 2:
If the original recipients of God's perfect revelation, which was given through the mediation of angels, would be punished for disobedience, how much more will those who reject God's ultimate revelation of his Son be punished? This contrast blazes forth the danger of failing to see the gravity of Jesus' glory, of thinking that he is somehow our buddy when he is the Holy One. Yes, he is "the friend of sinners," but he is so glorious that refusing to listen to him brings eternal damnation.
Because of Jesus' majesty, and the finality of his revelation, we must listen to him and submit to him and worship him. Without clearly seeing the contrast between Jesus and angels, this truth would be blurry rather than sharply-focused.
Tracing themes through Scripture clarifies what’s at stake and leads us to wonder.