Jesus Spoke The Father's Last Words (Wednesday, Week 4 of Advent 2011)

What Did Jesus Do?

…But in these last days God has spoken to us by his Son.
Hebrews 1:2

Last words are important. A great deal of solemnity attends to one’s last words. There are Shakespeare’s “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow.” (Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene2), Lou Gehrig’s “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” (Yankee Stadium’s farewell to Gehrig, July 4, 1939), and Douglass MacArthur’s last address to the Corps of Cadets, “Today marks my final roll call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps. I bid you farewell.” (West Point, May 12, 1962). There’s even Groucho Marx’s “Hello, I must be going.” (Animal Crackers, 1930), of which no one but Groucho can be sure whether it was a greeting or a farewell! And, of course, one’s Last Will and Testament is typically opened and read with perhaps greater interest than anything else we say or write during our lifetime. Last words are important. After long years, and at many times and in many ways (Hebrews 1:1), the day arrived when God spoke his last words. While the prophets had well served God’s earlier purpose, the Father spoke his last words through the Son. Actually, it isn’t so much that Jesus spoke the Father’s last words, the truth of it is that Jesus IS the Father’s last word, spoken to the world in the last days. As such, I believe there are a couple of things we would do well to consider from Hebrews 1:1-4 over these last days of Advent 2011.

First of all, there’s no sense for anyone to be looking for God to send some new word of revelation. God has said all he is going to say to us. There will be no latter day prophets with anything to say by way of adding to, taking away, or changing in any way what the Father has already spoken to us in and through the Son. If anyone ever tries to convince you that they have a new word from God, stop your ears and run! While, long ago, prophet succeeded prophet, each one adding to God’s word, no one will ever succeed the Son. The imprisoned John the Baptist, having heard about the deeds done by the Lord, sent disciples to inquire, “Are you the one…or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3) Jesus sent John’s disciples back with instructions to report the testimony of their own ears and eyes—this was indeed the Christ (Matthew 11:4-6), do not look for another.

Another point to understand about the Father’s last word in the Son, is his superiority. No prophet who ever lived bore the exact imprint of God’s nature, but that is exactly who the Son is. While the face of Moses glowed with the reflection of God’s glory after each of his meetings with Yahweh, the Son was no reflection but the very radiance of the glory of God himself. (Hebrews 1:3) And, though even the greatest prophets were inferior to God’s divine messengers, the angels, the Son is as much superior to angels as his inherited name, I Am, is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:4)

Finally, this Christmas, as we ponder the birth of the Savior, his life, his death, and his resurrection, let us ask ourselves, “What more?” What more could the Father say to show his great love for us? What more could we possibly want to hear the Father say beyond what he has spoken to us through the Son—words of forgiveness, words of grace, words of life, words of love?

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4