The Glory of God
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.
When we let others see Jesus in us, they see an extension of the glory of God in us because we are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4).
Hebrews 1:3
I’m reminded of when Philip asked Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us,” to which Jesus replied, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…” (John 14:8-9). No wonder the Hebrew writer called Jesus “the radiance of the glory of God!” When we behold Jesus, we see the glory of God (John 1:14)! Even more thought provoking, when we let others see Jesus in us, they see an extension of the glory of God in us because we are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4). This is why God wants us to grow in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (2 Pet. 1:5-7).
Earlier in that same conversation, Jesus had said to Thomas, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:7). This is why the Hebrew writer referred to Jesus as “the exact imprint” of the nature of God. Paul said this about Jesus: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col. 2:9).
Paul also said earlier in his letter to the Colossians, “…and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). In like manner the Hebrew writer proclaimed that Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power.” With such power and might as Jesus has, how foolish are we to deny him!
Thank God we have nothing to fear if we obey him, because he purified us from our sins through his sacrifice on the cross, something the Hebrew writer would allude to both here and later in his epistle (Heb. 2:17; 9:26, 28). After doing so, he “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” when he ascended into heaven. There he sits right now, our Lord and Savior and Mediator, reigning over his kingdom the church and all angels, authorities, and powers (Eph. 1:20-23; 1 Pet. 3:22). There he will continue to reign until all enemies are under his feet (1 Cor. 15:25-26).
Have you submitted to him?