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Meditations on the Glory of Christ: He Upholds All Things by the Word of His Power

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In Hebrews 1:2-4, the author makes seven claims about Jesus that when taken together greatly exalt his glory. The fifth claim the author makes about the Son is that he upholds all things by the word of his power. The word “upholds” literally means “to bear up or to carry,” and so the idea here is not just that Jesus is bearing the physical weight of creation but that he is continually exercising his sovereign power over all things at all times, as only God can do, and that he is bearing all things toward their appointed end. Jesus is in ultimate control of the existence and purpose of all things, and he exercises this control by nothing more than the words of his mouth!

Now, the ESV translates this phrase, “and he upholds the universe by the word of his power,” but if you have another translation—really, any other major translation—you’ll see that they translate this phrase “and he upholds all things by the word of his power,” or something along those lines. The translators of the ESV have reasons for rendering the verse the way they do, but I must say that I think the other translations are correct and here’s why this matters.

The words “all things” draw upon the previous truth that the Son has become the heir of “all things,” so that the meaning of this claim is that Jesus is exercising control over everything in creation and all the promises of God. He is personally sustaining everything, and he is personally guiding everything toward its appointed end in accordance with the will of the Father. To say that Jesus is upholding the universe focuses our attention too narrowly on the physical aspects of creation and ignores or minimizes the fact that he is always exercising all power over all things that are outside of the Father himself.

And how does Jesus exercise such great control? By nothing more than “the word of his power.” The Father speaks and the Son hears with perfect understanding and delight; the Son then speaks and all that the Father wills comes to pass. Now that is some serious power!

And, Beloved, this is no theoretical claim: Jesus upholds all things by the word of his power, and carries them along to their appointed end! Think about how great he must be in light of this truth. Think about how exalted a position he must hold in light of this truth. Indeed, Jesus is highly exalted and he alone is worthy of our praise, our allegiance, our souls, our lives, our all. Let us worship him accordingly!


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