The Last Word

Hebrews 1:1-2

The key words in this section are: spoke (or spoken), and the contrast between the many times and ways and the last times and single way. The author is not identified and the audience is not addressed by name, although the traditional title of the book is "to the Hebrews" indicating that the assumption from early Christianity was that it was written to Jewish Christians. It is likely, since the author does not refer to the destruction of the temple in this book, that it was written before 70AD. The theme is being hinted at immediately: the superiority of Christ, especially his superiority compared to the Jewish religious system and tradition.
In these two verses, the author declares that Jesus is the fulfillment of and superior to the message of the prophets. This is a continuation and development of the themes that Stephen speaks of in Acts 7. For Stephen, it was all about Christ: he was the fulfillment of the law, he was the culmination of the scope of God's mercy and the scope of God's work. For the author, it is all about Christ. He is the full revelation of God.
I am excited to read the book of Hebrews to remind myself of the centrality of Christ and the cross. Sometimes I get lost in the details and logistics of programs and ministries. I need to remember that the point and the center is Christ and the cross. Sometimes I get lost in relationships and meeting people's needs. I need to remember that Christ is the center, foundation and culmination of all relationships. If people have only connected to me and I have not led them to Christ in some way, then that relationship has not fulfilled its purpose. I need to remember that more then answers and resources that people need Jesus. Jesus is God with us. Jesus enters our world, our pain, our joys, our failures and our triumphs. It's all about Jesus.