Jesus, God's Plan
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· 7 viewsThrough God's sovereignty, He made Jesus a little lower than the angels, like man, that He would be a sufficient sacrifice for the sin and man and be exalted at His resurrection.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Focus Passage
5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But someone has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You think of him? Or a son of man, that You are concerned about him? 7 “You have made him for a little while lower than angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor; 8 You have put everything in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Outline
Jesus, His authority is beyond question (v.5)
5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking.
Angels have a present, implied authority
The readers of this letter have seen God use angels as messengers, guardians, and executioners of judgment. They have seen the implied authority of angels.
They have seen Jesus, as a human, suffer insult and injury, even death on a cross.
They, as many in society today, saw no reason to see any glimpse of authority in Jesus, because of His humanity. However, never let Jesus’ authority be over looked or questioned.
Angels have no authority in God’s new plan, Jesus - ‘…the world to come, about which we are speaking...’
One must realize that Jesus is superior to the angels despite His humanity.
The phrase, the world to come, can be interpreted in two ways...
The afterlife
New order of things
Jesus’ Passion inaugurated a new covenant, the Messianic Covenant.
As stated in the Holman New Testament Commentary...
Hebrews & James B. Because Jesus Is the Central Actor in God’s New Plan (vv. 5–9)
God has enthroned Jesus at his right hand. Jesus’ enthronement has begun a new world order over which he reigns. In Jesus, Christians already taste the powers of the coming age (Heb. 6:5). Jesus has already started this new age, but he has not completed it. In time he will bring his people into enjoyment of the final blessings of salvation (Heb. 9:28).
It is through tis perception of God’s sovereign plan, that we see Jesus glorified above the angels.
Jesus’ majesty despite His humanity (vv.6-8)
6 But someone has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You think of him? Or a son of man, that You are concerned about him? 7 “You have made him for a little while lower than angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor; 8 You have put everything in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8:4-6 to bring to light the truth of who Jesus is...
4 What is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet,
Two observations are made through this quotation...
The significance of the passage
The majesty of Jesus
It is with these two observations in mind that we begin to see the ultimate picture, Jesus is far superior to the angels despite His humanity.
The dignity of man is celebrated (v.6)
Despite the insignificance of man in comparison to the vast greatness of His creation, God has put all under the subjection of man.
When we look at man, we see the humbling picture of insignificance in comparison to the greatness of creation.
We see the power of nature
We see the fragility of life
We see our dependence on atmospheric conditions
Despite this, God has given us dominion over His creation
It was in this form of insignificant man, that God chose to bring the incarnation, Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the incarnation and exaltation
Jesus temporarily suffered insult and indignity in his humanity - ‘…You have made Him for a little while lower than the angels...’
However, the insult, this suffrage, was only temporary. We find through the text is temporary, for a little while, not permanent.
Jesus’ was supremely exalted through His resurrection - ‘…You crown him with glory and majesty...’
Hebrews & James B. Because Jesus Is the Central Actor in God’s New Plan (vv. 5–9)
What human beings lost because of sin, Jesus has regained by his obedience. We can experience God’s fullness for us in Jesus’ accomplishments
It is through this resurrected exaltation that we finally hear the name and are introduced to the one that is supremely above all, Jesus. For in (v.9), the name Jesus, is first mentioned in the book of Hebrews.
The name, Jesus, says it all (vv.8-9)
8 You have put everything in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Subjection of all things is certain - ‘You have put everything in subjection under his feet...’
Jesus, says it all - ‘…But we see Him…namely, Jesus...’
Three statements are made about Jesus in v.9
Jesus became a man - ‘…Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels...’
Jesus, as a man, had a purpose, sacrifice - ‘…because of His suffering death...’
Jesus’ sacrifice was for all. It was God’s redemptive plan from the beginning - ‘…so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone...’
Jesus, as an outcome of His obedience, was crowned with majesty - ‘…because of his suffering death crowned with glory and honor...’
Conclusion
Do not let the current conditions of the globe be a deterrent to seeing God’s sovereignty. Jesus is far superior to the angels. Jesus is far superior to man. Jesus became a man to bring salvation to man.
19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
Do not see His sacrifice as weakness. For it was His sacrifice that He was exalted.