Illuminated: Hebrews 1-2Sýnishorn

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  - Hebrews 1:3 ESV

Greek Word Focus

χαρακτήρ/charakter: a tool for engraving; a sculpting mold or a stamp used on a coin

Why It Matters

If you’ve spent any time in certain leadership circles, you may have heard this statement: “Adversity doesn’t build character; it reveals it.” This quote reminds us that a person’s character is not a product of external factors but a reflection of one’s true inner self. Our English word for character derives from the Greek word charakter. A charakter was a tool used to engrave an image onto slate, marble, or other rock. Eventually, people used it to describe the stamp that would shape a coin. If someone wanted to create the exact representation of a loved one onto a tile or stamp the emperor’s image onto their currency, a charakter was needed. 

Hebrews declares a theological truth that would have been profound and potentially controversial to its original audience: Jesus is the charakter of God’s nature. There is no variation between the qualities of Jesus and the qualities of God. If this is true, then God has shown us who He is, not through a heartless dictatorial degree but a life of sacrificial love. We know that God is just and good because Jesus lived a life of justice and goodness. We can rest in the truth that God is love because of the love Jesus displayed on the cross. The writer of Hebrews is confident that just as a stamp doesn’t deviate in creating an image on a coin, Jesus never shifted in reflecting the character of God.

Application

How will I rest this week in what Jesus has completed?