Letter to the Hebrews Message Ten
B. Superior to the Angels. 1:4-2:18

Introduction: We are reminded what we have learned from chapter one that Jesus is –
1. Superior in Person. 1:4-14

We have also noted from verses 1 through 3 in chapter 2 that He is –

2. Superior in position . 2:1-8
a. Encouragement – because of His person and because of His position. 2:1
b. Exhortation. 2:2-3

Paul needed to answer the question, if Jesus is superior to the angels, why did He become man? We will continue today to see that the superiority to the angels is established by His Person, by His Position, through the –

c. Exhibition of proof. Hebrews 2:3b,4 “God also bearing them witness..”
through –

1). Personal testimonies. 2:3c “by them that heard him.”
2). Powerful works. 2:4 “God bearing them witness, both with –

a). Signs Refer to Exodus 4:1-8 to point them to the ‘voice’…

Exodus 4:1-8 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

The sign pointed to the Word of God!

Amazing what God can do with an old stick if we will just submit to Him! What is that in your hand today? You might say it is not much, and it may not be much in our hands, but give it to God and see what He will do with it. Little is much…

Paul wrote of Signs –

b). Wonders (a thing that is amazing or astonishing)
c). Diverse miracles (powers)

They are to glorify God, Lift up the Lord Jesus Christ!

An article from the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics states the purposes of a miracle are –

(1). to glorify the nature of God

John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

(2). to accredit certain persons as the spokesmen for God. Note the testimony of the disciples to the Jews –

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

They were aware of the power of God in Jesus among them. They would now see the power of God in the name of Jesus Christ working through them –

Acts 3:12-16 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus;… whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

(3). to provide evidence for belief in God

John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

He wrote of the signs, wonders, diverse miracles and the –

d). Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Designed for unity and edification of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

This work of God among us is to bring glory to God –

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Your life is a testimony of the work of God. Remember Paul’s statement to the church in Corinth –

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Word of God is preached and the evidence of God’s work through His Word is seen in our lives. Our lives and God’s Word must align or something is wrong in our lives.

Is your life a testimony to God today?