We're going to ask and answer the question through a series of lessons going through the book of Hebrews: Why Jesus? And the answer of course that we provided is He's better. He's better than all the rest. He's better than anything else that there could be. And we're not going to rehash the things that we looked at the first lesson other than to say, the writer of the book of Hebrews answers the question Why Jesus in the first four verses of chapter one, and then spends the next 12 chapters giving us arguments for the conclusion.
And so we talked about Jesus this morning being our prophet, priest, and king—being able to fulfill a role that nobody else could fill. And now we're going to look at some of the proofs that are laid out for Him being better.
Jesus Is Better Than the Angels
- Hebrews 1:4
In verse four, it says that Jesus was better than the angels. Read that with me. It says, “being made much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
Our first point this morning was that Jesus is better because He is exalted, and He is exalted according to verse four above the angels. Now, Jesus, as we understand, is deity according to John.
- John 1:1
So we understand that Jesus was not always known by the name Jesus. He's the second person of the Godhead. He's eternal in His nature. He is deity.
And at one point in history, there was a time there was a need for deity to leave Heaven above, come down in the form of mankind so that salvation could be obtained.
- John 1:14
As deity, Jesus has always been exalted above the angels. In fact, He would have been the one that created the angels.
- John 1:3
Jesus was the voice, if you will, that spoke the elements of the world into existence, including the celestial beings, the angels themselves. From the beginning of time, Jesus has been better, more exalted than the angels.
Humanity Made Lower Than the Angels
Now I want to speak for a minute about you and I as human beings, you and I as mankind. We're going to notice that you and I are made lower than the angels. We're made a little bit lower than the angels. We're still glorified by God. We've been given a spirit. We are made in the likeness of God.
- Genesis 1:26 - 27
We're made in the very image of God. It's not to be taken in a physical sense. It's not the meaning that was intended or the purpose that was intended, but we are each of us made in the image of God because we have the spirit of God within us. We have an eternal spirit that is never going to die even after our body ceases to live in this world.
But man is made a little bit lower than the angels.
- Hebrews 2:6
- Psalm 8:4-6
This is exactly what happened with mankind at the beginning of the creation. If we had time, we could go back and open up the Genesis account, Genesis one and two, and see the creation of God and all the wonderfully splendid things that God created. And then the pinnacle of all of that creation was man and woman, and God gave man the opportunity, the instructions to name all of the animals and He paraded the animals in front of man, and this is for a purpose. Adam sees after naming all the animals that there's none that is appropriate to be his mate and helper in this world. And from the side of man, God creates a woman. Made in the image of God, but made lower than the angels.
Jesus Made Lower Than the Angels to Save Us
So now Jesus walks upon the earth and is He above the angels or is He below the angels? The answer is yes—while He was walking on the earth—because He's 100% God and 100% man. And as we've talked about before, that's 100% of the time.
- Hebrews 2:8
Mankind has been given dominion, has been given control over everything that God has created. There's one thing that created man has no control over. There's one thing that God created that God did not create that was in the world initially: the death of mankind. Mankind has no control over death.
It was through the sin of Adam and Eve—I'm sure you'll recall—that death enters into the world.
- Romans 5
And we are all going to be held to death. It's going to come for all of us sooner or later. But death was originally something that God did not create. He didn't create death. Death was a process of sin coming into the world.
So there's something that mankind has no control over. We have no power to stop the process of death.
- Hebrews 2:9
And it's through the sacrifice that Jesus makes, through Him becoming the offering, that allows us to be reconciled back to God through the shedding of His blood, through us repenting of our sins, that there is now someone who has power over death—the one who rose from the dead never to die again. Now, that's not you. That's not me. That's not any mortal man. But it's Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels, who is now exalted above all of the angels.
Old Testament Proofs: Jesus Better Than Angels
- Hebrews 1:5-13
This idea of Jesus being better than the angels is something that is also a fulfillment of various Old Testament passages.
I'm sure you realize this, but it was not really until I was preparing for this lesson, and maybe I had forgotten these things from previous studies, but from verse five in chapter one through verse 13 of chapter one—there's only 14 verses—the Hebrews writer is going to say that Jesus is better than the angels, and from beginning in verse five, he's just going to quote Old Testament passages. That's all he does for the rest of chapter one: he quotes passages from the Old Testament, and this is going to be the proof that he gives that this has always been God's intention that Jesus would be better and mightier than the angels.
Notice what he says beginning in verse five of chapter one of Hebrews:
“For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” — Hebrews 1:5
- Psalm 1:7
- 2 Samuel 7:14
The Hebrews writer writes these passages from the Old Testament, not giving us any hint of where they come from necessarily, which is interesting when you think about the fact that the people that he's writing to would've known where these passages were. He didn't have to say it was Psalm two and verse seven. He didn't have to say it was from Second Samuel chapter seven and verse 14. Of course, there was no Second Samuel chapter seven and verse 14 at the time of this writing, but they knew that the writings of the Old Testament, they knew the writings of the psalmist.
- Psalm 2:7
- 2 Samuel 7:14
If you ever needed to give a reason for the studying of our Old Testament, the book of Hebrews will give that to you.
- Romans 15:4
It's an excellent passage. It helps us understand that every word of the Bible is significant in some way for our instruction and for our learning. But here we have it played out for us that the Hebrews writer is instructing these New Testament Christians. They need to know what the Old Testament says because in understanding what the Old Testament says, it proves the point of the answer to their question: Why Jesus? Jesus is better.
Well, how do we know He's always been better? From the foundation of the world.
- Hebrews 1:6
- Deuteronomy 32:43
- Psalm 104:4
- Hebrews 1:8
- Psalm 45:6-7
- Hebrews 1:10
- Psalm 102:25-27
- Hebrews 1:2
- Psalm 110:1
The Hebrews writer uses the Old Testament passages and the writings of the prophets that God formerly spoke to the forefathers of that nation to prove to them that it was never the plan for anyone else other than the Son of God to be the savior of mankind.
The Role of Angels as Messengers
We don't necessarily know what significance the Hebrews placed on angels. We do know that angels played somewhat of a significant role in being messengers of God. In fact, the word angels simply means messenger. Angelos is the Greek word that is translated angel here, and it can mean a physical human messenger or it could be in reference to a celestial being, an angelic being as we might commonly think of them. And the context determines how that particular word is being used.
And we could go back to the Old Testament and we could see where certain angels were sent down to provide messages to human beings. I think concerning Abraham when he's offering Isaac—Genesis chapter 22—and he takes Isaac up to the mountain that God told him to go and offer sacrifices on. And they have the wood and they have the fire and they have the knife, but they don't have the sacrifice.
And Isaac asks, “Where's the sacrifice?” Abraham, of course, you remember, says, “God will provide.” And after Abraham had bound his son and laid him upon the altar and has the knife raised above his head and is about to slay his own son that he'd waited, by the way, 25 years in promises to receive, there was a voice that he heard. It is described in Genesis chapter 22 as the angel of the Lord said, “Stop, do him no harm. Now God knows that your faith has been made perfect.”
There have been other angels that have spoken out at various times. We think concerning the angel that spoke to Zacharias and Elizabeth, the mother and father of John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus. It's the same angel that spoke to Mary, the same one that spoke to Joseph concerning great things about the birth of Jesus and warnings against staying in Jerusalem when Herod is trying to kill those that are to be born, they're warned to leave.
The messengers of God. There's a great study that could be done on that particular topic alone, but we don't know the significance necessarily of why they looked at angels the way that they did.Regardless, God is saying with certainty, and the Hebrews writer is revealing through inspiration so that it cannot be missed by the people, that Jesus is greater. He's better than all the angels.
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” — Hebrews 1:14
There's a role for the angels to play in this particular world. It's not the part of being savior—that role is already taken—but their role is to be ministering spirits and they are going to be employed, if you will, by the King Himself, in ways that you and I don't necessarily see, in ways that you and I don't necessarily understand. We might in fact use the term as we often do, the providence of God. Jesus has total control over the angels. They answer to Him.
Jesus Given a More Excellent Name
But Jesus is not simply better than the angels as a fulfillment of the Old Testament law. And He's not just exalted above the angels because the Old Testament says that He was going to be. But as we talked about in verse four, Jesus was given a name that was above all the other names.
I would imagine this is a passage that gets referred to quite often when speaking concerning how powerful is the name of Jesus:
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12, (10)
If you back up just a few verses to verse 10, I believe it is, Jesus is named there and the context is about Jesus. There's no other name given among men. There's no other name in either heaven or earth whereby we must be saved.
- Philippians 2:8
That was not the name Jesus, by the way, in particular, but it is Savior. It's the mighty one, marvelous, Prince of Peace. Go back to Isaiah and read the prophetic names or descriptions and titles of what Jesus was going to hold: Mighty Counselor, Prince of Peace—given a name that the angels could only fathom and never have for themselves.
But Jesus is better than the angels also because He is the Prince of our salvation. I worded it that way intentionally because He's called the Captain of our salvation, and Prince is just another word that's a part of that particular definition. As Messiah, all things are subject to Jesus.
The Greater Salvation and Warning
- Hebrews 2:1-4
The writer causes the readers to consider the punishment for violating the old law. Notice the beginning of chapter two with me, if you will.
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels, hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.” — Hebrews 2:1-5
The opening verses of chapter two need to be associated with the end of chapter one. Otherwise you miss the whole point of what the writer is saying. There is one of those unfortunate chapter breaks, if you will. The passage there in chapter two starts out with the word “therefore,” which means the writer is drawing a conclusion based off of what he'd previously stated.
Well, what did he previously state? The list of verses that proved that Jesus was better than the angels was foretold by the Old Testament prophets. Therefore, you and I—speaking to those that he was writing to—need to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard—what's in the New Testament, what came from Jesus Himself, what came from those inspired writers of the first century—lest at any time we should let them slip or drift on by without catching hold of what the gospel has to say.
Or if the word spoken by angels was stedfast—now the angels here are kind of used two different ways. It could literally be the celestial beings, like what we talked about before, but it could also be, and I think the context bears this out, that what was spoken of by the angels was what was spoken of by the Old Testament prophets. It is the old law, in fact, in particular.
And if somebody was guilty of violating the Old Testament law, what happened to them? Were there any punishments in the Old Testament for iniquities that were perpetrated by individuals? Yes, there were. Were there those individuals that were struck down dead immediately because God brought them into judgment for disobeying His will? Yes, those happen.
- Uzzah is a perfect example, 2 Samuel 6:3-8
- Nadab and Abihu, Leviticus 10:1-2
But if the words spoken by angels, if what was in the Old Testament, if the violation of the Old Testament law carried punishments and rightfully so, how are we going to escape—you and I—the Hebrews writer? Remember keeping this in the first century context of second-generation Christians—how are you and I going to escape if we neglect so great salvation? The answer is we're not going to escape. No.
If those that stood under the Old Testament law were held accountable by the punishments of the Old Testament law, then you and I cannot escape. We're under a greater law now, which is something that we haven't even gotten to yet. You and I have to stick with the New Testament. We have to stick with Jesus because God has ushered in a change. Something better is here than what was with them in the beginning.
Jesus as Captain of Salvation Through Suffering
- Hebrews 2:5-18
Jesus' death therefore was necessary. Otherwise, He could not be the author of salvation. If Jesus is not the author of salvation, He has no way to conquer death, then we still have to be in fear of dying. But you and I don't have to worry about that.
- Psalm 8:6
For all things to be put under the feet of Jesus, Jesus had to suffer death as a man. Jesus then had to overcome death, which we know that He did from the resurrection.
- Hebrews 2:10
Jesus suffered as a man. It was not to save the angels, but it was to save mankind, the greatest part of the creation of God. Jesus was willing to leave heaven above, take on the form of a servant, to live and die under the Old Testament law, to fulfill it and carry it out of the way, to usher in the new covenant. And He did it for us.
In suffering as a man, many will now be able to come to glory. The Gospel's invitation is open to everyone because of what Jesus did. The sanctifier, which is Jesus, and the sanctified, which is mankind, are able to be united for the first time in all the world because of Jesus committing Himself to suffer as a man and to die on the cross. And because of that, think about this with me for a moment. Jesus, who is, as we mentioned earlier, 100% deity, 100% man—He's before He's incarnate.
- John 1:14
He's there in heaven, 100% united with the Father and with the Holy Spirit, and He decides to leave heaven and take to Himself the form of mankind, suffers and dies a physical death. What happens to the humanity of Jesus when He ascended back into heaven?
- Acts chapter 1:11
Have you taken time to consider that particular question? He maintains it. Amen. Jesus never leaves His humanity behind, and it's so important and it's so wonderful for us to consider that very point even above some of these others.
Jesus maintains His humanity, which is why in verse 11 it says there that He is not ashamed to call them brethren. This is why He's not ashamed to call us brethren either. Yes, He's the second person of the Godhead. Yes, He is divine in His very nature.
And yet, even today, right at this very moment, He sits on the right hand of God the Father with His humanity. So that He can be a High Priest for you and a High Priest for me, and He can be the captain of our salvation.
- Hebrews 2:12
- Psalm 22:22
- Isaiah 8:17, 18
We talked about how that, the one thing created man couldn't do was have any control over death. We don't have to worry about that anymore. Death should not cause us to be in bondage. We're not enslaved to death or to sin in that respect. Why? Because Jesus suffered for us. Jesus took our punishment upon Himself.
“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
Why Jesus Is Better: He Came to Save Humanity
Why is Jesus better? Because He came down specifically to save you and me. Jesus didn't do that for the angels. We've talked before about angels that have sinned against God. They have no recourse. They have no way to make themselves right with God. Why? Because they have no savior. They have no one that's coming after them. We do.
Jesus took on the form of Abraham, took on the form of man so that He could be the reconciliation, the purchased price for our sin so that He could buy us back in redemption.
Are you a member of the body of Christ? Are you a part of the kingdom that Jesus promised that He was going to establish? Through the things that He suffered, through His death upon the cross, through His resurrecting out of that grave and ascending back to the Father, He ushered in the establishment of a brand new kingdom. A place that was never going to be destroyed. A place that could never be torn down. It would never have to be rebuilt because it was established on better promises. There's a word that's coming up in a couple of weeks, maybe.
We would hope that you would want to be a part of that kingdom—one that Jesus thinks so much about that He left heaven above in order to die for you so that you could be a part of it. Are you willing to say no to self? Deny yourself and become a follower of Jesus simply by doing what the Bible says that we're supposed to do to be right with Him. Are you willing to hear His word, believe in His name, repent of your sins, confess your faith in Him as deity, and submit to a watery grave wherein your sins can be washed away by the blood of Jesus through the power of God?
If you are a member of the body of Christ, but you are questioning whether or not to remain in His service or to find your own way, please don't leave this building tonight thinking that there's any other way besides His way. He's the captain. He's the prince. In another passage, He's the author of our eternal salvation. There's no other way to be saved except through Him.
And if we can help you realize that, we would encourage you to contact us.
