Jesus–One of Us
Hebrews 2:5–18
INTRODUCTION
I. We all have problems from time to time that require professional help.
A. Car trouble–mechanic
B. Health problems–doctor
C. Would you let someone work on your car who had never even seen a car?
D. Would you go to someone concerning your health who had never been to medical school?
II. Identifying the Problem is not that hard.
A. Car won’t start.
B. A pain in your chest.
III. The Prognosis may require help.
A. Prognosis means “likelihood of recovery” or “forecast or prediction.”
B. New battery or New motor?
C. Rolaids or Heart Bypass?
IV. The Prescription demands professional help.
A. New Motor = A mechanic
B. Heart Bypass = Cardiologist
C. Quicksand Example–The Sympathetic “Non–rescuer.”
1. I know just how you feel.
2. I was there once myself.
3. Beginning to panic now aren’t you!
4. The sand is at your chin, your heart is pounding.
5. Oh yes, I remember it well.
a. The Problem–You are stuck.
b. The Prognosis–Get out, you are safe; stay in, you are dead.
c. The Prescription however is not available.
D. Sympathy with your problems is all well and good, yet it won’t get you out of the quicksand, it won’t get your car started and it sure won’t free you from the bondage of sin!
1. What you need is someone with the power and ability to help.
2. You need a Professional.
V. When it comes to our eternity we ALL need help.
A. No matter how hard we work at it we can never EARN our salvation.
1. The Problem–easily identifiable, Sin.
2. The Prognosis–Remove Sin, you are safe; stay in, you are dead.
3. The Prescription–demands Professional help.
MAIN BODY
I. The Problem (Heb. 2:5–8)
A. In the beginning God created man to rule the earth with everything under his subjection.
1. Once completed God looked at his creation and said, “It is Very Good.” Gen. 1:31
a. Perfection
b. No Weeds
c. No Disease
d. No Death
e. No Sin!
2. The problem began very early. Gen. 3
a. Adam & Eve sinned.
b. The result for mankind was devastating.
(1) Physical death
(2) Disease
(3) The earth was cursed
(4) Separation from God.
c. Sin had entered the world.
B. We live in a fallen, sinful world as fallen, sinful people.
1. No longer can we claim to hold everything under our subjection.
2. Sin corrupted God’s perfection.
a. His creation. Gen. 3:17–18 “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.”
b. His people. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned”
3. Sin separates us from God and condemns us eternally. Eph. 2:1–3, 12 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”
C. The Psalmist quoted here is issuing a prophetic message pointing to the day when once again man will live in perfect harmony and fellowship with God, without sin.
1. The Hebrew writer says despite the blinders placed upon us in this fallen world, there is hope.
2. Despite the hindrances within us as fallen people there is a source of confidence.
II. The Prognosis (Heb. 2:9–13)
A. What is our likelihood of recovery from our fallen condition? Can we recover from our sinfulness?
1. We may not be able to see that future perfection the Hebrew writer refers to, but:
a. We can see Jesus!
b. We know He died for everyone!
2. Heb. 12:2–3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
B. Jesus is our only hope of recovery.
1. Those who put their faith in Jesus wear a special name.
2. We are part of the same family.
C. Jesus calls us His brothers!
D. Prognosis to the Problem–VERY GOOD!
Knowing the Problem of Sin is vital, knowing that the Prognosis is good, gives us hope; now we need professional help, we need a Prescription.
III. The Prescription (Heb. 2:14–18)
A. Jesus is the only one qualified to help.
1. In order to qualify he had to share in our flesh and blood.
2. Joan Osborn’s song–“One of Us”
a. “What if God were one of us? Just a slob like one of us? Just a stranger on the bus, trying to make his way home. . .”
b. Her idea of God is probably not like that of ours but the question she asks is revealed to us here in our text.
B. Jesus shared in our humanity.
1. The very heart of the Gospel. John 1:14 “The Word became flesh”
2. The Son of God, God’s last word to humanity became one of us.
C. Some early Christians had a hard time accepting this fact that God actually became human.
1. That he could actually be hungry or thirsty.
2. That he could actually be tempted to sin.
3. That the could suffer pain and despair.
4. That he had an actual human body.
D. I don’t know anyone who professes to be a Christian today that would deny Jesus had a real body as these did.
1. Yet many find it difficult to think that Jesus was as completely human as we are.
a. If He was then he woke up some mornings and didn’t want to get out of bed.
b. He got cranky when he was hungry.
c. He had his bad days.
d. And yes, even at times, even if just for a moment he thought about disobeying God.
2. Yes, Jesus knows what it’s like to be tempted.
E. Jesus was JUST LIKE ONE OF US!
1. Heb 2:17–18
2. God sent his son to die for our sins.
3. Sent him as one fully human, flesh and blood, just like one of us.
F. Only one who truly suffered could end our suffering.
G. Only one who was really tempted could help us in our temptations.
H. When I wander off the path I know that I want the one with the power to help me to be there. But I also want someone who can sympathize.
1. Granted, you can’t be picky when your in quicksand but if possible I’d rather have a sympathetic rescuer.
a. I’d rather not hear:
(1) “How did you get in to such a mess?”
(2) “How stupid can you be?”
(3) “You know if you’d just stuck to the path you’d never fallen into this mess?”
(4) “I ought to just leave you in there.”
b. I know I’m stupid.
c. I know I should have stayed on the path.
2. What we need is one who has been down the path before and knows just how easy it is to get off the path and into trouble.
I. This is exactly what we have in Jesus Christ, our merciful and faithful High Priest.
1. One who will stand before God on our behalf as our Brother and mediate on our behalf.
2. One who helps us when we are tempted because he himself was tempted.
CONCLUSION
I. “When you think. . .”
A. When you think, “I am so alone.” Remember:
1. Jesus has been alone.
2. Mark 15:34 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
B. When you think, “No one can understand the despair I am feeling.” Remember:
1. Jesus has felt despair.
2. John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”
C. When you think, “How could my friend do that to me?” Remember:
1. Jesus had friends that let him down.
2. Matt. 26:14–16 “Then one of the Twelve, the one they called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”
D. When you think, “I am overwhelmed.” Remember:
1. Jesus too has been overwhelmed.
2. Mark 14:33–34 “He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.’ he said to them.”
E. When you think, “Why did God not answer my Prayer?” Remember:
1. Jesus asked for something in prayer that he didn’t get answered.
2. Mark 14:35 “Going a little farther, he fell down and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.”
F. When you think, “How could anyone possibly understand what I am going through?” Remember:
1. Not just anyone can.
2. Just be thankful that the one that matters CAN!
Christians aren’t promised a trouble free life. We are, however, promised professional help with our troubles.
Matt. 11:28–30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
