January 19, 2003
First Church of the Brethren
H. Kevin Derr
Hebrews 2:10-18
“Jesus stands with us”
10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through
whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through
suffering. 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. 12He says, “I will declare your name
to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.”13And again,
“I will put my trust in him. And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given
me.”
14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by
his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—15and free
those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not
angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his
brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in
service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he
himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
As we look further into the world of the first century church, through the lense of
primarily Jewish believers, we find God’s action to save humanity in and through Christ Jesus.
With the authority of Jesus established in our previous weeks, we find here the action of God in
Jesus himself. Remember, it was just in the previous section, 2:1-7, that the Son of God is
identified as Jesus of Nazareth. Now, it is Jesus who is the one who blazes the trail for humanity
to be reunited with the Living God.
This is done by the divine champion, Christ Jesus, who breaks the bonds of humanity, so
that we can live and live in relationship with the Living God. It is not done by supernatural
power, but it is done by obedience to the will of God by one man, the Son of God who is Jesus.
This is why Jesus was made a little lower than the angles, and is now exalted to the right hand of
the Living God.
I. It is God who takes action, it is God who is our salvation, our savior. This at times sounds
strange to our ears. We are accustomed to speaking of Jesus as Savior and Lord. Yet, it is
seen here in Hebrews, the old tradition of the people of God, that God himself is the Savior.
A. 10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through
whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect
through suffering.
1. “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God”
A. God is bringing many children to glory, God is doing this, but what
exactly is he doing?
1. What does it mean to bring a child to glory?
A. It could mean that those who were not in relationship
with God are now in relationship with God. Yet, the
Hebrew tradition was one of relationship to God.
B. I suppose we could argue for a new type of relationship
with God, but that seems to be a weak argument
2. So what could it suggest? I would argue for a victory over
death, that we can expect to go to God, just as Jesus did.
A. Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God, he has
been glorified
B. But the path to that glory was not one that is easily
walked, it involved deep suffering and pain, not for
himself but for others
2. God is identified here as, the one “for whom and through whom everything
exists,”
A. We are given a unique expression here, it only appears in Hebrews,
through you will find it in other period Hebrew literature.
B. And yet, what the author of Hebrews reminds us of is this, that creation
Is not an accident, nor is it here for itself, all that is exists because of
God, and is sustained and upheld by God, and it is ultimately, not for
us, or anyone else, but God himself.
1. We have been entrusted as stewards of creation, not as owners
of creation. We are here to care for God’s creation, not to use it
for our own ends. It would serve us well to remember this
simple truth.
3. This is not the point of our conversation, it is a reminder included for us, but it
is not the focus. What is the focus of this verse, it was fitting that God should
make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
A. Author is not the best translation of this word, a better one would be
champion, or hero. That God should make the Champion of their
salvation perfect through suffering.
1. There are two sources that we can draw on to understand this
imagery that is drawn for us here. One from the Hellenistic
tradition and the other from the Hebrew tradition.
A. In the Hellenistic tradition we have the stories of Heros
and Champions, specifically the most notable tradition
is that of Hercules.
1. His most famous battle is with death itself.
2. This can provide a good backdrop for the Greek
hero story, and remember the Author of
Hebrews is well schooled in the Hellenistic
style, and would know this story of Hercules.
B. In the Hebrew tradition we have the tradition of God as
the Champion of Israel, God going forth and fighting the
battle for the people of God.
1. This stems from the bronze age practice in the
middle east for the Champions of two armies to
face in single combat to determine the outcome
of the battle.
2. You will find an Iron age example of this in the
David and Goliath story
3. To build on this, you will find many OT
references to God fighting for Israel. Yahweh as
the Warrior of Israel.
2. The perfection of the Champion is perfected in suffering. In
trails and in difficulties, in pain and in subjection to realities of
human life, the champion is perfected.
B. What does this perfection through suffering mean? Listen again to Vs. 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.
1. Both the one who makes men holy, the Champion, Jesus and those who are
made holy, humanity are of the same family. The son of God, the one
responsible for the creation and sustaining of the world, is now of the same
family as us, Jesus the Son of God is human.
A. This could be part of the suffering, but it is only the beginning
B. But the result is that Jesus is not ashamed to call those who are made
holy brothers, sisters, members of the same family.
C. We see from the first chapter, Jesus the pre-existent Son of God, now
we see Jesus the incarnate son of God, Jesus the man, the one who
suffers. We see this Jesus knowing the outcome of those sufferings,
exaltation to the right hand of God.
2. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters, and the author of Hebrews
goes to extend to show this, and he does it in his normal manner, quoting the
OT passages that formed his or her faith. The author of Hebrews writes, 12He
says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the
congregation I will sing your praises.”13And again, “I will put my trust in
him. And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”
A. In this we see this point illustrated very well, I will declare you name to
my brothers.
1. Here am I, and the children God has given me...
2. We here the confidence of Jesus in this, as well as the solidarity
of Jesus with humanity
3. This confidence is expressed, not in Jesus power, but in his trust
in God.
B. In this Jesus becomes the older brother, one we follow, one who breaks
the path for us. Those of you who are the older sibling know a little of
this, the oldest child makes the way open for the younger siblings.
C. So, Jesus had done this for us.
II. Now our author takes us a little deeper into this discussion, and gives us some explanation of
what he has been speaking about, he says, 14Since the children have flesh and blood, he
too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the
power of death—that is, the devil—15and free those who all their lives were held in
slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s
descendants.
A. Since we, the children have flesh and blood, Jesus shared in our humanity
1. It is at this point we diverge from the Hellenistic tradition of Heros, Hercules
was a divine offspring, he was in that more than a man.
2. In Jesus we find a champion who becomes just as we are, human
A. And by his death, not the normal means of victory, for the hero to end
up dead, but by this death, God destroys him who holds the power of
death, that is the devil.
B. The author of Hebrews does not tell us how Jesus death does this, he
only tells us that it accomplishes this and the result is that we who were
held in slavery by the fear of death are not liberated.
C. He then reiterates that this help was not for Angels, but for us
III. In Jesus solidarity with humanity, our salivation is achieved by God’s action, and victory of
death, and the one who holds the power of death.
A. The author of Hebrews continues us thinking along these lines when he writes, 17For
this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he
might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he
might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered
when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
1. So that Jesus could be a faithful and merciful High Priest, Jesus had to be made
like his brothers and sisters in every way.
A. he had to know humanity, to be human, to experience and to suffer, to
face temptation... because he went through these things, he is now able
to help those who are being tempted, those who are suffering, those
who are in distress, because he too has been there.
B. But more than this in his office as high priest, he was also able to make
atonement for the sins of the people.
1. His help is not limited to temptation, it surpasses it to
forgiveness and to leading many children to glory, to follow the
path that Jesus has blazed.
2. Let us then follow the Lord.
