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Moses, when speaking of the responsibility he felt, in Numb. 11: 11, 12 says, "Thou
layest the burden of all this people upon me", and that God had said, "carry them in thy
bosom". In Hebrews we see "all things" (not merely the burden of one people) upheld by
the word of Christ.
When considering the words, "the express image of His substance" we noted a parallel
in Col. 1: 15-17. We must turn to that passage again:
"Who is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: for by Him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were
created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."
We note that there are several parallels here with Heb. 1: The Image of the invisible
God, and the Express Image of His substance; the creation of all things, and the making
of the ages; the statement that by Him all things consist, and that by His word all things
are upheld; in both passages He is spoken of as the prototokos, the Firstborn. In
Colossians the titles are introductory to revealing Christ as the Head of the Body, the
church, and the Firstborn from the dead. In Hebrews the titles are introductory to His
office as Mediator of the New Covenant, and the Firstborn in the habitable world
whereof the apostle speaks in this epistle. The creation in its universal sense is intended
in Col. 1:; the ages and their burden occupy the thought in Heb. 1: The former is held
together by the hand that created them, the latter is upheld and carried by the word of His
power. Something must be accomplished during the course of the ages, and the word of
His power is pledged to bring it to pass. Concerning the Son it is written in Hebrews that
He is the upholder of all things, appointed heir of all things, that all things are to be
placed in subjection under His feet. It is a comforting as well as a majestic thought to
realize that the burden of "all things" pertaining to the purpose of God is resting upon the
Son of God. With matchless wisdom, with infinite grace, with mighty power, and with
Divine foreknowledge, the whole of God's marvellous plan is brought to its goal by that
One Who died, rose again, ascended and is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on
high.
What is the means whereby the Son beareth or upholdeth all things? His hands made
the heavens; His feet shall have all things placed beneath them; His body bore our sins.
It is His Word, however, that upholds all things.
Rhema (word) differs from logos (word) in that it indicates a spoken word or
command, e.g., "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". We find
rhema in Hebrews as follows:
"The word of His power" (1: 3).
"Tasted the good word of God" (6: 5).
"The worlds (ages) were framed by the word of God" (11: 3).
"The voice of words" (12: 19).
The Word that framed the ages is the Word that upholds all things, the Word that
called them into being will surely prevail over all opposition and bring all to perfection.