I love the second chapter of Hebrews because it provides the most vivid description and interaction of Jesus' human and Godly elements that we have discussed here to date. I love how the author begins things with a warning, as if to say, "Hey, we've talked about this before and stuff is happening right now that you really need to be aware of." Have you ever gotten his feeling in your life? It's a feeling that no matter how innocuous the moment may seem, there is a little niggling in the back of your mind saying, "Pay attention! Important stuff is happening!"
"2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." Hebrews 2:2-4
This tells us that the coming of Jesus was not some unexpected miracle from the heavens. God let us know centuries in advance that He was sending his Son in order to save us all. It should not have come as a shock but in a way it still did because I don't think we can ever fully grasp the concept of our own world, yet Christ came to save all of it. At the same time, He was a man just like you or me. During his time on earth he put on his pants (or more likely, his robe) like anyone else in the morning. This is where the dichotomy really begins to be explained a little.
"7You made him a little
lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers." – Hebrews 2:7-11
That is a much longer piece of Scripture than I usually single out here, but I had to take all of it because it illustrates the point of Christ being fully human and fully God so well. The last section of the chapter also does a fantastic job of this and I urge you to read it on your own. The part here about being made a little lower than the angels refers to the human nature of Christ. Immediately after that though we see that He is crowned with glory and that everything is placed under His feet. Even though He had this glory He still suffered unto death like we must do. He did so however to bring us glory. Because of this we are considered brothers and sisters with Christ.
"16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for
the sins of the people." – Hebrews 2:16-17
What can I possibly add to God's word here? Verse 17 completely explains both sides of Jesus; His humanity and His pure, perfect, Godly form. This is God Himself acting as a mediator on our behalf. He had to suffer and die on the cross to make perfect our salvation, not Himself. His sacrifice was not just some great spiritual atonement He had to complete either. It was done in order to identify with us and see our need for salvation. It was done in order to communicate God's love to us on a personal, base level. I really can't add anything else to that.
TODAY'S QUESTIONS:
- How is God asking you to pay attention to something happening in your life right now?
- What is our responsibility as brothers and sisters with Christ in the family of God?
- What role does Abraham and the promise God made to him play here?
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