I love the introduction to Hebrews. The author skips the pleasantries and jumps right into his subject: the supremacy of Christ.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Heb 1:1-4)

Hebrews will take this idea, the supremacy of Christ, and turn it over like a diamond, looking at it from several different angles (seminary friends will please forgive the plagiarism). Even in this brief introduction, the author tells us several things about Christ that demonstrate his supremacy over all things.

• He is the culmination of God’s revelation to man– the final, most clear way God speaks to us about himself.
• He is the “heir of all things,” the one to whom God has given authority and power over the entire creation.
• He is the agency through which God created the world, so that he “inherits” what he himself has already created.
• He is the shining forth of God’s majesty; he displays exactly who God is and what he is like.
• He continually sustains the entire creation by his very word.
• His redemptive work now complete, he sits at the right hand of God the Father.
• He is superior to every created being, including supernatural ones like angels.