Sermon Tone Analysis
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Jesus Is Better - 1
Introduction
I am a child of the 80’s, which means several things for me, some good and some bad.
One of the things that means is that two of my heroes growing up were Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson.
We grew up watching the Cosby Show [pic] and those amazing sweaters he wore as he lovingly and humorously led his family.
I ate the pudding pops.
I can still quote several lengthy sections of his famous comedy routine Bill Cosby: Himself.
I also listened to the greatest entertainer in history [pic].
I remember the horror when he caught his hair on fire.
I watched the Thriller music video so many times I have a lifelong fear of zombies and am haunted by the voice of Vincent Price.
My Thriller album was always playing.
We loved these guys!
They were amazing.
And then I grew up, only to find out that my heroes were creeps.
Well, the biblical term would be wretched sinners.
In different ways and in varying degrees, all of our heroes have fallen short.
They’ve done things that let us down, shattered the image we had of them.
They are not who we imagined them to be.
There is a reason people say, “Never meet your heroes.”
Because they won’t be your heroes anymore, as you see them for who they really are.
We naturally put people on pedestals, elevating them, even idolizing them.
Whether it is actors, athletes, the wealthy, the successful, even religious leaders…we caricature them and hold them to standards no one could possibly meet.
And then, we get disillusioned when they don’t meet those standards.
We set them up for failure and ourselves up for disappointment.
Why do we continue to do this?
Because we crave someone better.
When even the best of us aren’t good enough, the cry of the human heart is for someone better, someone superior.
Someone who won’t let us down.
So we keep looking for that person.
And I have good news for you…that better person exists.
Today we begin a lengthy journey through the NT book of Hebrews.
Over the next several months we are going to come to understand this core truth: Jesus Is Better.
He is better than us.
He is better than anything in this world.
He is better than anything that came before him.
He’s better than anything that’s come since.
He can’t be beaten, belittled, or bullied.
He can’t lose.
Jesus is better.
Over the course of the 13 chapters of Hebrews, the writer uses this word “better” (or “superior”) 13 times to describe who Jesus is and what Jesus does.
He’s a better priest, offers better promises, and is a better hope.
He promises a better resurrection into a better country.
Everything about Jesus is better.
We have announced the last few weeks that we are using the ESV translation of the Bible for this series because of the precision in the language.
You were handed a journal on the way in that has the text in it and journal pages.
This is a good way to guide our journey and write down what God teaches you over the next few months.
There is a blank page right at the beginning…write “JESUS IS BETTER” really big on that page.
It’ll serve as a reminder as we walk through this great book.
It’ll serve as a great reminder as we walk through life.
Jesus is better.
TS - so how is Jesus better?
Why is Jesus better?
Well, I’m glad you asked.
Because Hebrews comes storming out of the gates to tell us why exactly Jesus really is better.
- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Now, before we jump into this text, let’s back up for a minute and give a little background.
Part of the reason this letter starts so aggressively is because it wasn’t originally a letter…it’s a sermon.
He hints this at the end in 13:22 calling it a “word of exhortation.”
That same phrase is used in Acts to refer to preaching.
So this is a sermon manuscript.
You’ll notice the lack of a customary greeting…because this was meant to be heard, not read.
The biggest argument/issue surrounding Hebrews is who wrote it (or originally preached it).
Scholars don’t know and don’t agree.
Some say Paul because of some clear Pauline theology.
Others say Apollos, known to be a great preacher and discipled by Paul.
Others offer other options.
The best is the early church father Origen who said, “Only God knows.”
We don’t know who wrote it, but we do know who it was written to…the Hebrews.
Christians from a Jewish background, facing imminent persecution.
Following Christ had cost them much.
The temptation was to look around and feel a sense of loss and fear.
When following Christ is hard, the temptation is to bolt.
Go back to what we did before, no one killed us for it.
Go to other religions to stay safe.
So here is the message…Jesus is better than anything else! Don’t give up.
Don’t go back.
TS - back to the text.
From the very beginning, Jesus is better.
So for the next few minutes we are going to walk through this together…and it is going to be very worshipful.
This is the glory of the Jesus we follow, the Christ we proclaim, and we get to relish in it for our time together.
- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Four Aspects of Jesus’ Identity that Prove He is Better.
Jesus is:
THE FINISHER OF SALVATION
v. 3b - “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
We are reminded of Christ’s saving work.
Actually it is more than that.
We are reminded of Christ’s finished saving work.
Jesus made purification for sins.
This is one of the primary theological themes of the entire book.
He keeps coming back to the cross of Jesus and his sacrifice to forgive sins.
Why is this a primary theme?
Because it is our primary need!
The thing we need most in the world, before we need water to drink, food to eat, shelter over our heads…the thing we need the most is forgiveness for sins.
We need purification.
Sin is comprehensive and catastrophic in its effect and consequences.
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