What’s unique about the Christian faith? Well, Jesus Christ, of course. But what makes Him so different from other religious leaders throughout history – people like Buddha or Mohammed or Brigham Young?
Well, yesterday we learned that Jesus is the Son of God, the One through Whom everything has been made. But today we are reminded that He is also the Son of Man – that He took on flesh and blood, becoming like us (vv. 14, 17). Thus, while chapter 1 of Hebrews explains that Jesus is much greater than the angels, chapter 2 explains that He became lower than the angels for a time (v. 9).
So, why did He have to become like us? Today’s passage gives us two reasons. He had to take on flesh and blood so that He could die, for it was only through His death that the power of death can be destroyed (v. 14). Now, such an idea is quite foreign to the rest of the world’s religions, based as they all are on the notion that human beings can take control of our spiritual destiny either by performing certain religious ceremonies or by practicing certain ethical rules. The notion that we human beings are completely helpless and in need of someone else to die for us strikes at the very root of our sin problem – our pride.
But the other reason Jesus had to take on flesh and blood may be even more scandalous to those who reject the Lordship of Christ: He became a man so that He could suffer. It was because of His suffering that He was able to save those who trust in Him (v. 9). And because He has suffered, He is able to help everyone else who suffers through the temptations of life (v. 18).
In the Christian way of looking at things, suffering is thus not only an inevitable and unavoidable part of life – after all, the stoics believe that. No, for those who follow Jesus, suffering can also take on the deepest meaning. For as we suffer, we become more like the Christ Who suffered for us, and Who was made perfect through suffering (v. 10).
And so Christians understand that the goal of life isn’t really to avoid suffering, either by adjusting our expectations or by making other people suffer instead. No, because we follow Jesus, we know it is our sufferings, not our victories and blessings, that help us grow in faith and holiness.
No, the rest of the world’s religions have no interest in worshipping a God Who suffers, much less following His example of self-sacrifice for the good of others. But for those of us who call ourselves Christians today, the more important question is: do we?
Hebrews 2:1-18 (ESV)
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.
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.
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.”
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.
