Good Morning MBC. Our Scripture reading today is Hebrews 2.
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Since Jesus is greater than angels, His message is greater than that which came from angels (Law). The audience here is tempted to go back to the laws of Judaism, but the author is pointing out that moving away from Gospel is to move away from salvation. Cling to what Jesus has done, not to what we attempt to do.
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
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. 9 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.
Jesus is worthy of our worship because He is the only one who ever “tasted death” for us. He died in our place so that His followers would never taster the second death (eternal death).
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.”
And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
The Gospel is counterintuitive in so many ways. We are told here that Jesus was made perfect “through suffering.” Jews expected a warrior king, but Jesus came as a suffering servant. Placing our trust in Jesus means we need reorient our understanding of greatness.
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Jesus is also greater than the angels because He identified with our suffering in order to be the propitiation for our sin. The word “propitiation” simply means that Jesus suffered the full wrath of God for our sin. We live free in Christ because our sin has been fully dealt with through Jesus. What a Savior!
I hope you have a blessed day!
Pastor Tim
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