Barry Metz 8/2/15

Jesus is Better Than Angels (Part 2)Hebrews 2:5-18

If you were with us last week, our subject in Hebrews was Jesus is Better. If you’ll be with us in September, our subject will be Jesus is Better. And if you’ll be with us in October, our subject will be… say it with me…. Jesus is Better. The theme of Hebrews is Jesus is better.

Last week it was Jesus is Better Than Angels. This week it’s Jesus is Better Than Angels, part 2.

Last week we said Jesus is better than angels because…

What do I mean by the words “if an angel-mediated law came with teeth”? By the words ‘came with teeth’ I’m trying to reflect what the writer of Hebrews said early on in Hebrews chapter 2—since the message declared by angels…we’re talking about the Mosaic law… proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution…laymen’s language…if every sin got punished with the Mosaic law…. then a Son-mediated salvation surely comes with teeth too. “If the Mosaic law came with (punishment)1 for failure to follow and obey it, then surely the greater salvation announced by the Lord comes with more dangerous (punishment) for those who neglect it”2 Or using the writer of Hebrews’ words, “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

We must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. That’s Hebrews 2:1

Today as we continue in Hebrews 2, our passage yields another reason that Jesus is better than angels. Let me put it on the screen:

1 Retribution in the quote2 ESV Study Bible, page 2363

1

Barry Metz 8/2/15

Perhaps you’ve heard that the job of the preacher is to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.3 Well if last week was afflicting the comfortable—How shall we escape brothers and sisters if we neglect such a great salvation?—then this week it’s time to comfort the afflicted. What comfort we’ll find this morning as the author of Hebrews plumbs the depths of Jesus’ work for us in the incarnation.

Now before we jump into the passage it will be helpful spend a few minutes laying a foundation for our time. You’ll see a chart on your sermon notes. May I direct your attention there?

God’s Original Intention The Current Situation God’s Ultimate IntentionGenesis 1:26

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over

the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the

earth.”“Adam and Eve were God’s viceroys4—

regal officials appointed to rule a country or province as the deputy of the King

“the angels in some sense rule”“God has entrusted the administration of the

present world to angels”5

Deut. 32:8Daniel 10:13,20,21;12:1

Ephesians 6:12“At present we do not see everything in

subjection to him”(Heb. 2:8c)

“We will be God’s viceroys6—regal officials appointed to rule a country or

province as the deputy of the King 1 Cor. 6:32 Tim. 2:12

Romans 5:17Rev. 20:4

“God’s ultimate intention is achieved in Christ—the Second Adam”7

Psalm 8:4–64 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

In the left hand column you’ll see ‘God’s original intention’ and then Genesis 1:26 below it. God’s original intention for his creation was that man would have dominion, that man would rule over everything that God made. You’ll see the phrase ‘Adam and Eve were God’s viceroys.’ The term

3 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, p. 55). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.4 Hughes, page 575 O’Brien6 Hughes, page 577 Hughes, page 58

2

Barry Metz 8/2/15

viceroy is from the Latin prefix ‘vice’…which means ‘in the place of’…and the French word for king, roi…”in the place of the king.” A viceroy is a regal official appointed to rule a country or province as the deputy of the king. Adam and Eve were intended to be God’s viceroys in creation.

Well, skip to the column on the far right. What’s the first line that you see under “God’s Ultimate Intention”? We will be God’s viceroys. We humans will be the regal officials appointed to rule the new heavens and earth. Every time I run across that truth I’m blown away. But the New Testament does teach it. Every so often Paul in his letters alludes to this ‘reigning with Christ’ scenario—he opens a window briefly and then he shuts it as quickly as he opens it. In I Corinthians chapter 6, for example, Paul is chiding the Corinthians for going to secular lawyers to solve their problems. He argues that they are more than competent to handle these issues. And then thru a question, he opens a window—1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? And then as quickly as he opens the window, he slams the window back shut. What? We’ll be judging the angels? In the book of 2 Timothy, Paul who was probably languishing in the Mamertine prison, does it again in 2 Timothy 2:12

The saying is trustworthy, for:If we have died with him, we will also live with himIf we endure, we will also reign with him

You’ll see some other references there in that third column . And then you’ll see the line, “God’s ultimate intention is achieved in Christ—the Second Adam”8

Now psalm 8, a portion of which is listed at the bottom of the chart, gives expression to this same idea that God created mankind with great dignity.

Turn with me to Psalm 8 and let’s look at it briefly

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

When I see the incredibleness of all that you’ve made, O God…the work of your fingers, the billions of galaxies…

4 what is man that you are mindful of him…that he even crosses your mind… and the son of man that you care for him?....that you look in on him…

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

8 Hughes, page 58

3

Barry Metz 8/2/15

7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 is a great psalm highlighting the dignity and honor that God intended for man when he created him.

Now the reason we’ve taken the time to look at Psalm 8 is because the writer of Hebrews will quote a bit of it himself, parts of verses 4, 5 and 6. And these verses from Psalm 8 will provide a key link in his argument that it’s Jesus, the pioneer of our salvation who has made it possible that we will again have the glory and honor that God originally intended for mankind at creation. It was Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels (a hint at his incarnation), and crowned with glory and honor (a hint at his resurrection and ascension) to the Father’s right hand.

Before we leave the chart, look at the center column. This column, entitled, “The Current Situation” attempts to describe the present time as a time when angels in some sense rule. Let me introduce you to a verse in Deuteronomy 32 that seems to contribute to the idea that angels in some sense rule today. This verse is from the song of Moses…

Do you see that last phrase? The establishment of boundaries for the nations “according to the number of the angels of God” implies that the nations of the world have been subjected (ὑπέταξεν) to the angels.9 Is this a new thought for anybody?

Well in the center column you’ll also see some references from Daniel chapter 10 and 12 that back this idea up. In Daniel 10, Daniel is approached by one having the appearance of a man who mentions that he would have come earlier with encouragement for Daniel but that the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him for 21 days but finally Michael, one of the chief princes finally came to help him. With Michael’s help he was finally able to bring the message of encouragement to Daniel. The ESV Study bible has a note that “Michael appears to have a special responsibility to care for the nation of Israel.” I have to be honest that this was all new to me. A more familiar verse to us, Ephesians 6:12, alludes to

9 Lane, W. L. (1998). Hebrews 1–8 (Vol. 47A, p. 45). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

4

Barry Metz 8/2/15

rulers and authorities and cosmic powers of this present darkness. So here’s the point of the center column of the chart…Angels and other heavenly beings in this time, in some sense rule.

Alright let’s collect the take-aways from this background chart…

1. God originally invested man with incredible dignity and honor. Genesis 1:26 tells us that. Psalm 8 tells us that. God is mindful of us. God cares for us. And just as God designed Adam and Eve to be viceroys10 he has made a way through Jesus that we will be viceroys in the world to come. The book of Hebrews is about the world to come.

2. Though angels in some sense rule now, mankind will rule in the world to come. And it’s Jesus the second Adam, the pioneer of our salvation, that will undo what Adam did and restore us to the dignity and honor that God intended for us originally.

3. Why would anyone want to hitch their wagon to an angel, when it’s Jesus who is going restore the glory and honor that we were made for in the world to come?

Again, Jesus is way better than any angel.

Well let’s begin. If you have your bible, follow me as I read Hebrews 2, verses 5-9

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere…I can’t help but wonder if the author of Hebrews is having a senior moment here.

“What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?

7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor,

8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Look back at verse 5 again. It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. The term ‘world to come’ is the topic of the book of Hebrews. The ‘world to come’ would be the new heavens and the new earth ushered in after Christ returns.

The world to come, which God has not subjected to the angels, is ‘the new world-order inaugurated by the enthronement of Christ at the right hand of God, the world-order over which he reigns from that place of exaltation, the world of reality which replaces the preceding world of shadows’. 11

Again what’s the point the author is making in verse 5? Angels aren’t going to rule the world to come! They might rule now, but not in the world of reality that Jesus has inaugurated. So why would anyone even think of hitching their wagon to an angel?

10 Viceroy derives from the Latin prefix ‘vice’…in the place of…and the French word roi, meaning king. 11 O’Brien, P. T. (2010). The Letter to the Hebrews (p. 93). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

5

Barry Metz 8/2/15

Verse 6 It has been testified somewhere… Senior moment? Probably not. How’s this for an explanation? For our author, the Old Testament is a divine oracle, the voice of the Holy Spirit. Since it is God who speaks in Scripture, the identity of the person who uttered his word is relatively unimportant.12

What is man that you are mindful of him? Or the son of man that you care for him? The term ‘care’ there in verse 6 was a medical term in Greek describing a visit from a doctor. One student of scripture translates it “to look in upon.”13 What is man O God, that you make rounds every morning and look in on him? Wow! Wow! And double wow! Let’s be encouraged about God’s care for us!

7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now at this point the author of Hebrews stops quoting Psalm 8 and begins to comment on Psalm 8….

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control… in other words the subjection of everything under man is stunning in its scope. There is nothing, he says, in this world that is not under man’s dominion—nothing, nothing!14

But immediately we wonder out loud with the author where the disconnect is. Is everything really in subjection to man? Look at the rest of verse 8… At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. Houston, we have a problem! Psalm 8 says that man has dominion over everything but at present we don’t yet see everything in subjection to him. What’s going on?

But verse 9 answers the dilemma! We don’t see man in dominion but, verse 9… we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

We don’t see man in dominion but we see Jesus, who fulfills this psalm initially for us….who for a little while was made lower than the angels—that’s Jesus’s incarnation right?—but is now crowned with glory and honor—that’s Jesus reigning in heaven right?

You see Jesus is the one who fulfills Psalm 8. And he fulfills it on our behalf. He’s the pioneer of our salvation who was made for a little while lower than the angels (again that’s his incarnation)…but is now crowned with glory and honor (in his resurrection and ascension). And why, according to verse 9, is he crowned with glory and honor? Because of his humiliation, suffering, and death. Doesn’t Paul in Philippians say the same thing? Philippians 2:8–9 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, Why was Jesus exalted? Because he humbled himself and died on the cross for our sins.

We don’t see man in dominion…but we see Jesus!

12 O’Brien, P. T. (2010). The Letter to the Hebrews (p. 94). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

13 Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews (p. 204). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.14 Hughes, page 58

6

Barry Metz 8/2/15

We see Jesus!

________________

We often use the phrase ‘now/not yet’ (or already/not yet) around here to describe God’s kingdom. In one sense God’s kingdom is already here. Wherever the gospel takes root, God’s kingdom is present—it’s already here. But there’s a sense in which it’s ‘not yet’ here in its final powerful form.

{“This tension between the “now” and the “not yet,” between what is present reality but not yet seen, expresses what may be referred to as “the inaugurated rule of Christ.” That is, the reign of Christ and the reality of Christian experience have begun, but will not be fully actualized until a final consummation at the end of the age. The Son’s rule is already a reality; that reality, however, must be confessed by faith until we see its full impact at the end of the age.”15} Are you following?

This idea of the inaugurated rule of Christ can be a disconnect for people who are suffering-- Jesus reigns and yet we suffer? This may in fact have been the situation of the first readers of Hebrews. And it’s clearly an issue today with persecuted believers around the world.

The most recent Voice of the Martyrs magazine tells the story of a Nigerian boy named Danjuma whose village was attacked by Islamic terrorists. He remembers running for his life and then being confronted by over 1000 insurgents. He remembers the pain caused by a machete slicing through the left side of his head but he doesn’t remember the terrorists hacking at his left arm with a machete. And he has no memory of them cutting out his right eye. After the attack his fellow villagers had dug his grave but miraculously he lived.16 Christ reigns Danjuma and yet you’ve suffered terribly. How do we reconcile an exalted Christ and a persecuted church?17

A fellow by the name of Guthrie argues it’s an issue of timing…

“In his incarnation the Son of God offered himself as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Thus he opened the way for … those who respond to the preaching of the Gospel. The intervening time between the exaltation and consummation of Christ’s rule allows for God’s mission of reconciliation as the church proclaims forgiveness in Christ. However, this in-between time also involves suffering for the church since Christ’s domination of the powers, while being real (i.e., an accomplished fact), has yet to be fully realized.”18

So back to the story line…Here we were hopelessly lost in sin—no possible hope of the glory and honor that God intended us to have originally—and Jesus, the second Adam, entered the scene to solve our problem and he by the grace of God tasted death for everyone. “Taste” is a Hebrew metaphor that means “to partake fully.” 19

15 Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 99). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.16 Voice of the Martyrs, August 2015, “The Joy Comes from the Lord” page 5 The insurgents also cut off his genitals.

17 Chrysostom, in his sermon on Heb 2:5–7, caught the pastoral heart of the author of Hebrews and reflected it in his effort to encourage his hearers: “If then all things must be made subject to Him, but have not yet been made subject, do not grieve, nor trouble thyself.… The King has not yet clearly conquered. Why then art thou troubled when suffering affliction?” Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews (p. 232). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.18 Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 101). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.19 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, p. 59). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

7

Barry Metz 8/2/15

Why does the subject of death come up here? Isn’t death the great enemy that keeps God’s plan for man’s dominion from coming true? Jesus had to come and solve the death problem if his plan for us to be crowned with glory and honor could finally take place!

Well look at verse 10….and from verse 10 through verse 18….the emphasis is on Jesus’s solidarity with us. Now we don’t use the word solidarity very much… let me define it… “solidarity is a unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest”20 So the point in verses 10-18 is that Jesus in a very special and unique way is unified with us. He’s God but he’s….one with us.

10 For it was fitting that he for whom and by whom all things exist…that’s God the Father…for it was fitting that God the Father in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

The word founder , there in verse 10, is a rich word. It occurs only three other times in the New Testament—Hebrews 12:2, Acts 3:15, Acts 5:31. And it is translated lots of different ways--“originator,” “initiator,” “founder,” “founding leader,” “pioneer leader,” “pioneer,” “leader,” “captain,” “champion,” and “author.” But the main idea seems to be that of a leader who stands at the head of a group and who opens the way for others to follow. It’s the picture of a mountain climber who goes ahead of the others, chipping away footholds, inserting pitons (pe-tons), and extending the rope to his partners21. It seemed like such an idea deserved to be illustrated.

Verse 10 tells us that Jesus is the savior who blazed the trail of salvation along which God’s ‘many sons’ could be brought to glory. Man, created by God for his glory, was prevented by sin from attaining that glory until the Son of Man came and opened up by his death a new way by which humanity might reach the goal for which it was made. And as his people’s representative and forerunner he has now entered into the presence of God to secure their entry there.22

20 Oxford Dictionaries21 Hughes, page 6522 Bruce, F. F. (1990). The Epistle to the Hebrews (Rev. ed., p. 80). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

8

Barry Metz 8/2/15

Verse 10 basically says it was fitting for the creator of all things to bring his people to glory through the sufferings of Jesus. It was fitting that God should effect his glorious saving purposes through Christ’s suffering.23 “What God has done in the suffering of Jesus is in line with what we know about his character and purposes” 24 And the word ‘fitting’ is first in the Greek text25

How was it fitting for God to save us through a crucified Christ, through a suffering Messiah? Let’s break that idea down…

It was fitting for God to save people the way he did because His salvation plan corresponds to his character. This one we have to take by faith. Do you want to see the character and power of God? Look at creation. Do you want to see more of the character and power of God? Look at Christ crucified.26 Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 “We preach Christ crucified…the power of God and the wisdom of God. “From the cross come the loftiest conceptions” of our God.27 “Our salvation is the greatest display of God’s power and character” 28 It was fitting for God to save people the way he did.

Secondly, it was fitting that God would use suffering to perfect Jesus . Now how was Jesus perfected through suffering? How do you make the perfect more perfect? 29 The idea seems to be that Christ became the perfect pioneer of our salvation. He was perfected vocationally.30 He became perfect or complete in patience and faith. He became perfect or complete in withstanding temptation. He became perfect in his ability to be the high priest we need. He became perfect in that he was fully equipped for his office. The idea is that he was perfectly equipped to do the job.31

The scholar Grudem offers a helpful analogy about a woman obstetrician who wrote a textbook on childbirth. Then she became a mother herself and could sympathize much more fully with other pregnant women.32 We could suggest that the obstetrician in that example was in a sense perfected through her experience of motherhood.

So it was fitting for God to save people the way he did. It was fitting to perfect Jesus vocationally for his role as the pioneer of our salvation, and thirdly…

It was fitting that God would use it all to bring many sons to glory. I have to read an extended portion from a commentary here because it’s just beautiful…

“The picture is of a great family procession as it winds its way through this life and moves ever upward to “glory.” Leading the procession is the pioneer, the captain, the champion of our salvation. He has gone before us as perfect man—living a perfect, sinless life—overcoming every temptation and hardship—dying as a perfect atonement for all our sins—resurrected to glory—and now leading us over his blood-stained path to the same glory.

23 O’Brien24 Guthrie25 Guthrie26 Much of this is from Hughes, page 64-6527 Hughes, page 6428 Hughes, page 6429 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, p. 65). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.30 O’Brien31 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, pp. 65–66). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.32 Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews (p. 226). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.

9

Barry Metz 8/2/15

There are “many,” not just a few, in the procession. The sense is that of an uncountable multitude. The endless procession follows its leader till they are before the throne. “After this I looked,” says John, “and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9).

Those in the procession are not simply redeemed “units” but “sons.” The great train is made up of redeemed sons and daughters who are in family relation to the Father and the Son. Their hearts’ cry is, “Abba, Father!” They are brothers and sisters, “co-heirs with Christ,” the pioneer of their salvation (Romans 8:15–17; cf. Galatians 4:5, 6 ; Ephesians 1:5).”33

Well verse 11 deepens the argument. Why was it fitting for God the Father to bring many sons to glory through the Sons’ suffering?

Because Jesus, he who sanctifies, and those who are sanctified (that’s you and me as believers) are ‘all of one stock’34, are ‘of the same family’35, are ‘from one father’36 That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers… Now that’s solidarity, isn’t it? He’s not ashamed to call us brothers. He’s proud to call us brothers. He welcomes us into the ‘band of brothers’.

All of this reminded me of that moment on resurrection Sunday in John 20 when Jesus said to Mary, right outside the garden tomb… “Don’t cling to me….but go to my…what’s the next word? ….brothers…..and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your father… to my God and your God.”37 He’s not ashamed to call them brothers.

One writer exults: “This is a stupendous declaration in light of the cosmic greatness of Christ with which the book of Hebrews begins when it asserts, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (1:3). The amazing fact is, this cosmic Son, this Jesus, is not reluctant or ashamed to call the redeemed his “brothers”! “On the contrary, he calls them brothers with all his heart, with the fervor of love, with the eloquence of earnest conviction.” He, in fact, rejoices to call us brothers. He glories in the family designation, “These are my brothers and sisters!”38

And if all of this sounds too good to be true, that we are brothers with the resurrected Lord Jesus, the author offers three scriptures to back up his claim that it is indeed true39, verses 12-13…

Look at verse 12

12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

33 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, p. 67). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.34 NEB35 NIV36 NASB37 John 20:1738 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, pp. 72–73). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.39 Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews (p. 217). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.

10

Barry Metz 8/2/15

You’d never dream where this quote comes from. It comes from Psalm 22. Anybody recognize that psalm? It’s kind of famous…especially around Easter. It begins like this… My God, My God why have you forsaken me…Christ quotes the opening words of the psalm on the cross. And much of the rest of the psalm seems to describe Jesus’ experience on the cross perfectly.

Verses 6–8 record his experience of being mocked by those around him.Verses 14-15 describe his agonies: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My

heart has turned to wax….Verses 16-18 give explicit details of the crucifixion: “a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me”… “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing”

But in verse 22, which the writer of Hebrews quotes here—as the crucifixion is over and he is resurrected and exalted—Jesus cries triumphantly to God his Father, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises”40

Think about this with me. If we go back to eternity past before creation, the Father and Son and Holy Spirit are present together. At some point the Son agrees to take the dive into creation and so he takes on human flesh. Well the Bible teaches that Jesus keeps that body in heaven. Jesus in heaven will have the body that he had on earth. We’ll see the nail marks in his hands for ever. I got to thinking, “What solidarity with us that he wouldn’t remove his ‘body suit’ for eternity. He’s our brother. He’s one of us.” And in light of this verse, would there ever be a moment in heaven when Jesus would come into the ‘audience’ and lead the praise we give to the Father?

Well in verses 13, the author of Hebrews quotes Isaiah 8:17-18

13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.”

And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

We could spend a lot of time here. The context of Isaiah 8 is the impending Assyrian invasion of Isreael which occurred in 701 BC. Isaiah had prophesied but neither the king nor the people had listened to what he said. So Isaiah sealed up his prophetic messages and handed them over to his disciples for safekeeping.41 And then he said, Isaiah 8:17 basically, “I will trust the Lord…I will put my trust in Him”

If Isaiah maintained his trust in God in a dark time, then so did Jesus, the Son of God as he suffered. And so those reading the book of Hebrews can be assured by the one who identifies with them that their trust in God during their trials will not be misplaced.42

Again Jesus’ solidarity with us is beautiful!43

The final quote, verse 13 is from Isaiah 8:18. Isaiah had been given children whose names were signs from God. And he offered himself and his children as a prophetic presence in the nation at the time.

40 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, pp. 73–74). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.41 Obrien42 O’brien43 Hughes, R. K. (1993). Hebrews: an anchor for the soul (Vol. 1, p. 75). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

11

Barry Metz 8/2/15

Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

I can imagine the picture of Isaiah standing there with his children, again in a difficult and dark time, was a real encouragement to the people reading the book of Hebrews.

Well let’s read verses 14 through the end of the chapter.

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

The first phrases of verse 14 ….tell us that Jesus really became a human…he himself likewise partook of the same things… It’s hard for many of us to really get our arms around Jesus’ humanity. Max Lucado writes:

Angels watched as Mary changed God’s diaper. The universe watched with wonder as The Almighty learned to walk. Children played in the street with him. And had the synagogue leader in Nazareth known who was listening to his sermons.…Jesus may have had pimples. He may have been tone-deaf. It could be that his knees were bony. One thing’s for sure: He was, while completely divine, completely human. For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure…. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached. To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; it’s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.44

Jesus was fully God and fully man.

So the first part of verse 14 affirms that Jesus was fully human. The second part of verse 14 and 15 give two purposes for the incarnation, and both purposes have to do with the subject of death: 1) that Jesus, by his death, might break the power of the (devil) who held sway over death; and 2) that Jesus, by his death, might rescue those who had been enslaved all their lives by their fears of death45

Why is it that the devil is said to have the power of death? One author phrases the question this way, “Since, as Luther said, “even the devil is God’s devil,” and since death came into the world because of Adam and Eve’s sin, and since God was the one who decreed physical death as a consequence of sin…in other words all of those facts would make one think God is in charge… in what sense might it be said that Satan holds the power of death?” 46

44 Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 118). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. Lucado’s quote is from God came near.

45 O’Brien46 Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews (p. 219). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.

12

Barry Metz 8/2/15

I think we can understand what the writer is saying if we understand what the word ‘destroy’ means in verse 14. It means to “render inoperative” or ‘to deprive something of its power’47. The death of Christ deprived the devil of his power. Jesus’ death, by cleansing his followers of sin, rendered inoperative the death grip of the devil48. With Jesus’ death, the overthrow of death and the devil has begun and the final overthrow of the devil and death will occur at the end of time.49

But there’s a second happy purpose to Christ’s incarnation—‘That we would be released from our fear of death’

Woody Allen summed up humanity’s uneasiness with death when he said, “It’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens”50

Why do we fear death? 1) We fear the loss of mastery. When you are dying you have almost no control; 2) we fear separation from our loved ones; 3) we fear incompleteness and failure…so many goals not achieved, so many things left undone 4) we’re unfamiliar with the journey.51

But Christ has delivered us from the fear of death. He tasted death for us and now he lives. We’ve been given promises that to be with Christ is better by far. And though the journey on the other side is unknown, we know our tour guide…even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil…for… you…. are ….with… me.

Former missionary Elisabeth Elliot tells of an occasion in the jungles of South America when, as she and her Indian guide were traveling a primitive path, her trail suddenly dropped into a ravine. The only means across was a fallen tree. The Indian guide nimbly jumped onto the tree and started across. Elliot, who confesses she was mortified at the prospect of falling, hesitated. Her guide, perceiving her apprehension, came back across, held out his hand, grasped hers, and led her across safely. The stability of one who had obvious mastery of the situation gave her the needed confidence. 52

Look at verse 16…

16 For surely it is not angels that he (Jesus) helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect…doesn’t that nicely sum up all that we’ve talked about from verses 10 through this point? That Jesus had to be fully human like us, that he had to take on flesh and blood? That he had to be perfected through sufferings? so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God…aren’t we glad that Jesus is a merciful (feeling our pain and then acting to alleviate it) and faithful (that he won’t let us down) high priest? (And that he made) propitiation for the sins of the people. To propitiate means he turned away of the wrath of God for us. 53

47 O’Brien48 ESV Study Bible49 Rev. 12:708; 20:1-3; 1 Cor. 5:5; 15:24-26; 2 Tim. 1:1050 As quoted in Guthrie51 From Guthrie52 Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 121). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

13

Barry Metz 8/2/15

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Verse 18 gives the reason that Christ’s becoming like his brothers enabled him to become a merciful and faithful high priest.54 He knows what it’s like to be tempted and to suffer.

Well as we close let’s look at our summary slide again…

________________

Our Great SaviorJesus! what a Friend for sinners!

Jesus! Lover of my soul;Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

ChorusHallelujah! what a Savior!Hallelujah! what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!Let me hide myself in Him.

Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!While the billows over me roll,

Even when my heart is breaking,He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!While the tempest still is high,

Storms about me, night overtakes me,He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

53 Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews (p. 224). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.54 Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews (p. 225). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.

14

Barry Metz 8/2/15

Jesus! I do now receive Him,More than all in Him I find.

He hath granted me forgiveness,I am His, and He is mine.

15