(Read Hebrews 1)
We always have to be wary of heroes. Who are they, why are they our heroes, and what about them makes them so special? I’m a big fan of the Marvel series (Marvel Cinematic Universe) of movies. The “superheroes” are larger than life—they can withstand punishing physical attacks and keep coming back for more. In typical storytelling fashion, they all have tragic, sometimes tortured, histories. But I love it. The banter, explosive action, and stark (excuse the pun for those familiar with Iron Man) contrast between good and evil keep me coming back for more.
We have to watch out, though. It’s easy to find “heroes” in everyday life. Some people idolize their children or grandchildren. Others elevate their pets, careers, or causes. Some look to the environment, health, wealth, or politics as their greatest hope. These things aren’t necessarily wrong, but they become misplaced when we give them the highest place in our hearts. Whenever we endear the highest value to something created, we forsake the Creator who made it.
Early one morning, I was astonished at the size of the moon rising in the east. It was poised proudly in a faded state above the treeline. As it rose, it grew in opacity, getting brighter and brighter. I thought about the cultures that worship it. There are several moon gods who were worshiped by the Aztecs, Greeks, and Romans. I thought about the ancient Egyptians who looked to the sun, “Ra,” as their god. These celestial bodies give us a glimpse at the vastness of space and the universe. They point us to the heavens and questions of life, but they don’t answer them. They don’t promise an eternal future. Nowhere in the nuclear fusion going on in the sun contains eternal love. Though it has shone for billions of years and may shine for billions more, even the sun will one day fade to a white dwarf and die out. That’s not a true hero.
But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
(Read Hebrews 1:8)
Hebrews was written around 70 A.D. primarily to Jewish Christians who were living in major cities in a Greek-speaking world. The writer frequently referred to Moses, the Law, the priesthood, sacrifices, and the tabernacle, all things familiar to Jewish readers. They had already endured persecution and social pressure for their faith and were growing increasingly weary and discouraged. All of this contributed to strong temptations to abandon Christianity and return to Judaism, where they might find social acceptance and relief from persecution.
The writer composed Hebrews to encourage perseverance and renew confidence in Christ. In this verse, the writer was quoting from Psalm 45. The message is that Jesus Christ is greater than all that came before: prophets, angels, Moses, the Levitical priests, and the old covenant sacrifices. The new covenant He established through His death is superior and final. Hebrews argues that Jesus is God’s ultimate revelation—greater than angels, Moses, and Aaron.
The writer of Hebrews makes the contrast unmistakable. Unlike angels, prophets, earthly sources, or anything else we can touch in our daily lives, Jesus Christ is greater and permanent. They serve; He reigns. They are created; He is the divine King. Christ’s throne is eternal. His reign has no end, showing that He is not a created being but the everlasting Son of God. His authority is marked by perfect justice, truth, and moral purity—unlike any earthly ruler. Christ’s greatness is both moral and eternal. His unchanging character and everlasting kingdom reveal His absolute supremacy.
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.”
(Hebrews 1:10-12)
My wife and I attended a funeral yesterday for the father of very close friends of ours at a Coptic church. The experience had the familiarity of sadness and loss, but there were many cultural differences too. Namely, the language. There was a mixture of Coptic, Arabic, and English. At first, it was tempting to put our minds on autopilot while the foreign languages were spoken. They sounded unremarkable. Then, an epiphany! Wait, what we’re listening to now is a lot closer to the way Jesus and His disciples spoke. Aramaic and Hebrew are Semitic languages and are much more closely related to modern Arabic and Coptic than to American English. 2,000 years and 6,200 miles from a land where He originated, the Kingship of Christ remains the same. It’s the same in Africa, Asia, and South America. God and the Son began it all, before the earth, before the moon and sun. Like potters, they preexisted their clay vessels. Hebrews taught that Jesus shares in the creative power, eternal nature, and unchanging character of God. The physical universe, though vast and glorious, will eventually “wear out like a garment.” Christ, however, remains unchanged and eternal. His existence and authority are not bound by time or decay.
“You are the same, and your years will have no end” emphasizes Christ’s immutability—Christ does not age, weaken, or shift. His purposes and promises stand forever. Hebrews declares that Jesus Christ is the eternal, unchanging Creator, whose power and existence outlast the entire universe. While all creation fades and changes, He remains forever the same—sovereign, enduring, and divine.
“To which of the angels did God ever say,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet’?”
Hebrews 1:13
This line comes from Psalm 110:1, driving the point home: Jesus is superior to angels (and every other thing) in every way. He shares God’s throne, not just God’s service, because He is God. His reign is final and victorious, awaiting only the full subjection of His enemies. Based on David’s royal psalm, written by David, it describes a conversation between God (Yahweh) and “my Lord”, someone David himself calls his Lord. The remarkable thing is that David, Israel’s greatest king, refers to someone greater than himself.
In traditional Jewish belief, the Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ, Mashiach) is a human leader, descended from King David, chosen and anointed by God to bring about a time of peace, justice, and restoration. He is not seen as divine but as a righteous, Spirit-empowered man who fulfills God’s promises to Israel. The Hebrew Bible, Talmud, and later rabbinic writings describe the Messiah as a descendant of David, a political and military leader who will gather the Jewish people back to their land, rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and establish Israel’s sovereignty. He will lead people to follow God’s commandments and promote justice and peace.
Salvation in Jewish thought is primarily collective and national, the redemption of Israel and the world, not an individual spiritual transaction. Followers of Christ believe that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled all the Messianic prophecies in every sense. He inaugurated the Kingdom of God through His death and resurrection. Forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with God, and victory over death were completed at His hand. In Jesus, the failings of all people and all nations were paid for and fulfilled in full.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Zechariah 12:10
We can all attribute different people, places, or things as our heroes, but only one died for the future of the world. Only one bore the punishment for our sins. Earthly kings do good and bad. They reign for a while and perish. Some even leave legacies. Do their lives give us an eternal future? More importantly, do their deaths guarantee us a place in the Creator’s kingdom? Jesus is and always was the true Hero.
Life Application:
- Anchor your faith in the unchanging Christ. When the world grows confusing or voices compete for our allegiance, rest in the fact that God has already spoken clearly through His Son. When you face uncertainty, return to what Jesus said and who He is. His truth doesn’t expire with cultural shifts.