Through God’s Son
‘In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 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.’ Hebrews 1.1-2
Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, Henry the VIII’s Archbishop of Canterbury, appointed these verses to be read on Christmas day. Why would he choose these ones in particular? Out of all the New Testament, why select Hebrews 1 for Christmas day?
For one thing, because they neatly summarise the monumental turning point in history which happened at the coming of Christ. The first Christmas was the hinge of history. God, of course, has always spoken. He has always had something to say to his people. He is a speaking God. That’s how he acts – that is what he’s like. So just as Hebrews 1 says, ‘In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways.’
However, with Christmas came the turning point. With the incarnation, the coming of God into the world, something huge happened. The highly significant last days, as the writer to the Hebrews calls them, began. ‘In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.’ God had spoken by the prophets. He has now spoken by his Son. The prophets predicted the coming of the Messiah. The apostles revealed that he had come. The New Testament is the fulfilment of the Old. Jesus fulfils all the promises of the prophets. What a turning point!
We are still in those last days because with Jesus’ coming everything changed. The prophets spoke God’s word – but Jesus is God’s final word. We are still in those gospel days – days when we can hear, understand and believe the good news of Jesus Christ. We live AD: in the year of our Lord. Not after Christ, but still in the year of our Lord, because these are gospel days – the last days. They are days when we have an opportunity to turn to Christ and know him. Hebrews reminds us how God has spoken in Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection.
So it really is a perfect epistle for Christmas – a summary of the turning point in history which the first Christmas was. Yes, God has spoken by his prophets, fulfilled in the coming of Christ. That coming is the hinge of history. Don’t miss it! Hebrews 1 won’t let us. And it won’t let us miss who this Jesus is. He is God himself. God has spoken all about his Son, Jesus Christ. In penitence and faith let’s turn to him and know the saving power of Jesus in our lives.
With love and good wishes at Christmas,
Bill
