buckThe Marshall Plan (Google it kids!) was introduced to send aid and support to Europe after the 2nd World War. President Truman took a lot of heat for it, but instead of throwing the blame to his Sec of State, George Marshall, he said  “the buck stops here.”

In other words: I’m the guy in charge…I’m the main man.

If you want answers, you go to the source…the main man.

 

I want us to consider our spiritual Main Man, Jesus Christ. The opening statement of Hebrews provides the Bible readers with three reasons why Jesus deserves to hold the title of “Main Man.”

 

HE’S THE MAIN MAN FOR COMMUNICATION

Look at Hebrews 1:1:

God, in various times and ways spoke to our ancestors by the prophets

What is that? Communication. In other words you could read the verse:

but now has in these last days communicated unto us…by His Son

Will there ever been anyone after Jesus to communicate with us?

Early on, God communicated directly with the heads of the household (like Abraham or Noah). Then it changed to communication through various spokesman (like Moses, Daniel, or Isaiah). Then it changed to communication through Jesus Christ.

Will there be anyone to come later and say “Jesus’ way of communication is obsolete; I’m the new guy.”? No.

And yet there are people who will say that. Maybe not in so many words, but they will imply it by saying that they preach another gospel. They preach an additional gospel. They preach things contrary to the Bible and all they are doing, is saying “don’t trust Christ…trust me. Don’t listen to Christ…listen to me.”

No, Jesus is the main man for communication. When it comes to hearing God’s word, we need to be trusting Him and listening to Him.

When you study the sermon on the mount, Matthew 5-7, all throughout that sermon Jesus makes refrences to the common teachings of the day. For each one of them, Jesus offered His take on them, the correct interpretation of them or just a clarification of what they really meant.

What gives Him the right to do that? What gives Him the right to take commonly held religious beliefs, and in some cases turn them on their heads?

What gives him that right? He’s the Main Man!

Look at Matthew 5:21: Jesus says:  “You’ve heard it said: ‘don’t kill.’ But I say unto you (listen to the Main Man), just being unjustly angry with your brother is murder in the heart!”

See the way He flips a commonly held idea around? He does that all throughout the Sermon on the Mount. He can do that. He’s the Main Man for communication.

In Matthew 5:38, Jesus says: “you’ve heard it said ‘eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth’.”

The common interpretation of the Old Law was “if you do me wrong, I get to you wrong right back!” Jesus says “no, I say unto you, resist not evil…” The phrase means “don’t go fighting with everyone who does you wrong.”

Instead, He says “turn the other cheek,” which doesn’t mean, “put on a brave face and walk away.” It means “let him strike the other one too!” You be so unwilling to fight back, that you absorb double the punishment.

Has there ever been a teacher like this? No — that’s why the end of the sermon had people being amazed at Him. He taught them as one having authority (Matthew 7:28-29).

On the mount of transfiguration, when Jesus went with Peter James and John and was changed, there appeared with Him Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17). Peter, a little overwhelmed by the situation, wanted to build three houses of worship for each of them. Te voice of God spoke from Heaven and said of Jesus: “THIS is my beloved Son, hear ye HIM!”

He’s the Main Man for communication.

 

Not only that…

 

HE’S THE MAIN MAN FOR SALVATION

Paul says in Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus “by Himself purged our sins.” He took away my sins, saving my lost soul.

The phrase “accept Jesus” is a poorly thought out expression. In a way, there’s nothing wrong with using it, if we know what we mean when we say it. If we mean “embrace His invitation and let Him save you” that’s totally fine.

But consider; I’m the sinner. I need Him; He doesn’t need me. I obey HIM, not the other way around.

So for someone to say that Jesus is begging to enter the door of my heart and I have to accept Him, and then once I’m saved, I’m always saved. I can lock Jesus into my heart so that He can’t get out, and I can have all the sinful fun I want, because I’ve accepted Him.

That’s crazy. Who is the master here, and who is the servant? Because that sounds like I’M the master. I accept Him, then I can do whatever I want?

No. HE accepts ME!

I strive to be accepted of HIM. Isn’t that what 2 Corinthians 5:9 says? We “strive to be accepted of HIM.”

He’s the Main Man for my salvation. He’s calling the shots, not me.

That’s why Paul says we need Him. He’s the Main Man for salvation, for great salvation, for SO GREAT SALVATION (Hebrews 2:3). He offers salvation on a scale so great it can’t be measured.

That’s the reason Paul calls Him the “Author and Finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1-3). The word “author” in that verse, literally means “guy in charge.” Like the captain of the ship, or the general of the army.

He’s the captain of our salvation, the Main Man, Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross.

Could I have done that?

Ccould you?

No…we needed Jesus.

I know I couldn’t have done it. Because I couldn’t have made it through Gethsemane. I couldn’t have prayed the prayer, begging for there to be another way, begging for me not to die, but knowing deep down I had to…and then going through with it.

I couldn’t have gotten up from prayer and watched as my friend came over the hill to betray me. I couldn’t have stood calmly by while they arrested me. I would have ran because I’m a coward.

Jesus is a hero.

I couldn’t have done it.

I couldn’t have been stripped naked and mocked and attacked. I couldn’t have taken being abused and defiled, spat upon and scourged. I would have given up. I would said anything to make it stop because I’m a coward.

Jesus is a hero.

I couldn’t have done it

I couldn’t have made it through Golgotha, the hill of Calvary. I wouldn’t have lasted the hours and hours that Jesus endured, without one harsh word for my enemies. I certainly couldn’t have found the love in my heart to pray for them. I couldn’t have done it. And I don’t think you could have done it either.

Jesus did it.

He is the Author and Finisher of our faith; He is the Captain of our deliverance.

He is the Main Man of our salvation.

 

Not only that…

HE’S THE MAIN MAN FOR EXALTATION

At the end of Hebrews 1:3, right after Paul says that Jesus purged our sins, he goes on to say that He is “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

He is the one and only Person worthy of my adulation, of my adoration and of my exaltation.

“Worthy of praise is Christ our Redeemer” the song goes. Worthy of praise…why?  Because He alone is our King.

If you read the chapter, you’ll notice that is kind of the point of Hebrews. The writer compares and contrasts Jesus to the angels, Moses, Joshua, high priests, etc. With each example, Christ is shown to be so vastly superior that there is no contest. He stands alone, worthy of exaltation.

There’s a song Christians sing about the birth of Christ…

angels we have heard on high
singing sweetly o’er the plains
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in Excelsis Deo

The phrase is Latin for “Glory to God in the Highest.”

What does your Bible say? The shepherd beheld the whole host of heaven singing praises to the newborn KING. The whole Heavenly Host, sent as messengers of God, praised HIm.

He’s the Main Man for exaltation.

Now, down here on earth, as we live out our lives, there are days and moments that happen that cause us to rejoice. We experience moments of exaltation. Who doesn’t feel overjoyed when their favorite sports team wins.

I know in our house, we have very strict rules when the Razorbacks are playing. Whether it be football, basketball or baseball:

Rule #1 = don’t ask questions
Rule #2 = when we lose, don’t talk to me for a few hours
Rule #3 = when we win, get out of the way, cause I’m going to run in circles and scream and cheer

That’s exaltation. The funny thing about that kind of exaltation is it never lasts.

Why? Because the Razorbacks are inconsistent?

Yes, but also because because none of the things of this earth shall last

But there is Someone worthy of exaltation Who will forever bring us joy and happiness, and for Whom we’ll never run out of reason to worship and exalt.

Paul said of Jesus, in Philippians 2:9, that God “has highly EXALTED Him and given Him a name above every name…”

In Hebrews 1:8, the writer says “Thy thone is forever and ever; Your scepter of righteousness [is forever]…”

Who has a throne and a scepter? A King. Who is worthy of exaltation? A King. Even on this earth, kings and queens are exalted. But the thing about earthly kings is…they die.

On the other hand…

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 Revelation 11:15

Earthly kings and queens do not deserve exaltation. They do not deserve to be bowed to. They are not greater people than their “subjects.”

Jesus, however:

He’s the Main Man for exaltation
He’s the Main Man for salvation
He’s the Main Man for communication

 

Do you exalt His royalty? If so, then let Him save you. How? By listening to His commandments which He has communicated to you through His Word.

Think about it,
have a great day!