“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
(Hebrews 1:3)
Hebrews 1:3 offers a majestic description of Christ regarding His nature and unique relationship with the Father. In this passage, the fullness of God’s glory is manifested in the Son, who is both the revealer of God and the sustainer of creation. So to behold Christ is to behold God’s own glory made visible.
God is one essence, infinitely perfect, self-existent, and eternal, revealed in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the fountain of deity, the Son is begotten of the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from both. Each Person is distinct, yet all are coessential, coequal, and coeternal, possessing the fullness of the divine essence. This unity in distinction is at the heart of the mystery of the Trinity.[1]
The incarnation belongs to the Son, the eternal Word. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). By becoming man, Christ revealed the Father’s love, upheld His divine Sonship, and restored the image of God in fallen humanity. He accomplished this through a physical body that was united to His divinity without confusion or division, sinless and perfect.
This union of two distinct natures allows for a communion of properties: what is said of His humanity may sometimes be attributed to His divinity, and vice versa. Thus Acts 20:28 declares that God purchased the church with His own blood, and Acts 17:31 affirms that God will judge the world by the man He has appointed. These statements capture the wonder of the incarnation: God shed blood, and man will judge the world.
Hebrews 1:3 brings these truths together. Christ is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” In Him the unseen God is perfectly revealed. He “upholds all things by the word of his power,” sustaining creation with effortless authority. And “when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” His sacrificial death accomplished atonement, His exaltation secured His reign, and His position at the Father’s right hand displays His eternal priesthood and kingship.
The glory of God shines brightest in Christ who is both God and man, Redeemer and King. To see Him is to see the Father, to know Him is to know salvation, and to trust Him is to rest in the very brightness of His glory.
Contemplations:
- The brightness of God’s glory in Christ. Hebrews 1:3 describes Christ as “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” This passage emphasizes the fact that the fullness of God’s glory is made tangible and accessible through Jesus. When I consider Christ’s life, His teachings, and His sacrificial death, I am witnessing the manifestation of God Himself. This realization fills me with gratitude, knowing that because of Christ I can experience God’s presence and glory in a personal way.
- The unity and distinction of the Trinity. The concept of the Trinity, though complex, is crucial for understanding the nature of God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, yet one in essence. This unity in diversity teaches me about the relational aspect of God’s nature. Each Person of the Trinity plays a unique role in creation, redemption, and sanctification, yet they are perfectly united in purpose and essence.
- The incarnation made God’s love visible. The incarnation of Christ reveals the depths of God’s love for me. John 1:14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.” This act of God taking on human nature to redeem and restore us is a tangible demonstration of His commitment to our salvation. This reality calls me to respond with continuous love and devotion, knowing what God accomplished in order to bring me into His family.
- The assurance of salvation through the Trinity. Understanding the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in my salvation gives me great assurance. The Father, as the source of all, sent the Son to redeem me and the Holy Spirit to sanctify me. These truths assure me that my salvation is secure, upheld by the eternal and unchanging nature of God, which strengthens my faith and gives me confidence to live boldly for Christ.
Prayer (adoration):
O eternal Father, I adore You for revealing Your glory through Your only begotten Son. In Christ the brightness of Your glory shines, and in Him I see Your express image. I praise You that in sending Your Son You have made Yourself known, that the invisible God has become visible in the face of Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, I adore You as the radiance of divine majesty. By Your word all things are upheld, by Your power creation stands, and by Your sacrifice sin is purged. You are seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, crowned with honor and glory. I bow before You as Redeemer, King, and eternal Priest.
Holy Spirit, I adore You for opening my eyes to behold the glory of Christ. You who proceed from the Father and the Son, You sanctify the elect and seal them for the day of redemption. I worship You for bringing the light of Christ’s glory into my heart, for causing me to see Him as the very image of God.
O triune God, I marvel at the mystery of Your being—three Persons, one essence, infinite in majesty and glory. I adore You that in Christ the fullness of deity dwells bodily, that through Him my sins are purged, my salvation is secured, and my hope is made certain.
Let the brightness of Christ’s glory shine ever before me. Let my life reflect His light, and let my lips confess His name before the world. May I live in the assurance that He who reigns at Your right hand will come again in glory, to judge the living and the dead, and to bring His people into everlasting joy.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Hebrews 1:3:
Colossians 1:17; Mark 16:19; Hebrews 10:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6
[1] “Christ’s Incarnation. Some say that the Incarnation of Christ is repugnant to reason, and cannot be sufficiently proved out of Scripture. This is refuted John 1:14; 1 John 5:7-8; Phil. 2:6; John 5:18.” Ephraim Pagitt, Heresiography, (London: W. Wilson for John Marshall and Robert Trot .., 1645), 123.
