CHRISTMAS IN HEBREWS

Jim Sisti

            Heb 1:6 ... when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

            A Hebrew Christmas reads like an oxymoron.  Yet truths unfolded in Hebrews chapters one and two will expand our worship and strengthen our walk this season as we celebrate this one-of-a-kind birth.
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            Chapter one confronts us with the only baby ever born with a past.  And what a past - an eternal past!  Verses 3-8 say of the firstbegotten: "by whom also he made the worlds," "being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power", "unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." And the Divine title "firstbegotten" signifies God the Son is the Maker, Sustainer, Controller, Eternal Sovereign, Reality-Behind-The-Shadow, Reason, Purpose, End-All - in other words - the Source and Sum of everything that has, does, and will ever exist. 
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            And this one-of-a-kind birth has a purpose with a past  - elsewhere called a purpose made before the foundation of the world. Chapter two unfolds he was born:  "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man," "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage," "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

            And so first, these truths can strengthen my walk. I am tempted daily to feel like a hamster running on my squeaking wheel in my mini-jail cell.  And actually, this is what the curse has made life.  My alarm goes off at 5:00am on Monday morning, and I feel this sinking gloom - "Ugh, another work week: wake, work, eat, sleep, rinse, repeat... and then the awakening realization of looming problems and difficulties of every type, and my inabilities, weaknesses, fears, and tendency to screw-up. But wait!  The firstbegotten was born into this cursed world, defeated the curse and Satan, made me a new creation in Him and I am now a "more than overcomer!"  He has freed me!  And He's walked in my shoes and will comfort, counsel and lead me on every step of my journey to glory with Him!

            And last, and most important, these truths can expand my worship. I can read and re-read, think about, dwell on, wonder at, incorporate into prayer and praise these verses.  I won't fall into the trap of turning this into a metaphysical puzzle of "How can God become a baby?" These truths are revealed not to perplex or discourage us, but to cause us by faith to fall on our faces as worshippers, overcome by what in these verses He is revealed to be and do - taking us to Himself through our new birth by Him.
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            May you this Christmas season join the angels of God in worship, as your heart overflows with joy because God has brought His Firstbegotten into the world!