Jesus–One of Us Series: Messages from
Hebrews 2:5–18 Hebrews
INTRODUCTION
We all have problems from time to time that require professional help. If you have car trouble you call a mechanic. If you have Health problems you call a doctor. Would you let someone work on your car who had never even seen a car? Would you go to someone concerning your health who had never been to medical school?
Identifying the problem is not that hard. Your car won’t start. You have a pain in your chest. The Prognosis may require help. Prognosis means “likelihood of recovery.” Does your car need a new battery or a new motor? Can that pain in your chest be relieved with Rolaids or do you need heart bypass? The Prescription demands professional help. A new motor for your car means a call to the mechanic. Heart bypass means a call to your cardiologist.
Illustration: Suppose you were walking through a beautiful forest. You find yourself distracted by the beauty that surrounds you at every turn. A butterfly full of color catches your eye and you follow it for a moment with your eyes and without even knowing, you stray off the path into the denseness of the forest. It’s too late when you notice that just off the path is quicksand, you are stuck and no matter how hard you struggle you cannot free yourself from the grip of the quicksand. You just keep sinking deeper and deeper. Almost from out of nowhere you hear a voice. It calls to you in a tone that is so sympathetic. “So. . . you fell into the quicksand? Hey, I know just how you feel. I fell into that pit of quicksand myself once. Your beginning to panic now aren’t you? I know with that sand at your chin your heart must really be pounding! Oh yes, I remember it well. You know if you don’t get out soon you will die in that stuff.”
It is just then that you look up to see your “rescuer.” There in your time of need and so sympathetic to your plight, is your rescuer with one arm in a sling, walking only with the aid of crutches.
1. The Problem–You are stuck.
2. The Prognosis–Get out, you are safe; stay in, you are dead.
3. The Prescription however is not available.
Now don’t get me wrong 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! What you need is someone with the power and ability to help. You need a Professional.
When it comes to our eternity we ALL need help. 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
2. The problem began very early. Gen. 3
B. We live in a fallen, sinful world as fallen, sinful people.
1. Sin corrupted God’s creation. Gen. 3:17–18
2. Sin corrupted God’s people. Romans 5:12
3. Sin separates us from God and condemns us eternally. Eph. 2:1–3, 12
C. There will be at time when once again man will live in perfect harmony and fellowship with God, without sin.
What is our likelihood of recovery from our fallen condition? Can we recover from our sinfulness?
II. The Prognosis (Heb. 2:9–13)
A. We may not be able to see that future perfection the Hebrew writer refers to, but we can see Jesus! Heb. 12:2–3
B. Jesus is our only hope of recovery.
C. Jesus calls us His brothers!
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 the conditions were clear.
2. He had to share in our flesh and blood.
Illustration: Joan Osborn’s song–“One of Us”
“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. . .”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.
D. Many find it difficult to think that Jesus was as completely human as we are.
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.
Return to the Quicksand Illustration: When we wander off the path what we need is someone who can sympathize with our problem, someone that has been there before and someone who has the power to help us. Someone who has never been tempted in a situation may very well see you in you situation and say, “Man, How did you get in to such a mess? How dumb can you be? You know if you had just stayed on the path you would have never fallen into this mess.”
Hey, I know I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I know now that I should have stayed on the path. I’m in trouble and what I need is one who has been down the path before and who knows just how easy it is to get off the path and into trouble.
F. In Jesus we have help, we a merciful and faithful High Priest.
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.”
Mitchell Skelton, Minister-Midway church of Christ
http://www.thelordsway.com/midway
Preached at Flatwoods church of Christ, 06/09/02; Decaturville church of Christ, 06/16/02; Waynesboro church of Christ, 06/30/02; Midway church of Christ 10/06/02. Revised for Hebrews Series 09/06/03.
