This morning, as I sat at my kitchen table, a Bible open in front of me, drinking in the quiet and scratching out much-needed truths into my too-long-neglected journal, I was all at once overwhelmed by the beauty, the hope, and the comfort that is found in Jesus. 

It was the first day of a study in Hebrews, and I had meant to read some background works, study commentaries, and make my way methodically through the first chapter or two. I confess that I felt no peculiar expectation as I prepared to do so; I made coffee, sat down, and began to read in a very routine sort of way. But from the first few verses of the book, I found myself completely captivated, eyes filling with tears, the familiar words taking on new life and depth. 

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…

— Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

How remarkable it is that in a single moment of having one’s eyes opened anew to the glory and perfection and power of Jesus Christ, the tumult and ugliness of the world becomes so quiet, so small. Reading these words, I felt a tangible weight slip from my shoulders as the reality of who my Savior is took its rightful place at the forefront of my attention. 

“He upholds the universe by the word of his power.” How much anxiety, fear, distress, and striving would be saved if we lived constantly in the recognition of this truth? More than we can fathom. Adding to that the ultimate purification of sins, once for all, made on our behalf, the command to “be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6) seems suddenly so sensible and attainable. 

Then came the following statements—newly alive and brilliant and filled with marvelous hope, leaping from the page and placing all things in proper focus. 

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

— Hebrews 2:8b–9 (ESV)

This year has been one in which the brokenness of the world has been acutely evident—each day bringing with it a fresh reminder of our desperate need for a Savior. And, for my own part, there have been many moments of deep frustration and sadness in surveying the state of humanity.

But here we are reminded that everything, everything, has been placed in subjection to Him. And while we may yet be living in the in-between, still suffering the pangs of sin and death, we see Him. We see His sacrifice and the living hope that has been given to us. We see His resurrection and the promise that He will come again to take us to Himself, that where He is we may be also. (John 14:3) We see Him. And we understand in the seeing that He has made a way, that He has completed His work, and that all will be made new when He returns in glory. We see Him. And that is enough. What miraculous truth! 

The Gospel is the answer for the desperate state of our region, our nation, our world. This has always been true. But this morning I understood it with fresh clarity and weight, and for that I am supremely thankful.