The greatest storyteller, our perfect hero, offers our only hope

By Dean Collins

Everyone loves a good story, perhaps today more than ever.

Whether you are selling waffle fries, lip balm, exercise equipment, education, or yogurt, good storytelling builds and sustains market share. Stories can entertain us but they also can change our way of thinking, because stories not only connect to our heads but also move our hearts.

When we open the Bible we are drawn to the passages that tell stories. The whole of Scripture is a grand drama, and this drama continues to unfold in our lives even today. God is writing a wonderful story in each of us. Sadly there are times we resist, and some even refuse to allow the great storyteller to shape and transform their narrative. But when we surrender to the pen of the divine storyteller, our lives are changed and our stories become powerful.

The greatest storyteller

The author of Hebrews used story language to engage the reader as he began his letter: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.”

We are drawn in. How long ago? God spoke? To our fathers? How? When? Where? Did they listen? What happened? Who were God’s spokesmen? Hebrews will give us a quick summary, but we will need to read all the Old and New Testament narratives to understand the fullness and depth of all that God did and said.

The Hebrews storyteller immediately goes to the One God used as his greatest storyteller, his Son Jesus. Hebrews reminds us the Son was appointed as the heir of all things. You may feel blessed if your inheritance included Grandma’s wedding ring or your great grandfather’s pocketknife. Maybe you were lucky to receive a sum of money. But God’s Son inherited everything. And it gets better.

Jesus not only inherited and inhabited God’s creation. He was with him when it was designed. Even more, “He is the radiance of the glory of God.” We know from the Old Testament stories that God’s radiance filled the temple. We know when Moses came off the mountain of God he was glowing with the radiance of God. Being in close proximity to Yahweh causes a change in appearance. Hebrews tells us in the case of the Son, the radiance illuminates glory, but the writer also reveals that the Son possesses the exact imprint of God’s nature. In fact, he possesses strength and power so great that he upholds the universe even now.

The perfect hero

When we read a book or watch a movie we sometimes have to wait to discover the hero. And often the hero has flaws. But not in God’s story. The Hero, our Hero, has no character flaws. He is bold and strong, yet full of love and compassion.

As Hebrews opens and reveals the central character of our story, he also references with quick summary the Hero’s gift to all of us. and he also knows we are familiar with the four Gospel writers who reveal this gift in great detail. The Son made purification for sins. Not just one sin or some sins. Not just for you and me, but for all people for all time. The Son who possessed all power gave up everything and died on a cross, shedding his blood to cover our shame and make payment for our sin. And now, this minute, he sits at the right hand of God. He sits superior to all creatures in Heaven and on earth.

That’s a pretty strong opening to a story! And the story arrived then and it arrives today just when we need it. We need this Hero. And as we read on in this letter, we are reminded of what we remember on our best days and may forget on our worst days: Jesus goes before us, is always with us, and will come again to get us and finish the work of making all things right for all time. He will never abandon, and in his perfect timing, all things will resolve and become new.

Our only hope

I will end today’s thoughts with the opening sentence of Hebrews 2: “Therefore we must pay close attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away .“ The original recipients of this letter were experiencing very hard and even life-threatening times. I suspect in the midst of our pandemic you can relate, particularly if you have a loved one suffering. But do not give up on what God can do. Do not give in to doubt that he is involved in our current moment. Pay attention to his Word. Read it and remember what he has done for us. And do not drift to other sources for help. He is our strength, our Savior, and our hope. So run to him in prayer and worship and feel his strength even today!

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:1-4‬; 2:1; John 1:1-5, 11-14, 16-18 ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Hatice Yardım on Unsplash

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