From the Diary Edwards

Arguably the greatest theologian America has ever produced, Jonathan Edwards has written and produced much that is noteworthy. Anyone reading his diary can see that He is Keenly aware of his faults and by the grace of God is ever reforming. This excerpt comes form the diary of Edwards written on Sunday, November 15, 1724.

Determined, when I am indisposed to prayer, always to premeditate what to pray for; and that it is better, that the prayer should be of almost any shortness, than  that my mind should be almost continually off from what I say.

Jesus Greater than Angels

3. 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, 4. Having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Hebrews 1:3-4

The author of Hebrews comes now to the first theme of the letter written. Having already stated  different qualifications of Jesus, the author now must come to both the thesis of His first topic in Hebrews and the proof of it. Once having stated his thesis in verse four, the author than focuses on the next two chapters in proving the superiority of Jesus to the angels.  However, the New Testament Jew immediately would question why Jesus is superior and what these qualifications are. Two themes that will be dealt with in the next two chapters of Hebrews would be Jesus' superiority based on both His name and His work. However, the first dealing would be that Jesus is superior on the basis of the superiority of His name.

 

Jesus is Superior because of His name,

After having dealt with some of the attributes and characteristics of Jesus, the author discusses what exactly makes Him superior to everything including angels. The New Testament Jew held the angels with great esteem; they were believed to have written down the law and often were viewed with admiration. However, the author of Hebrews would not let anything overshadow the "brightness of Jesus" {John Calvin}. The Bible refers to the name of Jesus as the "the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9) and that it is the name " by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12) The significance of His name comes from the essence of the bearer. Because Jesus was both God and Man,  His name was more significant than the angels. Based both on the work that He had done (vs. 3) and His position as Son (vs. 1-3) Jesus is said to be the Son that made purification for our sins. Having said all of this, the author then transitions to Old Testament proofs that Jesus truly was the Son of God. 

The Name of Jesus is the basis for His ability to Atone

The significance of why Jesus name is important and why it is that which makes Him superior to the angels is that it is the basis of all that He did. Without Jesus as God, we have no Savior. The requirement for a Savior is not only that He be perfect but that He have the ability to sit on the right hand of God and intercede for us. This specific task required for the Savior presupposes His having authority to sit at the right hand of God which is based on His position as Son.  Having stated his first topic of Hebrews, the author then proceeds to proofs of Jesus' position as the Son of God which is important because upon this hinge hangs our salvation.

O Lord God, without the pardon of my sin I cannot rest satisfied

without the renovation of my nature by grace I can never rest easy,

without hopes of heaven I can never be at peace. 

All this I have in Thy Son Jesus; blessed be His name. - The Valley of Vision