A Better Name

“Having become superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” Hebrews 1:4

Have you ever taken time to consider the significance of a name? Historically, names have been important because they carry meaning and purpose that is being attributed from parents to their children. Even in our culture today, much time, energy, and consideration are given in the choosing of names. As a parent of four children, a lot of time, conversation, and deliberation went into the choosing of their names. Our third born, Camden, wasn’t even officially named until after he was born because we struggled to decide between two options! Here’s the point: names matter.

As I have been studying Hebrews in my own personal abiding pursuit, one of the points the author of Hebrews makes from the onset of his letter that jumped off the page to me was that Jesus has a better name! Specifically, a name more excellent and wonderful than the angels. A name full of significance that we should take notice of. What is that name? It’s not what we would expect. The better name that He has been given is… Son!

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? Hebrews 1:5

Not only is Jesus fully God and fully man, but He is also the promised Son! The son born of a woman who would crush the ancient serpent (Gen 3:15). The son through whom a family from every nation would be formed for God’s glory (Gen 15:1-6). The son of David who would be a king who reigns on an everlasting throne (2 Sam 7:11-16). The son of man who is given all glory, honor, authority, and power by God, the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:13-14). The son who is the suffering servant who sacrificially lays his life down to save those who are separated from God due to sin (Isa 53:1-6). The sonship of Jesus Christ is often a reality that we assume. For the author of Hebrews, Jesus being the promised Son has massive implications for his audience and for us today as Jesus followers.

So how do we respond to this reality personally and practically? Here are two ways I am personally trying to take a next step of obedience that I would like to invite you to join me in…

• Look to the Son: We need to prioritize pursuing a deeper abiding relationship with Jesus by giving more time to reading, meditating on, memorizing, studying, and praying God’s Word. We grow in our love for the Son through a daily pursuit of God.
• Listen to the Son: Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” The propensity of my heart and your heart is to drift from the Son. The way we “pay much closer attention” is to become doers of the word, not hearers only. To not compare our lives to culture or others, but instead to actively compare our lives to Jesus.

I’m praying that your pursuit of Jesus is fruitful and formative as we study through Hebrews and read through the Old Testament together as a church family!

Bible Reading Plan
Hebrews Page

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