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The Text Screams


          In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.  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. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4)

          We don’t know who wrote the book of Hebrews, which was one of the reasons the church fathers were reluctant to include it in the canon. In the end, they saw that, no matter who wrote it, the text screams “Jesus!” And in the passage above, it does so with a passion. 
          What do you think of when you read the words, “the radiance of God’s glory”? I think of quasars. The nearest quasar is seven hundred thirty million lightyears away, and the typical quasar can be as bright as six-hundred trillion (600,000,000,000,000) suns. If you look at the sun, you’ll damage your eyes. Stare long enough, and you’ll be blinded, possibly permanently. We can’t really imagine something twice as luminous let alone something six-hundred trillion times. 
          Supposedly, a quasar is associated with black holes, so if the black hole at the center of our universe were to develop a quasar (or become active as a quasar, or however you want to describe it) life on earth would probably end. That might begin to express the radiance of God’s glory. 
          According to our text, God created the universe through Jesus. Jesus was the construction crew. He currently sustains all things just by commanding that they continue. “Let there be light” was powerful enough that the light will continue until He turns it out. That’s a briefest of glimpses at what omnipotence is like. 
          As we look through the gospels, we get more glimpses of Jesus, and they show us what God, the Father, is like, but keep in mind that the gospels include both Jesus feeding the five thousand and His woes proclaimed against the cities. By looking clearly and carefully at Jesus, we discover how magnificent God is.

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