WEATHER ALERT:

In-person programs have been canceled until Wednesday at 5 PM at each of the church’s locations, with the exception of recovery meetings, backpack stuffing for school partners, and the food pantry at Overland Park, which will each continue as scheduled.

The church will reopen on Wednesday at 5 pm for all scheduled programs.

God's Final Word in Jesus

November 14, 2024
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Daily Scripture

Hebrews 1:1-4

1 In the past, God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors in many times and many ways. 2 In these final days, though, he spoke to us through a Son. God made his Son the heir of everything and created the world through him. 3 The Son is the light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being. He maintains everything with his powerful message. After he carried out the cleansing of people from their sins, he sat down at the right side of the highest majesty. 4 And the Son became so much greater than the other messengers, such as angels, that he received a more important title than theirs.

Daily Reflection & Prayer

The book of Hebrews opened with a compelling contrast: God spoke in various ways in the past, but Jesus was God’s ultimate message to humanity. “Some may have been tempted to reduce Jesus’ divine status to the status of a mere angel to better accommodate their synagogue critics…. Jesus, however, is greater than angels (Hebrews 2:5–18).” * Why do people need Jesus? In Jesus, we meet God’s clearest, most complete self-revelation, who cleans us from sin and reveals God’s glory.

  • Scholar N. T. Wright summed up Hebrews 1:1-4: “God had for a long time been sending advance sketches of himself to his people, but now he’s given us his exact portrait. With this idea… the writer invites us to look at the whole sweep of biblical history and see it coming to a climax in Jesus.” ** Why is it vital to know Jesus as the climax of the “whole sweep of biblical history”? How can focusing on Jesus’ life, teachings, and actions help clarify God’s message for your life today?
  • Jesus “maintains everything with his powerful message” while also carrying out “the cleansing of people from their sins.” In other words, Jesus the cosmic ruler of the universe is also the personal Savior you can trust to forgive and cleanse you. What specific area of your life feels most in need of Jesus’ maintaining power or cleansing touch right now?
Prayer

God, you have always wanted your human children not just to know about you, but to know you. Thank you for coming in Jesus to give me the clearest picture of your powerful, loving, and forgiving heart. Amen.

GPS Insights

Picture of Lucia Eshleman

Lucia Eshleman

Lucia Eshleman served as an intern with Resurrection Students and Kids last summer, and is now a freshman at the University of Arizona. She has loved growing up in Resurrection and was elated to be a part of helping other kids grow up in a loving church environment.

 

Sometimes, church can focus heavily on sin and brokenness, and while I know those ideas have a place, what inspires me most about Jesus is how he reached across boundaries and really saw people. I look at Jesus as a role model whose life demonstrates what perfect love, forgiveness, and grace look like in action. I feel like Jesus embodied compassion in a way that went beyond any labels, reaching out to people others often ignored. His life was about connection, kindness, and bringing hope, even in the most challenging moments. For me, living out that message is what makes him relevant in my life. 

Seeing Jesus as the “climax” of biblical history highlights how everything led up to his example of selfless love and sacrifice. If Jesus is the clearest picture we have of God, then his teachings about love, kindness, and forgiveness must be at the heart of what God values. That understanding is powerful because it shifts my focus from guilt or fear to a call to live in a way that’s caring, graceful, and genuine. When I think about Jesus’ life, I’m reminded to ask myself if I am showing grace to others even when it is hard or if I’m being kind and forgiving in what feels like such a divided world. 

Right now, I’ve been turning to Jesus as a source of guidance and peace while I’m figuring out who I am and what I stand for. There’s so much happening in the world and in my own life, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming. In those moments, stepping back and grounding myself by connecting with a higher power gives me perspective. It helps me remember what really matters to me: being kind, helping others, and being true to myself. For me, Jesus’ life is like a reminder to stay anchored in love and compassion, even when it feels impossible. When I focus on those core values, it becomes a little easier to find my way and build a life that reflects who I want to be.

© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References

* Zondervan, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (p. 10715). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
** Wright, N. T., Hebrews for Everyone (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 3). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.