Week 49—Sunday Matthew 5:17-18
Matthew 5:17-18
Week 49—SUNDAY
“THROUGH THE PROPHETS . . . IN THE SON”
We come this week to sum up seven vital things in the Incarnation as found in the first four verses of the Epistle to the Hebrews:
When in former times God spoke to our forefathers, he spoke in fragmentary and varied fashion through the prophets. But in this the final age he has spoken to us in the Son whom he has made heir to the whole universe, and through whom he created all orders of existence: the Son who is the effulgence of God’s splendour and the stamp of God’s very being, and sustains the universe by his word of power. When he had brought about the purgation of sins, he took his seat at the right hand of Majesty on high. (NEB)
In these seven statements about the Incarnation the whole of that Incarnation is comprehended.
First, God spoke “through the prophets” but “in the Son.” The vital difference: Since it was “through the prophets,” it was the Word become word; but since it was “in the Son” it was “the Word become flesh.” That is the chasmic difference between Jesus and all others. They brought words—he was the Word! All others had perforce to point to something outside themselves—to truth, to God, to precepts, to principles, to ideas. Jesus knew no more sacred task than to point to his own Person: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” . . . “Come unto me.” That is an unbridgeable difference.
“A great wind blew through the Scriptures and lo, it stood up a Man,” and the words became flesh.
The old, in every race, was “fragmentary and varied.” They brought truths—he was the Truth. They were “varied”—often so fragmentary that they were at variance with one another—He was the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. When you see him you know that this is not a light, a star—this is daybreak. Darkness and doubt are at an end. That is It!
O Jesus Lord and Savior, when we see you—really see you, then we are like a blind man now looking at the sun for the first time. He doesn’t ask, Is this the sun? He knows it is the sun. When we look at you in faith and surrender we do not ask, we rejoice. You self-verifying Christ! Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: When our eyes fall on Christ we know all else is relative—this is Absolute!