The first book of the Old Testament tells us how God made man in his own image, and how man fell into sin and was separated from God.
The first book of the New Testament tells us how God became man (Emanuel), took on man’s likeness and image, and how God paid for our sins by redeeming us into a right relationship with himself through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews chapter one has told us about how God has spoken through the prophets in the Old Testament, but how he speaks to us today through his Son. Jesus is God, God the Son, become flesh – far above angels and far above Moses who was the greatest leader of God’s people in the Old Testament.
Jesus name is above all names. Last week we were challenged to speak the Name of Jesus to others. Talk about Jesus together. Speak about Jesus Christ with your friends, family and acquaintances. We saw a quote from the news that said that 44% of Americans today see no difference between the Bible, Koran, or book of Mormon. They consider them equal as messages from God. We said that you can talk about God, but not Jesus Christ.
The name Jesus Christ is politically and socially incorrect today. Once you say Jesus, you rule out all other Lords. Jesus Christ stands alone as the name above all names! After last weeks lesson, Mary Alice, who was visiting Orpha and Carol shared this with me. I asked her to write it down and she gave it to me last Sunday evening.
Leesburg Regional Medical Center is a moderate-sized, non-profit community hospital. In the summer of 2002 they opened their new Obstetrical (OB) unit and hosted an open house for the community to see this new section of the hospital. Hospital administrators asked the director of Chaplain Services, Pastor Danny Harvy to say the opening prayer. However, they asked Chaplain Harvy not to pray in Jesus’ name. Chaplain Harvy said that he could not pray without praying in Jesus’ name and suggested that one of the 30 volunteer chaplains on his team be asked to perform this duty. The 30 member team is made up of men and women from several different denominations and religions. Hospital administration insisted that Chaplain Harvy lead the prayer. Chaplain Harvy did indeed pray in Jesus name. This led to a 90 day probation and the Chaplain was asked to write a paper on Religious Diversification. He was told that his employment status would be re-evaluated at the end of this 90 day period. Leesburg is a small community and soon the news of this incident reached the community members. Many local churches organized a telephone campaign to inform hospital administrators that their hospital would be boycotted if this matter was not dropped. The pressure was so great that the matter was quietly dropped and Chaplain Harvy continues to minister to the sick and dying and their families in Jesus’ name.
That story demonstrates the point from last week. The name of Jesus Christ is not politically or socially correct today.
Why is Jesus name a threat?
First, because Jesus is God and he came here to claim his place as the one and only Lord and Savior of God’s people. He is God who became a man to save men from sin. Jesus Christ is exclusive. He stands alone in real time and space with the name above all names. There in no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
Second, Jesus shared our humanity and became our brother!
Hebrews chapter one declares Jesus’ divinity.
Hebrews chapter two hails Jesus’ humanity.
Now… let me ask you a question.
What difference does it make if Jesus became a man or not? And even if he did, is it really that critical that we believe it? Does heaven and hell really hang in the balance over this? In a word: absolutely!
To hear some Christians talk you might conclude that salvation is mostly about what you and I DO to be saved. (Not that our obedience is unimportant!)
Contrary to what you may think or believe, who Jesus is stands as the one central theme of God’s word. God and man are the two great characters around which all else revolves in the Bible. Jesus is God and man in perfect, ideal presence and character.
Today as we finish by looking in Hebrews chapter 2 we are introduced to how important it is that Jesus Christ – who was and is God – became a human being and shared in our flesh and blood nature. This theme will span the rest of Hebrews and call us to maturity in Christ as we apply the shadow of the Old Testament to the reality of Jesus presence with us as one of us, one with us, prophet, high priest, and king.
Just open your Bibles again to Hebrews chapter 2, starting in verse 5, and observe the words before you:
5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.
6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU REMEMBEREST HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT THOU ART CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
7 "THOU HAST MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; THOU HAST CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAST APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF THY HANDS;
8 THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
Who is this talking about? Man and the son of man. These both refer to human beings. Humans beget humans. I’ll never forget when Jenny was pregnant with Jennifer that I had a dream that we had a puppy instead of a person. I was so distraught! Little did I know that this was a prophecy for when our kids would grow up! We have replaced them with dogs!
God doesn’t replace humans, he saves them! When this verse speaks, it is a prophecy of how one day humanity will rule over angels. We are a little while lower. But as Paul says in 1 Cor. 6: 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters of this life? God subjects the world to come to who? Look at verse 5 again. Not angels, but humans! Not yet, but it’s coming! While we do not see the authority we will have yet, we do see someone who shares our humanity that does have all authority! Look:
9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
One possible reason for Satan’s hatred of humanity is that one day he knows that we will rule over him. He seeks to destroy us. Jesus Christ is the only Lord and Savior who can and has saved us from the devil’s plan… see verse 14.
How did Jesus do it? He came here as one of us and took all the devil could throw at him and then took all the sins we had ever committed and paid for them in full. Our brother did that! Jesus!
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying, "I WILL PROCLAIM THY NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING THY PRAISE."
13 And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
Satan may pick on us, but when our brother comes! That is, when our God becomes our Brother, and comes here, Satan is doomed. But Jesus defeated sin and Satan in a most peculiar way. He allowed us to kill him. We who he had come to save. We killed our Brother who came here to save us. In doing so, we did what sin does to every man, only we did it to the very one who had never sinned. Jesus didn’t do this for angels, but for us.
16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
Now this verse is tricky, but it is great. The King James says: 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Now that implies that Jesus did not become an angel but he became a child of Abraham. This is true! But there is more to this word and so almost every translation after the King James says he doesn’t help angels but he helps the descendant of Abraham. What’s going on here? Well, the original Greek literally says: For, of course, he did not… "epilambano" - take hold of angels, but he "epilambano" - took hold of Abraham’s seed. The words: “took hold,” or as most translations say, “give help,” comes from a word that is loaded with meaning including to embrace, catch, help, seize, take hold of, and lift up. In the original language there is more to this than just helping or taking on the nature of… what is really quite wonderful is that Jesus embraces us as he becomes like us which helps us. He is very like a Big Brother to us. Jesus brings God into our lives like we will never fully appreciate. Let’s finish…
17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
This message ought to do something to you. Do you know Jesus Christ like this? Is Jesus just a religious symbol in your life or is he your Brother who embraces you, and who connects your life with God and who helps you and who lifts you up and who comes to your aid and who knows what you are going through…
Jesus Christ! This is all about Jesus who came here for you!
Are you a Christian today? You’d be crazy not to become one!
