Tag: Hebrews 2
Jesus our Merciful High Priest
Scripture reading for October 15: Hebrews 2
“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, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18
The writer of Hebrews sought to help Jewish believers understand Jesus Christ as the perfect High Priest. In the Old Testament, the high priest of Israel was appointed by God to come from the tribe of Levi. He was a man who was also a sinner. He had to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as the sins of the people. He approached the Holy of Holies once a year with a blood sacrifice for himself and the people on the Day of Atonement. Even he lived in a holy fear of God’s judgment while appealing to God for mercy. This high priest was a shadow of God’s ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ, as God’s Son, became a human being with flesh and blood like all His brothers. Jesus Christ was from the tribe of Judah through his earthly mother. Jesus Christ suffered temptations during His life on earth just like His brothers but Jesus Christ never gave in to those temptations. He overcame through dependence on God and the Holy Spirit in humble obedience and with the goal of serving all His brothers through bearing their sins and paying their penalty in His death. Through His perfect obedience through suffering temptation, He was appointed by God as High Priest to represent the people. Through His suffering, He is able to identify with all sinners and help deliver those who turn to Him in repentance and faith from slavery to the fear of death and eternal punishment
Have you ever been tormented by a fear of dying or death? Have you considered Jesus Christ as someone Who can identify with you in your temptations, sin and tormenting fears? What does it mean that Jesus suffered temptation in every way like us and yet He made propitiation (covering) for our sins?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to earth as a human man to experience temptations like us. Thank You for Your mercy and His great mercy towards me through the cross and shedding of Jesus’ blood. Through Jesus I will come boldly to Your throne for grace in my needs. Amen.
Jesus shared our humanity!
Scripture reading for October 14th: Hebrews 2
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Hebrews 2:14-18 “Since 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–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For 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. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Jesus was God in the flesh. He shared our humanity and felt and understood what it is like to be tempted and to suffer. He had a real human body and real feelings and emotions. He suffered temptation just like we did but in contrast to us, He did not yield to temptation. His goal was to fulfill the Law by perfect obedience so that He could die in our place and cover our sins with His perfect blood! He is able to help His brothers in their sufferings and temptation because He identified with them! Praise the Lord!
Observations for over-comers: God met our deepest need by sending His own Son in a human body. Jesus Christ perfectly kept God’s law after being tempted and suffering like us and offered His own body and blood to cover our sin! “I will declare Your Name to My brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing Your praises.” (Psalm 22:22) (Hebrews 2:12)
Jesus: Made like His brothers!
Scripture reading for October 15th: Hebrews 2
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:1-3) Because Jesus is far superior to the angels and His message is final, we must pay closer attention to it. Drift is never towards God or Christ! Ignorance will not be an excuse for those who have heard the Word of Christ Jesus. God confirmed this Word with signs, wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. We must hold fast to Christ, not allow anything to distract us along the way!
Jesus is now exalted to God’s right hand and crowned with honor and glory because of His willing suffering of death for the sins of men. He willingly tasted death in order to bring many other sons to glory. “Since 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– and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For 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.” (Hebrews 2:14-17)
Jesus shared our humanity in order to identify with our plight and and come to our aid when we are tempted. He is now the faithful High Priest who covered our sins and comes to our aid when we are tempted. We must listen to Him!