The Radiance of the Glory
Waiting for Light to Come | Erik Reed
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)
Why does the world function as it does? How does the earth continue to orbit at the exact distance from the sun and precise axis tilt to allow for life to flourish? Why do our hearts keep beating, blood keep circulating, and all the systems of our body keep operating without our help? Think about all the things we take for granted about how the world works, and how our bodies function, that we don’t control. Most people don’t spend a second worrying about whether our planet will float off into oblivion. In fact, we rarely even think about the fact that we are spinning on a massive rock hurtling through space.
Couple these questions, and realities, with the fact that Scripture says God is the one who holds all these things in the palm of His hands (Psalm 24:1-2). He didn’t labor in creating a universe with infinite complexity and scale. He spoke the word and it came into being (Hebrews 11:3). Many look at the world as created by God, but mindlessly operating. They view it like a clock God wound up, and now it is just ticking on its own.
But our passage today tells us something far greater is at work, and Jesus is the center of the story. The person of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, and crucified and raised on the third day in Jerusalem, is the one who is the full radiance of the glory of God. His nature is the exact imprint of the Father’s, meaning He is divine. And what is the resurrected and enthroned Jesus (Acts 2:33) doing right now in Heaven? He is upholding the universe by the word of His power.
What does this mean? It means Jesus is the One who keeps the world spinning. He keeps the planets orbiting. His power upholds gravity, our beating hearts, and the tides of oceans. The world continues functioning like clockwork, not because God hit the play button and watches it function independently. Rather, it keeps going in the way it does because Jesus upholds it. His command for it to operate as it does is why we can rely on it to be so.
The baby born in a manager is the King who upholds the universe. He is the exact imprint of the Father’s nature. He is eternal, sinless, all-powerful, righteousness, and just. He is God in the flesh. After He bore our sin at the Roman cross, forgiving all His people who would call upon Him, He sat down beside the Majesty—His Father—on high. This revelation of Jesus’ nature, power, and ongoing work of sustaining the world, helps us to see that the God-Man is glorious beyond all comparison.
Questions for Reflection
This advent devotion, Waiting for Light to Come, was written by Erik Reed and borrowed with permission from Knowing Jesus Ministries. You can find the original publication and more information at https://www.knowingjesusministries.co
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)
Why does the world function as it does? How does the earth continue to orbit at the exact distance from the sun and precise axis tilt to allow for life to flourish? Why do our hearts keep beating, blood keep circulating, and all the systems of our body keep operating without our help? Think about all the things we take for granted about how the world works, and how our bodies function, that we don’t control. Most people don’t spend a second worrying about whether our planet will float off into oblivion. In fact, we rarely even think about the fact that we are spinning on a massive rock hurtling through space.
Couple these questions, and realities, with the fact that Scripture says God is the one who holds all these things in the palm of His hands (Psalm 24:1-2). He didn’t labor in creating a universe with infinite complexity and scale. He spoke the word and it came into being (Hebrews 11:3). Many look at the world as created by God, but mindlessly operating. They view it like a clock God wound up, and now it is just ticking on its own.
But our passage today tells us something far greater is at work, and Jesus is the center of the story. The person of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, and crucified and raised on the third day in Jerusalem, is the one who is the full radiance of the glory of God. His nature is the exact imprint of the Father’s, meaning He is divine. And what is the resurrected and enthroned Jesus (Acts 2:33) doing right now in Heaven? He is upholding the universe by the word of His power.
What does this mean? It means Jesus is the One who keeps the world spinning. He keeps the planets orbiting. His power upholds gravity, our beating hearts, and the tides of oceans. The world continues functioning like clockwork, not because God hit the play button and watches it function independently. Rather, it keeps going in the way it does because Jesus upholds it. His command for it to operate as it does is why we can rely on it to be so.
The baby born in a manager is the King who upholds the universe. He is the exact imprint of the Father’s nature. He is eternal, sinless, all-powerful, righteousness, and just. He is God in the flesh. After He bore our sin at the Roman cross, forgiving all His people who would call upon Him, He sat down beside the Majesty—His Father—on high. This revelation of Jesus’ nature, power, and ongoing work of sustaining the world, helps us to see that the God-Man is glorious beyond all comparison.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways is Jesus the exact imprint of the Father’s nature? What does that mean?
- How should we understand the meaning of Jesus upholding the universe by the word of His power?
- What are some examples of things He upholds?
- What things today should you trust Jesus with since He upholds everything by the power of His word?
This advent devotion, Waiting for Light to Come, was written by Erik Reed and borrowed with permission from Knowing Jesus Ministries. You can find the original publication and more information at https://www.knowingjesusministries.co
2 Comments
Creator, sustainer and restrainer. There is no other!
One thing that He holds together is our bodies. Think about it. Our bodies are so complex and so precise that they speak to a Creator. Without one, it would be a wonder that the body functions correctly. We are no accident!
Praise Him!