What does God want us to know about who God is?

It's a question humanity has wrestled with for generations. Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed the divine character and purposes through creation, covenants, prophets, promises, and acts of deliverance. God spoke to Abraham, called Moses, raised up judges and kings, and sent prophets to call God's people back to faithfulness. Each revelation helped Israel understand something more about the God who had chosen to be in relationship with them.

But the opening words of Hebrews tell us that all of those revelations were preparing the way for something greater. God has spoken through a Son.

As we begin reading Hebrews, we enter a letter that will continually draw our attention to Jesus. We don't know with certainty who wrote it, but the author's purpose becomes clear almost immediately. Everything God has been doing throughout the history of Israel finds its fulfillment in Jesus. The promises, the covenant, the priesthood, the sacrifices, and even the hope of a coming kingdom all point toward him.

And the author wastes no time explaining why. “The Son is the light of God's glory and the imprint of God's being” (Hebrews 1:3, CEB). The word translated imprint describes the precise impression left by something like a seal pressed into wax or a die used to stamp a coin. The resulting image bears the exact likeness of the original. In describing Jesus this way, Hebrews is telling us that God's character is perfectly revealed in the Son. If we want to know what God is like, we look to Jesus.

We see God's compassion when Jesus touches those others refuse to approach. We see God's mercy when Jesus welcomes sinners and offers forgiveness. We see God's holiness when Jesus confronts hypocrisy, injustice, and the destructive power of sin. We see God's love when Jesus willingly gives his life on the cross. These aren't just admirable characteristics of a good teacher. They are the revelation of God's own character. And Hebrews goes even further...

Jesus isn't only the one through whom God has spoken. The Son is also the one through whom God created the universe, the one who sustains all things, the one who has accomplished cleansing from sin, and the one who now reigns at God's right hand.

Notice the movement here. The Son who was present in creation entered the story of humanity, accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves, and now reigns in glory. God's revelation and God's salvation come together in Jesus the Messiah.

The remainder of the chapter develops this truth by comparing Jesus with the angels. To ancient Jewish believers, angels represented an important part of God's work and revelation. They were understood as heavenly messengers and servants who participated in God's purposes.

But, Hebrews insists that even these remarkable servants must be understood in relation to the Son. Angels serve. The Son reigns. Angels worship. The Son receives their worship. Angels participate in God's purposes. The Son fulfills those purposes.

The author isn't dismissing the importance of what God had revealed before. Instead, Hebrews is helping believers recognize that God's promises have reached their fulfillment in someone greater than any messenger.

We may not struggle with the same questions about angels and the law that confronted the first readers of Hebrews, but we can still become distracted by things that are good without keeping our attention on the One to whom they point. We can become so concerned with religious practices, traditions, theological arguments, or even our favorite expressions of worship that we lose sight of Jesus himself.

And, there's another danger. Sometimes we allow our experiences, assumptions, or fears to shape our understanding of God more than the life and teachings of Jesus. When life becomes difficult, we may begin to imagine God as distant or indifferent. When we struggle with our failures, we may picture God as impatient or unwilling to forgive. When the world seems uncertain, we may wonder whether God is still at work. Hebrews calls us to return our attention to Jesus.

The same Jesus who reveals God's compassion also reveals God's holiness. The same Jesus who offers forgiveness also calls us to turn away from sin. The same Jesus who gave himself for us now reigns over all creation. Through him, we encounter a God whose grace is not indifferent to our brokenness, but powerful enough to cleanse us and transform our lives.

This is especially important as we consider what it means to become holy people. We don't have to invent our own understanding of holiness or measure ourselves against some vague religious ideal. We have Jesus, the perfect revelation of God's character and the pattern of the life into which grace is forming us. To grow in Christlikeness is to allow the Holy Spirit to shape our lives according to the character we see in Jesus.

As we begin Hebrews, we'll discover that the author has much more to say about Christ's priesthood, sacrifice, covenant, and the faithfulness of God's people. There will be encouragement, serious warnings, and repeated calls to persevere.

But everything begins here. God has spoken. And in Jesus, God has revealed more than words of instruction or promises of what might someday come. God has revealed the divine character, accomplished our salvation, and opened the way for us to live in faithful relationship with our Creator.

So as we listen for God's voice and seek to understand God's will, may we keep returning to the One who reveals God perfectly. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus.

Read Hebrews 1:1–4 again slowly. Pay particular attention to how the passage describes Jesus. Choose one truth about his character or work that challenges or strengthens your understanding of God. Spend a few minutes in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help you see and respond to God more clearly through Jesus.