Devotion - Tuesday, January 12

We have been studying Hebrews in our Tuesday evening bible study. The Daily Lectionary has me reading through it as a one of my morning readings.

In the early chapters of Hebrews, we realize that the writer is concerned that there might be some confusion as to the nature of Christ. He alludes to a fascination or admiration of angels.

Angels sometimes get a lot of attention in our conversations. Certainly the figure into the Christmas story; their images are found in many homes throughout the year.

The writer of Hebrews wants to make sure that no one confuses Jesus with an angel. Jesus, the writer insists, is something completely different.

To understand some of these differences, you can read Hebrews yourself. For now, let me draw attention to the difference between what an angel does (or might do) and what Jesus does. When the Bible speaks of an angel, the task associated with that angel is to be God’s messenger. An angel comes to Zachariah to tell him that Elizabeth will bear a son. And angel visits Mary to tell her of the birth of Jesus. Angels are messengers. They come to share information.

Jesus is something more than angel. Yes, he shares the good news with us, but more importantly he embodies that good news. He is God’s presence in our midst and when he dies it is God who is taken our sin upon His own self. Jesus is God’s very presence.

The name by which we are knows is “Christians.” We are “Christ” to one another. We aren’t angels. We don’t merely share a message we live it; and we embody it.

The “pioneer” of our salvation has revealed to us the way we are to see ourselves; the way we are to live our lives.