Remember when I said this was going to be a slow study? There is so much packed into Hebrews that I feel like we need to take our time through it. I know two days in Chapter 2 seems like a long time, but there are parts and pieces in it that, for me, are key in moving forward and in how I deal and empathize with others. So, let's take the last half of Chapter 2 this morning picking up where we left off.
Hebrews 2:10-18 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (11) For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, (12) saying: "I WILL DECLARE YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING PRAISE TO YOU." (13) And again: "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again: "HERE AM I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME." (14) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through Death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (16) For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. (17) Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Jesus was born onto this earth through a woman God found to be pure. As a man, Jesus had to walk through life, as we all do, facing temptations, heartaches, loss of family and friends, and so on and so forth. But the word says He did so without sin. He went to the cross blamess, sinless, a spotless, and righteous sacrifice for us all and as a result, He is not ashamed to call us brethren v 11 says. He declared the goodness of the Father here on earth. He proclaimed His name to us and He praised His Father. V. 14 the Jesus Himself shared in our flesh and blood as man SO THAT through His death He would destroy the one who had power over death, or the devil in otherwords. He released those that feared death from the subjection of bondage to that fear. He doesn't give help to the angels; He gives help to the seed of Abraham, v. 16 says. Guess what? We are the seed of Abraham. He had to be made to suffer and go through temptation so He could aid those that were tempted and suffering.
Have you ever gone through something that was a real struggle for you and someone comes up to you and says they know what you are going through and you think to yourself, "How could you possibly know?!" It is impossible for us to know what someone is feeling if we have not experienced what they are experiencing. If you have a friend going through a divorce after 20 years of marriage and you have been happily married for 25 years, then you cannot offer them anything that would be of value to their recovery. If someone has lost a child either through miscarriage or other tragedy but you have not, then what words can you possibly offer to bring peace to them? You have heard the old adage "walk a mile in my shoes." Not only did Jesus walk a mile, but He went further. He stood in obedience to His Father, placed His father's will above His own, and embraced His cross of death, only to be raised up in glory and power and authority.
Today, we have a Mediator that speaks to the Father on our behalf because of all He suffered as Man.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
He was a mediator for the people that sought His death even as He hung on the cross when He said,
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Jesus walked this earth just as we do. He spent 40 days in the wilderness, alone, and resisted the devil while speaking the Word of God to the devil. He saw the difficulty people faced every day in the face of peer pressure. He saw Peter deny Him three times to protect his own life. He knew He would be betrayed by one of His own disciples. Because of His experiences, Jesus can stand in front of the Father on our behalf and say, "Father, forgive them. They face much pressure from the enemy, but You have given them to me. I have walked in their shoes. I have walked their paths and I know the trouble their hearts endure. I have given them victory over what they are facing. You uphold them with Your Righteous Right Hand. Your Holy Spirit comforts them and gives them peace. Your love will overcome."
Now, I don't know exactly what Jesus is saying, obviously, but I do know He stands in that gap for us every day. I know that even when we make decisions, think thoughts or face emotions we should not experience, that Jesus though saddened He may be, still goes to His father and says, "For this purpose I was born."
John 10:10-11 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (11) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
We do not deserve a Savior such as this. We do not deserve the mercy and grace He gives us every day, yet He gives it anyway. He gives it and He stands before His Father in mediation and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us!
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
This weekend as we go through our weekend let's remember that no matter we face, we have One that is standing in the gap and One who is lifting us in prayer according to the Father's will during our times of weakness. This is where we get our strength when things seem to be too difficult or too much for us to bear. When you have a friend that is going through something you have not experienced, do away with Christian platitudes and take a moment to intercede for them. The Love of the Father will always overcome anything we could possibly face. It overcame death, hell and the grave after all.
Join the discsussion on Facebook.
Hebrews 2:10-18 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (11) For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, (12) saying: "I WILL DECLARE YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING PRAISE TO YOU." (13) And again: "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again: "HERE AM I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME." (14) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through Death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (16) For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. (17) Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Jesus was born onto this earth through a woman God found to be pure. As a man, Jesus had to walk through life, as we all do, facing temptations, heartaches, loss of family and friends, and so on and so forth. But the word says He did so without sin. He went to the cross blamess, sinless, a spotless, and righteous sacrifice for us all and as a result, He is not ashamed to call us brethren v 11 says. He declared the goodness of the Father here on earth. He proclaimed His name to us and He praised His Father. V. 14 the Jesus Himself shared in our flesh and blood as man SO THAT through His death He would destroy the one who had power over death, or the devil in otherwords. He released those that feared death from the subjection of bondage to that fear. He doesn't give help to the angels; He gives help to the seed of Abraham, v. 16 says. Guess what? We are the seed of Abraham. He had to be made to suffer and go through temptation so He could aid those that were tempted and suffering.
Have you ever gone through something that was a real struggle for you and someone comes up to you and says they know what you are going through and you think to yourself, "How could you possibly know?!" It is impossible for us to know what someone is feeling if we have not experienced what they are experiencing. If you have a friend going through a divorce after 20 years of marriage and you have been happily married for 25 years, then you cannot offer them anything that would be of value to their recovery. If someone has lost a child either through miscarriage or other tragedy but you have not, then what words can you possibly offer to bring peace to them? You have heard the old adage "walk a mile in my shoes." Not only did Jesus walk a mile, but He went further. He stood in obedience to His Father, placed His father's will above His own, and embraced His cross of death, only to be raised up in glory and power and authority.
Today, we have a Mediator that speaks to the Father on our behalf because of all He suffered as Man.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
He was a mediator for the people that sought His death even as He hung on the cross when He said,
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Jesus walked this earth just as we do. He spent 40 days in the wilderness, alone, and resisted the devil while speaking the Word of God to the devil. He saw the difficulty people faced every day in the face of peer pressure. He saw Peter deny Him three times to protect his own life. He knew He would be betrayed by one of His own disciples. Because of His experiences, Jesus can stand in front of the Father on our behalf and say, "Father, forgive them. They face much pressure from the enemy, but You have given them to me. I have walked in their shoes. I have walked their paths and I know the trouble their hearts endure. I have given them victory over what they are facing. You uphold them with Your Righteous Right Hand. Your Holy Spirit comforts them and gives them peace. Your love will overcome."
Now, I don't know exactly what Jesus is saying, obviously, but I do know He stands in that gap for us every day. I know that even when we make decisions, think thoughts or face emotions we should not experience, that Jesus though saddened He may be, still goes to His father and says, "For this purpose I was born."
John 10:10-11 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (11) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
We do not deserve a Savior such as this. We do not deserve the mercy and grace He gives us every day, yet He gives it anyway. He gives it and He stands before His Father in mediation and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us!
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27) Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
This weekend as we go through our weekend let's remember that no matter we face, we have One that is standing in the gap and One who is lifting us in prayer according to the Father's will during our times of weakness. This is where we get our strength when things seem to be too difficult or too much for us to bear. When you have a friend that is going through something you have not experienced, do away with Christian platitudes and take a moment to intercede for them. The Love of the Father will always overcome anything we could possibly face. It overcame death, hell and the grave after all.
Join the discsussion on Facebook.
