The Perfect Man Series

The Perfect Man

Hebrews 2

SCRIPTURE READING: Hebrews 2:5-9

INTRODUCTION:

People have a lot of ideas about what a “perfect man” would be.

· According to that Bowflex commercial that comes on … oh, approximately once every 10 minutes … all it takes to be the perfect man is 20 minutes, 3 days a week … and you develop a “well-toned rock-hard core” or something.

· If you’re thinking about corporate success, you might look to the likes of a Donald Trump or some other powerful CEO type.

· Or maybe the perfect man would be a sensitive type --- maybe a celebrity/psychologist like Dr. Phil.

· Others might think the perfect man is an actor like Jude Law, who was recently voted the sexiest man of the year. (A little disclaimer here --- I had no idea about this one, but I asked my church secretary and she knows everything!)

· Others might think of the perfect man as a courageous hero like a soldier or fireman.

But how many people would think of Jesus as the perfect man?

Hebrews 1 shows us Jesus who is GREATER than the Angels. Hebrews 2 shows us Jesus, the GREATER man. In fact, Jesus was the one and only PERFECT man. Let’s look In Hebrews 2 to see what Jesus did for humanity by becoming in all ways, a Perfect Man. First of all, when Jesus left his Throne in Heaven to come to earth, he DIGNIFIED HUMANITY.

1. Jesus Dignified Humanity Hebrews 2:1-9

The writer of Hebrews asks this question: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels. “You crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” Hebrews 2:6-7

This is a quote from Psalm 8. The Psalm writer makes it even stronger. The original Hebrew could be translated, You have made him a little less than God. Compare that to what popular culture tells us: You have been randomly mutated to be on level with all other animals. In this system of thought we --- like other animals --- are ruled by our basic instincts and urges.

But God’s word gives us dignity. The account of Creation in Genesis tells us we were made in God’s image to rule over the rest of His creation. God created us to be his Partners. (By the way, Christians should all be Environmentalists --- not wacky ones, but wise ones who know the value of human life and who respect all of God’s creation.)

When Jesus came to earth, he raised the status of Humanity even higher. 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. Hebrews 2:8-9

In order to die for our sins, it was necessary for Jesus to humble himself and fully IDENTIFY with humanity. Jesus was 100% God, but he was also 100% Human.

2. Jesus Identified with Humanity Hebrews 2:10-13

But not everyone understood that fact. At the time Hebrews was written, a heresy called Docetism was infiltrating the early church. (This was the opposite of another heresy which said Jesus was not really God, but only a human or an Angel.) The Docetists taught that Jesus was really not flesh and blood at all. The Docetists believed Jesus body only appeared to be real. Actually, he could feel no pain. In fact, if he walked on the sand he would not leave footprints. (Rodney Buchanan, Jesus the Perfect Man Sermon Central)

Hebrews 2:10 confronts that heresy when it says: … it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Scripture makes it clear that Jesus was the perfect man … but he was not Superman. Superman could catch a bullet with his teeth or stand in a blazing fire untouched.

But Jesus Christ came to us in a vulnerable condition. He became the author of our salvation through suffering. When Jesus was cut, he bled. When he was hit, he bruised. When he was tempted, he felt the pull. When he was rejected, he felt sorrow.

This is important because it means He is truly one of us. In fact, He chooses to be our brother! Look at verse 11: 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 2:11

Maybe you have an older brother. Ideally, people can look up to an older brother as an example. My son-in-law, P.J. Condit has an older brother who is a Youth Minister at Paramount Terrace Christian Church in Amarillo. In P.J.’s case, he has an admirable older brother.