Saturday, October 14, 2006
Why Did the Son of God Have to Share Our Humanity?
The Son of God had to share our humanity in order to experience death on behalf of others (.9);
The Son of God had to share our humanity in order to bring us to glory (v.10);
The Son of God had to share our humanity in order to vanquish our adversary, the devil (vv. 14-15);
The Son of God had to share our humanity in order to become a fully qualified high priest (vv. 17-18).
Hebrews 2 by RMM
Hebrews 2:1-4
So, if the angelically accompanied covenant was serious, how much more serious a covenant by one far superior to angels? We better not drift; we must pay attention.
God did not appoint angels to rule over this created world, he assigned that to people. Even though we are lower than the angels, everything else is supposed to be under our authority. But that is not what we experience right now.
Hebrews 2:9-10
Jesus comes as a man and does what we cannot do, face death and live. As our champion, he is made completely able to save us by being one of us, even to the point of suffering and death.
Hebrews 2:11-18
So, in order to free us from the fear of death and the adversary who exploits that fear, he was with us in every way. Being one of us, he is not ashamed of us. Having been one of us, we have a high priest who really does understand and will lead us to the role we had in creation.
Hebrews 1 by RMM
In the old days, God spoke through different people, such that what they said was the word of the Lord. The prophets got bits and pieces of the story, but, there is one that gives the whole thing. Listen to what is so special about God’s son:
Heir, creator, glory, image, mover, savior, ruler
1:5-14
Vs 5b He is a Son to the Father like Solomon is to David. But Solomon was to build a temple and a kingdom that did not last, Jesus is the Son who builds a temple and a kingdom that does last. We are that temple, the church, the dwelling place of God.
Vs 6. is about angels not receiving worship, but giving worship. Just like in the opening where Jesus is called the shining forth of the Glory of God, in Ps 97:6 and 7 Jesus is the glory of God revealed for everyone, all nations and even the angels to worship.
Vs 7. is the writer’s description of the Son as the image of the Father, and he quotes ps 104:4 showing that the angels change their image, in fact, we are later told to be careful, we could be talking with someone who looks like a person, but is really an angel.
Vs 8,9 is about what the Son is carrying along; not just the physical universe (though that is true too). The Son is carrying along a bride and a promise of princes and princesses in psalm 45:10ff.