Jesus is more than a teacher

I recently discovered that someone has put up a site with daily updated "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers devotionals. This is one of my all time favorite devotionals, as Oswald constantly calls me back to humility in Christ. When I submitted myself to the full Lordship of Christ in college, this devotional was one of the key growing things that the Lord put in my life to teach me about Him.

Today's devotional was called: The Doorway to the Kingdom.

Basically the devo says that if we look at Jesus, merely as a teacher, then He commands too high of a standard for us to follow. Without submitting to His will and taking on the Spirit to help us, we cannot achieve what He requires and will be hopelessly frustrated. He ends the devo beautifully by pointing out the gospel and our need to believe that we are wretched, hopeless sinners in need of the free grace offered in Christ's wrath-averting sacrifice for our sins.

As a teacher of the Lord I need to be always aware and careful not to put burdens on my students. I need to not add box cars to their train without providing the engine of the gospel for them to rely on for pulling the demands of holiness. As Oswald says:

"He came to make me what He teaches I should be"

Hebrews 1:10-15 Jesus still better than Angels

Hebrews 1:10-14 ¹⁰And, "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; ¹¹they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, ¹²like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end."¹³And to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? ¹⁴Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Observation/Interpretation

• Jesus created the earth and heavens. Therefore He is greater than angels b/c they don't create things. I'd also like to point out how powerful this makes Jesus. I mean imagine all the intricate details of life and the universe. He set up all the rules of physics, chemistry, biology. And He did it in a way that was intrinsically beautiful. What an amazing God we serve.
• The current physical parts of creation will eventually break down and be destroyed (2nd law of thermodynamics), but Jesus will remain.
• Jesus is immutable. He never changes in His Godhood. He doesn't come up with new crazy ideas, He doesn't forget us. Jesus never changes, therefore He is better than angels.
• Jesus is now and will live forever. His years do not end like physical beings.
• Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father where His enemies are laid bare. He is the conqueror and enjoys the fruits of His labor. What a cool word picture by the way. To so utterly crush your enemies that they are your footstool.
• Angels after all are merely sent out to serve those who are Christians. Jesus' role was much greater than mere service alone.

Application

• I must worship Jesus. He is so powerful and awe inspiring. He never changes and yet created change in the universe. Amazing.
• I can trust in Jesus' unchangeability and therefore rest, knowing that my salvation is secure.
• I can hope in Jesus' future destruction of sin and the devil and look forward to a day when I don't have to be tempted to sin any more
• I should read more scripture and use it to teach others and improve my understanding of who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are.