Jesus, the Exact Representation of God’s Nature
“. . . His Son . . . [is] . . . the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3).
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3, Berean).
The Lord Jesus is beyond words.
The same is true for the Father. His glory is so powerful and strong, no man can see Him and live (Exodus 33:20). He told Moses that he, Moses, cannot see His face, for no man can see Him and live.
God set up the perfect plan.
He sent His only Son to the earth to save and redeem mankind. He sent Jesus to offer life to the world.
Then, He sent the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of the Father and of Jesus Christ.
What a wonderful, perfect, glorious plan!
Jesus: the Exact Representation of God’s Nature
Again, when we try to “express” or “explain” Jesus Christ, there are no words to express Him fully, neither His Person nor His glory.
Jesus is an eternal revelation, just as the Father is an eternal revelation.
The New Testament letters are an attempt to “summarize” or “explain” Jesus Christ, our most holy faith, and much more.
A great concise summary is found in Hebrews 1:3.
Notice that there are two parts to the short “explanation” or “summary” of Jesus:
Jesus is:
1. The brightness of God’s glory
2. The express image of God’s person
Therefore, there is the glory of Jesus. And there is His Person.
The glory of Jesus Christ is inexpressible.
The Person of Jesus Christ is inexpressible.
Jesus, the Son of God
Who is Jesus?
He is the Son of God.
God so loved the world He gave His Son, that whoever believes in Him shall find eternal life.
Jesus spoke and taught very clearly about His Father and their relationship.
He will forever be the Son of God.
The Father even spoke from heaven, twice, audibly saying, “This is My Beloved Son.”
Amen, and amen.
Jesus Christ, God Almighty
Jesus Christ is also the Lord God Almighty.
The Holy Spirit reveals this wondrous, glorious, eternal revelation . . . that Jesus Christ is God.
This revelation is also beyond human words.
A great man of God (John Wesley) summarized Jesus in this way:
God came to earth as a man and justified Himself to the world.
God Loves the World
Someone may ask, “Why is it all about Jesus?”
The answer is of course an eternal revelation and mystery.
God is love. Jesus is love.
God so loved the world . . .
He sent Jesus to save mankind . . . to die for the world.
The gospel is God’s love story for the world.
The gospel is beyond human words or explanation.
What God the Father and His Son have done and are doing – and will do for eternity – is beyond human comprehension.
The revelation that God is one – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and yet they are separate and distinct Persons . . . is truly beyond our limited understanding.
He is beyond us . . . He is an eternal revelation.
Some Translations
Some of the various translations of Hebrews 1:3 are below.
Some examples of translations include:
Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s nature
He is the exact likeness of God’s being.
Other translations:
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (ESV).
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Berean Study & others).
“His Son . . . [is] . . . the radiance of His glory and the exact expression of His substance” (Berean Literal).
“God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like him in every way” (Good News).
“Who being the brightness of his glory” (KJV)
“For he is the Brilliance of his glory” (Aramaic Bible)
“His Son is the reflection of God’s glory” (GWT).
“He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of his being” (ISV).
“The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence” (NET).
“He brightly reflects God’s glory and is the exact representation of His being” (Weymouth).
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