A Sympathetic Savior Hebrews 2:5-18
Exaltation through Abasement
5 Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. 6 But someone has testified somewhere,
“What are human beings that you are mindful of them,
or mortals, that you care for them?
7 You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned them with glory and honor,
8 subjecting all things under their feet.”
Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, 9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,12 saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
What does the Passage say?
V. 5-13 ‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them.’ This is a verse from Psalm 8, which praises the majestic greatness of our Lord. This great God is mindful of humans, and also gave us to dominion to this world. However, due to our sinfulness, we do not see it yet. We can only see Jesus, who is the fulfillment of God’s promise to the world. Through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, who also calls us brothers and sisters, we can witness how God’s promise endures.
V. 14-18 Jesus comes to the world in flesh and blood. Dies on the Cross, so we can be freed from the snare of death. His sacrifice became the atonement for our sins so that we can live this world freely.
What does the Passage say to me/us?
A paramount theological term is introduced in this passage; ‘Incarnation,’ meaning God became flesh.
What is the significance of this concept?
First, God had us in mind and came down to this world.
Second, God experienced the world, by embodying human flesh.
One reason why we call the fulfillment of God’s covenant, as ‘Grace.’ God did it for a purpose; to testify God’s love toward the world.
Then what does this mean to us?
As people who experienced God’s love, are we practicing that same love with others? Are we incarnational in their situation? Are we truly empathetical to their pain and suffering?
To be incarnational in people’s life is still one of the biggest challenges for me. I try my best, but always wonder how I understand them, the way they see themselves, and the way that God sees them. At least I try. And I hope and pray, one day I will really get to love them the way God loved me, as I practice the incarnation in my daily life.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for being mindful of me, a sinner. Help me to imitate your love with others in this world today. Even though I fail, I trust that your love never fails.
In Christ Name we pray, AMEN.
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