Jesus Tasted Death For Us Series

INTRODUCTION

The Book of Hebrews is all about Jesus. From chapter one all the way through chapter thirteen there is a radical focus on Jesus. Hebrews is a study of Jesusology. I just made that word up. I think we should all strive to major in Jesusology. The theme of the book is “Eyes on Jesus.” It comes from the words we read in Hebrews 12 that speaks of us running a race. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that we should be “Fixing our EYES ON JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

A young pastor was preaching his first sermon at his new church. He was really nervous. He said, “And Jesus fed five men with five thousand loaves of bread and two thousand fish.” At that misquotation an old member, Mr. Smith laughed and said, “That’s no miracle. I could do that!” The young preacher didn’t say anything, he just kept on preaching. The next Sunday he used the same text but corrected his mistake. He said, “And Jesus fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes.” He paused, and said, “Mr. Smith, I’ll bet you couldn’t do that!” Mr. Smith said, “Sure I could. I’d just use the leftovers from last week’s sermon!”

I’m going to serve a few leftovers from last week’s message because we’re going to talk some more about the great salvation that Jesus offers.

Hebrews 2:3-9. “How 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. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place [Psalm 8] where someone [David] has testified: ‘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 for a little while; you crowned him with glory and honor 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. But we do see Jesus, who was made 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.”

Here in the second chapter, we are introduced to this Great Salvation Jesus brought. What’s so great about it? It’s great because it’s available to everyone, not just a few select people. It’s great because it is forever, it never expires. It’s not like a driver’s license you have to renew, it’s good forever. This salvation is great because of the great cost required to purchase it. And to answer the question again, if you ignore that great salvation, there will be no way you can escape the coming judgment of God.

As we dig a little deeper into this great salvation, let’s learn three truths that will transform us.

1. GOD MADE US TO HAVE AUTHORITY OVER HIS CREATION

The writer quotes Psalm 8 when he wrote, “You made him a little lower than the angels for a little while; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” Now when God created Adam and Eve he put them in a beautiful Garden called Eden. But they weren’t the only living things there. God had created a wonderful variety of plants and animals. And God put them in charge of all the plants and animals. God wanted Adam and Even to exercise dominion over His creation. We read His instructions to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1: God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28)

The writer of Hebrews quotes a few verses from Psalm 8 to support the idea that God originally made humanity a little lower than the angels and gave us full authority. He put everything under our feet. Psalm 8 is a beautiful Psalm about the majesty and greatness of God. It was a Psalm of David. I can just imagine little David as a shepherd boy staring up at the night sky filled with stars and the moon. And he started singing to God. “Oh, Lord, Our Lord How majestic is your name in all the earth…When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:1,3-4)