Hebrews chapter 1 verses 10 to 12 - Jesus - Who is He? - JS Gillespie 

Consider eternity; what does that mean? 

One of those words that we use and we don't really have a clue what it means! 

Consider an approximation 'foreverness' 

Consider it not as sometimes it is considered to be as a line, extending back and forward with such strange marks as: eternity, past, present, future – descriptions best avoided for they make no sense. 

Consider eternity not as a line but as a vast ocean, a vast calm ocean, extending not as a line but in 360 degrees and 3 dimensions. 

In that ocean of eternity a bubble. 

Slowly rising to surface 

A bubble different in nature and content from the surrounding ocean 

A bubble which as and of itself can have no knowledge of that great ocean for by definition it does not contain any of that ocean. 

That bubble is the bubble of space and time. 

That bubble contains us and a few others too: 

It contains atheists who boldly and confidently proclaim – there is only a bubble, don't you go thinking there is anything else! We've measured it, probed it, sampled, studied and investigated it, stuck it in a test tube and all there is, is bubble! 
It contains agnostics – who are sure that there is a bubble but well could just completely exclude the possibility that there might be something more than outside than the bubble. 
It contains religious people – who are absolutely certain that there must be something more than the bubble! But what is exactly it might be, we couldn't be too sure! 
It contains believers, born again, washed in the blood believers in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who a bold confidence, not only say that there may be more outside the bubble, or that there is something outside the bubble but who say: “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day.” There is more and I have met Him and I know Him! 

Hebrews tells me of a time and of a Person who broke through from the vast ocean of eternity and broke into my bubble! 

1 individual who holds the key to space and time. 

This individual: 

Is the Designer of this universe (1:10) 
Is unDiminished by the universe (1:11) 
Is the Destiny of this universe (1:12) 

Is the Designer of this universe (1:10) 

If the heavens are the works of His hands, what happens when those hands come into time? 

Restore Humanity: 

Matt 8:14ff – Those hands restore Peters mother in law to health 
John 9:6 – Hands that could create eyes and bring light to a darkened soul! 
Matt 8:1-6 – Those hands restore the leper to wholeness – to restore a dirty and defiled sinner to what he ought to be 
Luke 4:40 – Hands that healed the sick 
Luke 13:10ff – Woman bowed down and infirm, made straight again! 

Reveal the Purposes of God: 

Luke 4:17 – Able to handle the Word of God; to find the portion, to turn to the scriptures, to read the scriptures, to explain the scriptures, to read to half way through a verse (4:19), stop at its dispensational fulfilment and claim that fulfilment in Himself! 

“And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?”(Joh 7:15) 

Resurrect the dead : 

Luke 7:14; 9:54 – Hands that brought life to the dead 

Redeem a fallen humanity : 

Luke 23:33 – Hands that were pierced for my salvation 

Is unDiminished by the universe (1:11) 
Is the Destiny of this universe (1:12) 

These verses take us to some of the deepest statements of reassurance we find anywhere in the Bible! 

There are many records of Gods reassuring Grace to His people: 

Gideon with the fleece 
Gideon with the barley loaf 
Moses with the rod and the miracles 
Elijah and the still small voice 
Gods word to Isaiah (Isa 41:10) 

Psalm 102:24-28 truly surpasses them all! 

These verses of Hebrews contain for our encouragement, a record of words of reassurance between God the Father and God the Son! 

Here as a word of reassurance beyond reassurance! 

As to the setting of these verses: 

Ps 102:1-12 – echo of Calvary 
Ps 102:24 – echoes of the sentiments of Gethsemane: “who in the days of His flesh offered up prayers with supplications and thanksgiving...” 
Ps 102:24 – specifies a time point, the midpoint of the normal lifespan of a man, defined in the psalms as 70 years (Psalm 90:10). “Jesus Himself began to be about 30 years of age...” (Luke 3:22) at the beginning of His ministry. According to Johns Gospel we have 3 definite passovers during the ministry of the Lord Jesus (Jo 2:12; 6:4; Jo 11:55) and between the commencement of Christs public ministry and the beginning of the first passover a number of events transpire: His baptism by John, calling of disciples, the miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, a journey to Capernaum, a journey to Jerusalem. From these time lines in the gospels this would make the death of Christ take place somewhere in His early to mid thirties. The mid point of His natural life span. The translation of Spurrel; Psalm 102:24 : “My God take me not off at the half of my days.” 

The substance of these verses: Christ: 

The Cause of the Universe (102:25) 
As unChanged by the Universe (102:27) 
As the Conclusion of the Universe (102:26) 

The Cause of the Universe (102:25) 

A universe therefore marked by design and order 

Presence of a sun and moon 
The significance of the moon and surrounding planets preventing wobble 
Distance from the sun 
Relative mass of sun and earth 
Sped of rotation of earth on its axis 
Speed of rotation of earth around the sun 
Ozone and ultraviolet light 

As unChanged by the Universe (102:27) 

Recognised by Moses and Elijah on the Mount of transfiguration 

“Abraham rejoiced to see My day and was glad” 

These verses do not only give us the characteristics of an unchanging God but more significantly the identity of that unchanging God. 

Who is He? 

What I truly believe regarding the answer to that question will determine how I live my life! 

Not my verbal response to that question, but what I truly believe He is like. 

If I believe: 

God is absolutely righteous, holy, a judge of sin but with no provision for salvation I will live a life of fear and submission, of silent dread and terror, I will be “all my lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:15). With no assurance of salvation. I will live a life of FEAR. 

God is altogether benevolent – a God of love who could never possess the quality of critically appraising nor of judging the sin of His creatures, I will likely live distracted by sin, a life of FAILURE, regarding sin as an altogether indifferent matter. 

God is both just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus, not that God has gone soft on sin, His absolute righteousness remains but that He is able to forgive my sin at an infinite and inestimable cost. This is the key to the life of FAITH, a life of devoted obedience to God. 

So who is God? 

Who is He? 

And why are these general verses about God the creator quoted in support of the Deity of Christ in Hebrews chp 1? 

The answer seems to hinge on the LXX translation, a translation from Hebrew to Greek much used by the Jews at the time of Christ 

Greek was one of the international languages of the day, along with Latin. 

When the OT is quoted in the NT it is often quoted, not from the KJV, nor even the Hebrew but from the LXX. 

Differences arise between the KJV and the LXX for various reasons, sometimes just a different way of expressing the same thought but sometimes for another reason: Hebrew when written, is written without vowels, when you read it you have to supply the vowels. 

This means that for example the name of the Lord could be rendered Jehovah or as Yahweh. 

Bigger differences can arise in the translation from the Hebrew when the addition of different vowels give completely different words. 

Eg: In the Hebrew you had HT – that could be: Hit, Hut, Hot, Heat. 

Hopefully the context will shed some light on what you mean! 

At times therefore different words can be formed from the Hebrew letters, resulting in subtle differences in meaning. 

The NT use of the LXX version seems to endorse the LXX translation of the Hebrew text. 

The LXX translation of Psalm 102:23 is subtly different, not majorly different. 

This subtle difference gives explanation for a problem that arises in these verses. 

Psalm 102:23-24 in English, expresses a concern from the heart of the Psalmist which never seems to be resolved nor answered in the remainder of the Psalm. 

The LXX translation resolves this problem, by making clear that in Psalm 102:24 there are 2 speakers and not 1, this is the view taken in Hebrews chp 1: 

  

The Septuagint translation of Psalm 102:23-24: 

“(Christ:) Declare to me the fewness of my days. Do not bring me up in the middle of my days: 

(God:) Your years are for generations on end. In the beginning you Lord, laid the foundation of the earth...” 

So in Psalm 102:24 God answers the Psalmists / Messiahs request for reassurance; to 'declare to me the fewness of my days...' 

Once we see that these verses are a 2 way conversation they take on a totally different meaning. 

The remaining verses are not the psalmists reflection in the unchanging character of God but rather surprisingly the remaining verses are Gods reply to the Psalmist. 

This makes no sense unless the Psalmist is Christ. 

This Psalm on reflection: 

Commences with the Cross of Christ (102:1-11) 
Continues with conversion to Christ (102:12ff) 
Concludes with the Crown and the Glory of Christ (102:24ff) 

This is a Messianic Psalm 

Not because the early Christians decided it was but because the LXX translation itself indicates this to be the true meaning of the Psalm 

These verses put Christ on a very high standing (102:24-26) 

Until you reach (102:27): “But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.” 

Ps102:27: “But thou art Hua” - one translator (Spurrell) translates that word “same” as a proper name: 'Hua' – it is the Hebrew word for 'He' and some of the biblical margins will have that as an alternative translation: “But thou art He” - that is Christ is not only unchanging, Christ is the unchanging One! 

This title 'He' – is a title of Deity: 

“Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.” (Isa 41:4) 

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”(Isa 43:10) 

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”(Isa 46:4) 

“Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.”(Isa 48:12) 

Psalm 102 elevates Christ very high, until Psalm 102:27 and there the elevation stops, because you can't go any higher: 'His name is Higher than any other' in Psalm 102:27. In this Psalm Christ is acknowledged as the possessor of Deity! 

As we eavesdrop in on this conversation we become aware of a conversation between 2 persons. One crying in agony: 'why am I being cut off at age 34 to 35 years,' and God replying to that questions; 'you have always been here, you will always be here, you are God.' 

The ultimate reassurance! 

Need to study your bible to get it mind you! 

You'll no see it watching U-tube, you'll no find it on facebook, and you'll not get it doing the alpha course! 

You will find it if you carefully study the Word of God. 

If you want to find it, its there! 

So 'Who is He?' 

'He is He' 

Christ is the unchanging God! 

Psalm 102:24-28 gives us not only the attributes of an unchanging God but gives us too the identity of the unchanging God! 

This is why it is so special and why it is quoted in Hebrew chp 1. 

Christ is the One Supreme and unchanging God. 

Thus Christ can say: 

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (Joh 8:58) 

“As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.” (Joh 18:6-7) 

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8) 

His personality re-echoes throughout the Word of God! 

One supreme and perpetual personality. 

It is His one consistent personality which gives such consistency to the whole of scripture: 

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (Joh 5:39) – this is what we have been discovering this evening. 

“Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1Pe 1:11) 

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2Pe 1:21) 

“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev 19:10) 

This personality unchanging and eternal is Christ! 

It is because we have one consistent and unchanging personality that we have one consistent revelation. 

The objective evidence for the truth of Psalm 102:26-27 is the record of mens dealings with God; that in His Word He is an unchanging God: 

One Consistent standard of Righteousness 

Adam and Eve in the garden – disobedience over the matter of the fruit brings death 
Lots wife and a wrong look 
The law of Moses – penalty death 
The strange fire of Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10) 
Achan and the accursed thing (Joshua 7) 
Don't expect a softening of Divine righteousness in Christ: “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Mat 5:22). There is in Christ no softening towards sin. I understand why men think there is – for He brings mercy and forgiveness, but no softening towards sin. 

One Consistent Pattern of Salvation 

The need for blood – the OT saints must have scratched their head, mystified by the power of blood! What is it with the blood of an animal that seems to please God? Why is Divine revelation so pre-occupied with Blood? 
Adam and Eve – needed skins to clothe them 
Cain and Abel – needed blood to be accepted by God 
The nation of Israel needed blood to preserve them from the Angel of Death in Exodus 12 
Atonement gave access to the presence of God and that by blood. 

At times, from the earliest moments of blood sacrifice there was just a hint of something altogether more awesome and fearful: 

Cain and Abel – a sin offering was there too for Cain (Gen 4:7) and so in Gen 4:8 – blood is shed by Cain – the blood of righteous Abel! A human sin offering? Is this possible? This may seem a little obscure was it not for Heb 12:24. 
If we have a hint of it in Cain and Abel we surely have a picture of it in Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22: “God shall provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” 
We have it explicitly stated in Psalm 40:6ff 

So what is: 

Sensed in Abel 
Suggested in Isaac 
Stated in Psalm 40 
Seen in Isaiah 53 “by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for He shall bear the sins of many” 

Atonement: 

Noahs ark pictured it – pitched within and without with pitch 
Moses preached it 
Aaron practised it 
David prophesied it (Ps 65:3; Ps 79:9) 
Christ provided it 

One Consistent Doctrine of Bodily Resurrection 

Abraham and Isaac (Hebs 11) 
Job (19:25-27) – literal bodily resurrection 
Daniel 12:2 – bodily resurrection 
John 11 – Christ 
1 Co 15: answering to Daniel 12:2 – 1 Co 15:42ff – from the dust of the ground! Answering to Job 19:25-27 – 1 Co 15:23 

One Consistent set of Divine Attributes 

That Jesus reigns and is seated upon a throne in heaven He  is: 'Ha Melech Jehovah' (Ps 98:6) – 'The Lord the King' 

That Jesus not only reigns in the heavens but  He reigns forever: 'Elohiym Olam' (Ps 48:14) : 'Our Everlasting God.' 

JEHOVAH-‘ELYON = Jehovah most high. Psalms 7:17, 47:2, 97:9 

He has a throne (1:8) 
He holds a sceptre (1:8) 
He laid the foundation of the earth (1:10) - Jehovah-Hoseenu - the Lord our Maker (Psalm 95:6) 

Jesus is: 'Elohim Bashamayim' (Josh 2:11) : 'God in heaven' 

Jesus as the one who created all things (1:10) –  that is 'Jehovah Bow-ray' (Isa 40:28) – The Lord Creator. 

All of the hosts of heaven worship Jesus (1:6); He is: 'Jehovah Tsa-bi-ot' – The Lord of Hosts. 

It was Jesus who sanctifies me (2:11): 'Jehovah Mek-a-deesh-kem' (Ex 31:13) – 'The Lord that Sanctifies you' 

It is Jesus who deals the fatal and final blow to my greatest enemies of death (2:9-10,14) and the Devil (2:14). Such a blow can hardly be but the work of God Himself, this goes beyond Adam, this is: 'Jehovah Ma-kay' (Ezek 7:9) – The Lord that Smitteth. 

Jesus smites to deliver (2:15) from Sin and Satan and Suffering and Death and Damnation? He is my: 'Jehovah Me-fal-ee-tee' (Ps 18:2; 2Sam 22:2; Ps 70:5) – The Lord our Deliverer 

Jesus is: 'Elohiym Ma-o-zee' (Ps43:2) – The God of my Strength. 

He who is over the House of Israel is:  'El Elohim Israel' : This goes beyond Moses! 

Did you say that it is Jesus who is the Saviour of His people? This is the prerogative of Jehovah, whose name is: 'Jehovah Mo-shi-ech' (Isa 49:26; 60:14) – The Lord your Saviour. 

Yet the OT scriptures draw me to Elohim for help: 'Elohim Ozer Lee' (Ps 54:4) – God my Helper. 

It is the Lord Jesus who is the source of mercy, 'Elohe Has-dee' (Ps 59:10,17) – 'God of my Mercy' 

Jesus  is my refuge (Heb 6:18): 'Jehovah Ma-see' (Ps 91:9) – God my Refuge? 

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - cf. Heb 7:2 - the Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6b, 33:16b)and Jehovah-Shalom cf Heb 7:2 - the Lord our Peace (Judg. 6:24a). 

As the Conclusion of the Universe (102:26)