What Child is This?

December, 2002

by: Justin Erickson

In the book of Hebrews, the author gives the believers motivation to endure this Christian race, rising above the opposition to our Christianity, both within and without. The only way we can make it, according to him is to “fix our eyes on Jesus,” (Hebrews 12:2) to “consider Him … so that we might not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). In this book the author provides 79 characteristics of this One to whom we are to look if we are to make it. This is not a tip of the hat to the baby born in a manger, but a desperate clinging to the Sovereign and Sustaining Savior, whose birth we celebrate daily.

1. He is God's Son (1:2)
2. He is Heir of All things (1:2)
3. He is Maker of the world (1:2)
4. He is the radiance of God's glory (1:3)
5. He is the exact representation of God's nature (1:3)
6. The One who upholds all things by the Word of His power (1:3)
7. The Purifier of sins (1:3)
8. He is seated at the Right Hand of God (1:3)
9. One whose name is better than the angels (1:4)
10. One whose position is better than the angels (1:4)
11. He whose God is Father (1:5)
12. The preeminent (most important) One in the world (1:6)
13. He is worshipped by the angels (1:6)
14. He whose throne is established forever (1:8)
15. He whose scepter (rule and reign) is righteousness (1:8)
16. The anointed of God (1:9)
17. The Everlasting One who will remain forever (1:11-12)
18. The Sovereign Lord of all whose enemies will be placed under His feet (1:13)
19. He was made for a while a little lower than the angels (2:9)
20. He tasted death by grace on the cross of His suffering (2:9)
21. He was crowned with glory and honor (2:9)
22. Him for whom are all things (2:10)
23. The One through whom all things are accomplished (2:10)
24. The One who brought many sons to glory (2:10)
25. The leader of salvation (2:10)
26. The God–man who died for men, thus rendering powerless the Devil (2:14)
27. The One who removed the fear of death (2:15)
28. He gives help to saints (2:16)
29. The Man and Priest who is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted because He is the conqueror (2:17-18)
30. He redeemed His people from sin (2:17)
31. The Apostle — the sent One from God (3:1)
32. The High Priest of our confession (3:1)
33. He was faithful to God in His mission (3:2)
34. He is more glorious than Moses (3:3)
35. He calls us His brothers (3:12)
36. He is our Sabbath rest (4:1-11)
37. He passed through the heavens as our Priest (4:14)
38. He sympathizes with our weaknesses (4:15)
39. He who was without sin when He was tempted as we are tempted (4:15)
40. He opened access to God's throne of Grace (4:16)
41. He was honored by the Father for faithfulness to His calling (5:5)
42. He is the example and forerunner of our faith (5:7-8)
43. He is the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (5:9)
44. He is the High Priest of Melchizadek's line (5:10)
45. He entered into the veil of heaven for us to anchor our hope in God (6:19-20)
46. He is the King of Righteousness and Peace (7:2)
47. The Guarantor of a better covenant than the one made with Moses (7:22)
48. The One who holds His priesthood forever because of His eternality (7:24)
49. He is forever the Savior of all who draw near to Him (7:25)
50. He lives to make intercession for the saints (7:25)
51. He is holy (7:26)
52. He is innocent (7:26)
53. He is undefiled (7:26)
54. He is separate from sinners (7:26)
55. He is exalted above the heavens (7:26)
56. He was made perfect forever (7:28)
57. He is at the right hand of the throne of God (8:1)
58. He ministers in the sanctuary of heaven, the tabernacle of God (8:2)
59. He is a Mediator of a better covenant with better promises than Moses (8:6)
60. He entered into the holy place of God to sacrifice Himself as a propitiation before God, once for all to obtain eternal redemption (9:11-12)
61. His blood cleanses our consciences from dead works (9:14)
62. He appears in the presence of God for us (9:24)
63. He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself for us (9:26)
64. He bore the sins of many (9:28)
65. He will come again to rescue those who are saved (9:28)
66. His sacrifice sanctifies believers (10:10)
67. He is waiting for the right time for God to place all enemies under His feet (10:13)
68. His atonement perfected all those who are sanctified (10:14)
69. He has begun for us a new and living way by His atonement, whereby all believers can enter into the holy place of God (10:20)
70. He was the Sustainer of all who had faith in the Old Testament (11:25-26)
71. He is the Author and Perfecter of Faith (12:2)
72. He endured the cross and public shame with the motive of joy (12:2)
73. He endured hostility by sinners against Himself (12:3)
74. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (13:8)
75. He suffered outside the gate (13:13)
76. He is the means by which we offer up a sacrifice of praise to God (13:15)
77. He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep (13:20)
78. He was raised from the dead (13:20)
79. He deserves honor and glory forever, amen! (13:21)