Just like you and me!

The writer of Hebrews declared in chapter 2, verses 14-18, that Jesus became just like us. It can be hard to grasp such a thought. Jesus is just like us but He gave sight to a man born blind, fed thousands of people with a handful of food, walked on water and commanded a storm to cease, raised a man from dead. Need I go on? How can such a person be just like us?

The answer is in Jesus’ birth which provided flesh and blood. He added a human nature to His divine nature. The only person who ever has been or ever will be one person with two natures. Why should He leave heaven to take on the form of a man? Because He had to become just like you and me to accomplish the purposes for which God sent Him to earth.

Two key purposes are proclaimed by the writer. First, Jesus took on a human nature in order to deliver humanity from slavery to Satan, sin and death. Second, He came to be a merciful and faithful high priest to those who place faith in Him. That almost sounds too good to be true. What do we need to do?

First, consider the incarnation, the Son of God being born into humanity. It was done so that He could die just like you and me. Charles Spurgeon, Think of Christ, who was a partaker of the Eternal Godhead, condescending to make Himself a partaker of flesh and blood . . . the Infinite, an infant; the Eternal prepared to die, and actually dying! To break the power of Satan, Jesus had to die as our substitute. The beauty of the cross is in the wondrous deliverance His death brings to us who place faith in Him alone. Donald Hagner, Death, indeed, may still occur, but it need no longer be feared. Its sovereignty, like the devil’s, is limited and soon to come to an end. Through the death of Jesus, and all that this means, Christians are set free from the fear that perpetually enslaves others.

Second, consider priestly service. The writer of Hebrews declared that Jesus became a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God. A high priest was chosen among men to offer gifts of sacrifices for sins as noted in Romans 5:1. Jesus’ function went beyond all other high priests. He not only offered up a sacrifice, He was the sacrifice. All other high priests had access to the Holy of Holies once per year. When Jesus died on the cross, the Temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom. His priestly service provides access at all times for us who trust His work on our behalf.

Consider a final note concerning Jesus’ life. He is a merciful high priest because He experienced everything we experience. William Barclay, He has met our sorrows; he has faced our temptations. As a result, he knows exactly what help we need; and he can give it. Jesus is not only empathetic but willing and able to deliver us in times of need. How thankful we should be that the Son of God became just like you and me, for our benefit. Warren Wiersbe notes Jesus’ close relationship to us, He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. Are we ashamed to call Him “Lord”?

Learn more about why it is so important that Jesus became just like you and me. Hebrews 2:14-18 which may be found under the Books of the Bible tab. Jesus is just like you and me but so much more!

Help, I’ve fallen!

Babysitting grandchildren can be enlightening, especially when they are in the 2 to 3 year old range. When there is make-believe trouble, a two year old has someone to call on who is more than able to deliver him - a super hero! Too often, I fear Christians forget we have the Super Hero to call on when we are overwhelmed by circumstances, pain, disappointment, failure. That person is Jesus.

Hebrews 2:10-13 gives details concerning our Super Hero. The writer cites three passages from the Old Testament to emphasize the depth of our Super Hero’s concern for us. The first passage cited is Psalm 22 and the following two passages are from Isaiah 8. Each passage is Messianic with a present and future meaning. The present meaning addressed a situation at the time of writing, the future meaning deals with the coming Messiah who has already come, Jesus Christ, our Super Hero.

In verse 10, the writer of Hebrews declares that the purpose for which God sent His Son into humanity was in bringing many sons to glory. God the Father sent God the Son to take on the form of a man, living among mankind, die on a cross for the sins of others, in order to bring many sons (and daughters) to glory. Of itself, that is an amazing feat of the Super Hero. We had fallen and we could not get up until we were raised with Christ in newness of life.

Since we were raised up, we still need the Super Hero because life can be tough. I need not name your issues since we have plenty that are common to us, like COVID-19. The most exciting aspect of this passage centers on our ability to call on Jesus Who hears us because He deeply cares for us and can relate to our needs. R. Kent Hughes, It was impossible for God to fully identify and thus fully sympathize with mankind apart from Christ’s incarnation and human experience. But now Christ’s perfection makes possible an unlimited capacity to sympathize with those exposed to troubles and temptations in this life. Raymond Brown, Christ came not only to share our humanity, but to transform it.

That sounds like it might too good to be true but the writer of Hebrews proclaims our Super Hero’s solidarity with us. In Psalm 22, we are called brothers and sisters of the Son who created the universe, I will tell of your name to my brothers; In Isaiah 8, we are called children of the Son, I and the children whom the LORD has given me. Thomas Constable, . . . believers are Jesus Christ's spiritual children. As such He will provide for us and prepare us for the future as a loving parent who has had greater experience traveling the same path (cf. John 14:1–3).

When we placed faith in Jesus Christ alone, we were united for all eternity to the One Who not only loves us deeply but is willing and able to help us today and every day to come. William Barclay, Because he sympathizes, Jesus can really help. He has met our sorrows; he has faced our temptations. As a result, he knows exactly what help we need; and he can give it.

The issue is not, is Jesus willing and able to help in our times of need? But, are we willing to submit to His sovereign care and to call on Him? My favorite verse in difficult times is Psalm 34:4, I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. We have a Super Hero but He is not a genie in a bottle. He is our Savior and Lord. I choose to cast my cares upon Him because He truly cares for me. He proved it at the cross and it needs not be proven again because He is always faithful.

Learn more about your Super Hero’s commitment to you in Hebrews 2:10-13 which may be found under the Books of the Bible tab. It is foolish to try to get up on our own when we have Jesus, or should I say, Jesus has us.

Paradise lost and found!

The writer of Hebrews moves from a warning in 2:1-4 to a declaration of blessing beyond compare in 2:5-9. He continues the use of Old Testament passages to demonstrate the relevance of the Old for the New. The citation in Hebrews 2:6-8 is from Psalm 8:4-6, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet. Note William L. Lane, The description corresponds to the divine intention expressed in Gen 1:26–28. Created in God’s image, humans were entrusted with the cultural mandate to subdue the earth and to put everything in subjection to themselves.

Psalm 8 expresses God’s intended purpose for mankind - to rule God’s created order. Due to the fall of mankind, there has been a lapse in mankind’s rule. Verses 6-8a picture man as he was supposed to be with a transition in verse 8b-9 to what he will be based on the work of the Son of Man, Jesus. Warren Wiersbe, . . . we have a serious problem here, for it is obvious that man today is not exercising dominion over creation. Certainly man cannot control the fish, fowl, or animals. In fact, man has a hard time controlling himself! And, consider the words of Raymond Brown, . . .this is not man as we now see him. From our observations we see him despising God’s favour, abusing his privileges, ignoring his dignity and, through sin, limited in his dominion. G. K. Chesterton clearly declares the predicament of mankind, whatever else is or is not true, this one thing is certain: we are not what we were meant to be.

Thankfully, the writer of Hebrews moves from paradise lost to paradise regained. Consider what new life in Christ means. It is not just the ability to live above circumstances, to gain heaven instead of hell but to have dominion over God’s creation, co-reigning with Jesus Christ. R. Kent Hughes, God’s ultimate intention is to have his Kingdom ruled by redeemed men and women. Those “insignificant” people in that harried house-church, a minuscule dot in the Roman Empire, were going to rule everything!

That may sound like it is too good to be true, for some. But, a Christian has already had a taste of eternity and it is delicious. Raymond Brown, The world to come is the totally new world-order which has already begun in Christ...we have already entered God’s stupendous future. The present provides redemption with restoration in the future. Warren Wiersbe, Jesus Christ became man that He might suffer and die for man’s sin and restore the dominion that was lost because of sin. Ray Stedman, . . .he achieved as a human being the position intended for us in the beginning: the being who was to be closest to God, higher than any angel, and in authority over all things!

What a Savior! In the midst of a pandemic and changes in weather patterns, we should break out in praise for our triune God. What He made us to be, we shall become. Savor the words of William Barclay, The writer to the Hebrews sees in Christ the one who by his sufferings and his glory can make us what we were meant to be and what, without him, we could never be. May we join Charles Spurgeon in giving all glory to God, Oh, how glorious it is to realize our position in Christ, and to see how He has lifted us up, not merely to the place from which the first Adam fell, but He has made us stand so securely there that we shall not again descend among the ruins of the Fall! Glory be to His holy name!

Be refreshed as you join me in contemplating what God has in store for those who trust Him through Christ alone. The lesson on Hebrews 2:5-9 may be found under the Books of the Bible tab. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.