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The Scripture is full of truth about who Jesus is and what He has done. One verse of Scripture that I love is chock full of big truths about Jesus.

As believers, we need to study these truths and let them deepen our relationship with Jesus and call us to worship Him.

As teachers, we need to study these truths so that we gain a deeper understanding and so that we can teach them effectively to our students.

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)

This verse tells us a lot about Jesus, so let’s dig into it.

1. Jesus, the Son

Jesus is the Son of God. The writer of Hebrews starts his book with a passage about who Jesus is and what He has done.

He writes that God has spoken to us through His Son (vs. 1) whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He has created the universe (vs.2).

His choice of words reminds me of John chapter 1:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-4)

Jesus is God, the Son.

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”  (Hebrews 1:3a)

This may seem like basic theology. But this is a huge, glorious truth that we need to put our faith in. When put our faith in Jesus we are trusting that He is the Son of God who saved us from our sin.

“In his very nature he was God. But he did not think that being equal with God was something he should hold on to. Instead, he made himself nothing. He took on the very nature of a servant. He was made in human form. He appeared as a man. He came down to the lowest level. He obeyed God completely, even though it led to his death. In fact, he died on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6)

2. Jesus Shows Off God’s Glory

He is the radiance or gleaming brightness of God’s glory. Again, these words make me think of John chapter 1:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Glory means honor or excellent reputation. But the concept of God’s glory is bigger than that. Jesus came to this world and gave us a glimpse of the glory of God. Jesus lived a life that showed off how great God is!

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”  (Hebrews 1:3a)

3. Jesus Uses His Powerful Word to Hold all Things Together

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:3a)

The word ‘sustain’ means to hold things together, to keep them going, or to continually carry along all things. It’s not a one-time act; it’s an ongoing action. There’s the idea of bearing the weight of something or supporting it.

Jesus created all things and keeps them going by His powerful word. In Genesis we are told that God created the world by speaking it into existence. That word is powerful! In Hebrews we are told that not only did Jesus create all things, but He sustains all things.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-4)

4. Jesus Provided the Way for People to be Made Pure from Sin

“After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3b)

Jesus, through His death on the cross, took away the sins of the entire world.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Purification means to make pure or to free from guilt. The amazing truth is the Jesus, the Son of God, made a way for us to be forgiven of our sin and have a relationship with God!

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1Peter 1:18-19)

5. When He Finished That He Went Back To Heaven To Sit Down Beside God, The Father, The King.

“After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3b)

Being seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven means that the work of redemption is complete. Jesus is our living, mighty Savior! And He is in heaven interceding for us.

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” (Hebrews 7:25-27)

Jesus is the perfect Son of God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, provided purification for sin. Now, He is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

That’s who Jesus is!

“In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12-13)