Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.
Hebrews was written by a Jewish Christian to other Jewish believers to encourage them in a time of persecution. It's extraordinarily rich theologically, and deeply rooted in the Old Testament. These opening verses speak of the absolute supremacy of Christ, who 'reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being' (verse 3).
We are so used to the idea of the incarnation that we take it for granted. If we really think about it, it's an astonishing claim – that when we look at the man Jesus, we are looking at God. When we want to know what God is like, we go to the words, deeds and character of Jesus.
If anything, this is even more striking when we think of what happened to Jesus – that he was despised, rejected and crucified, dying in great suffering. In the ancient world, these things just didn't go with the idea of an all-powerful God who created the universe. But our Christian discipleship is lived out in the knowledge that in Jesus, God entered his world to redeem it through suffering. As a former Bishop of Durham, David Jenkins, said: 'God is as he is in Jesus, therefore there is hope.'
God, strike me with awe again that you showed your glory perfectly through the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach me what it means to live for him.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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