Hebrews 2:5-18 - Jesus is Better than Adam

Well, good afternoon. It's great to be with you today. To see all of you here. We are in the book of Hebrews chapter 2 We started this study a couple weeks ago and we have seen that Jesus is better than the angels in chapter 1 and here today. We're going to see that he's better than Adam and I feel like I need to sort of explain why. I'm saying he's better than Adam right up front that is because the name Adam isn't mentioned at all in chapter two, but what we see in Chapter 2 by the quotation of soulmates and then the conversation about God's purpose in creating humanity is that Jesus is coming to restore Humanities place that was lost in the fall and the one who lost it is Adam and scripture Paul tells us in Romans and in 1st Corinthians, I even in the passage we had read for us out of chapter 15 that just as in Adam all die. So in Christ all will be made alive. So we are in chapter 2 We had heard this warning from the first 4 versus last week. I beginning inverse one. Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we've heard lest. We drift away from it for since the message declared By Angels proved to be reliable in every transgression or Disobedience received a just retribution how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation it was declared it first by the Lord and it was attested To Us by those who heard well God also bore Witness by signs and wonders in various Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will and we talked about this drifting away like a ship that's lost its anchor and the angels and chapter 14 ministers in the Old Testament. That brought God's word to his people most notably the Mosaic Covenant in their message proved reliable now in a greater way the Hebrews is saying God has spoken to us in a sun 1:2 and so we must listen to and Obey him and what we're going to see is those verses 1 to 4 are a transition talking about Jesus better than the Angels because he's a better messenger and he's inherited a more excellent name in chapter one, but now in Chapter 2 the author is going to argue that Jesus is the greatest man. He's better than Adam. Because Adam plunged us all into sin and the fall and Jesus is coming to redeem us from that fall. I want to share with you this scene from Pilgrim's Progress. I know that I shared it a couple years ago, but faithful who is in the story of Pilgrims Progress. If you haven't read it, it's an allegory of the Christian Life and the main character is named Christian and he has a friend named faithful and they are talking about their experiences on this pilgrimage from the city of Destruction to the celestial City from where we are on earth to heaven where God dwells and Christian and faithful are talking about their experiences and Christian says to faithful. Did you meet with no other assault as you came on this road and faithful says when I came to the foot of the Hill called difficulty I met with a very Agent Man Who asked me what I was and whither bound and I told him I'm a pilgrim and I'm going to the Celeste. City been said the old man, you look like an honest fellow. Would you be content to dwell with me for the wages that I shall give you then? I asked him his name and where he did well, and he said his name was Adam the first and then he dwelt in a town of deceits and I asked him then what was his work and what the wages he would give and he told me that his work was many Delights and his wages that I should be his are at last I further asked him what house he kept and what are their servants he had and so he told me that his house was maintained with all the dainties in the world and that his servants were those of his own begetting that I asked if he had any children and he said that he had but three daughters the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and I should marry them all if I would Then I asked how long the time he would have me live with him and he told me as long as he lived himself and then Christian Brakes in well what conclusion can the old man and you at last faithful says why first I found myself somewhat inclined able to go with the man for I thought he spoke very fair, but looking in his forehead as I talked with him. I saw their written put off the old man with his deeds Christian says and how then what next day. Burning hot into my mind whatever he said and however, he flattered when he got me home to his house. He would sell me for a slave. So I've been in for Bear to talk or I would not come near the door of his house and then he reviled me and told me that he would send such a one after me. That should make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go away from him. But just as I turned myself to go I felt him take hold of My Flesh and give me such a deadly twitch back that I thought he had pulled apart of me after himself in this made me cry o Wretched Man, so I went on my way up the hill. Courses at allegory it's a metaphor and he's talking about the result of being a descendent of Adam is that we live in a city of Deceit and the daughter that are born are the lust of the eyes and the lust of the Flesh in the boastful pride of life. All that's in the world John tells us in 1st John and to follow after that first atom is to be sold into slavery and to have no life. But that's not how Adam began. Is it? Do you remember the glory of Adam before the fall turn back to Genesis chapter 2. I want you to see this. In Genesis 2 Adam had Glory before the fall Genesis 2 verse 16 and 17 the Lord God commanded the man saying you may surely eat of every tree of the garden. But of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil you shall not eat for the day that you eat of it. You shall surely die prior to the fall. Adam had no sin nature. He would not die. He would have lived forever had he not eaten of that tree. Not only that didn't 3:8 wearied. They heard the sound of the Lord God Walking In The Garden in the cool of the day and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God Among the Trees of the garden. Now, this is after the fall but it implies something about Adam before the fall prior to the fall Adam and Eve the man and his wife walked with God in the garden. They had communion with God they fellowship with God. They had no separation or alienation from God. They lived in Harmony and friendship with God. And back in Chapter 2 again verse 19 out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them and whatever the man called every living creature that was its name Adam ruled over God's creation. He was the king he was the the ruler. In fact in 1:26. 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. So God created man in his own image in the image of God. He created him male and female he created them and God bless them and God said to them be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the Earth. So Adam was the king he was in charge he was to have dominion and Rule he named all the creatures. He was the one who was God's Regent on the Earth. Given the highest place of honor as the Capstone of creation. This is the glory of Adam before the fall. But then of course we see the Fallen 3:1 the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field the Lord got it made and he said to the woman did God actually say you shall not eat of any tree in the garden and the woman said to the serpent. We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree. That's in the midst of the garden. Neither. Shall you touch it lest you die, but the serpent said to the woman you will not surely die for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing Good and Evil. So Satan comes and attempts Eve. He lies about What God Says verse for you. Shall not surely die is it is a blatant lie. Told them that the day they eat of it. They will surely die.

And then he temps Eve and as we're going to see in verse 6 Adam who's there with her? To be like God and Adam and Eve sin in verse 6 when the woman saw that the tree was good for food that it was a delight to the eyes and the tree was to be desired to make one wise. She took a b fruit and eight and she gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate And I don't want to dig into all the details of the implication scripture is clear that Adam is the head of the race is the one who plunge the world into send not Eve. Eve was deceived first. Adam was responsible. And we see that he's there with her and verse six and he didn't stand in the way. He's the king. He's the ruler. He should have stood in the way between Satan and his wife and he did nothing he remains silent and he ate and so God curses Adam and Eve verse 14 the first God curses the serpent because you've done this cursed or you above all livestock and above all Beasts of the field on your belly. You shall go and dust you shall eat all the days of your life and I will put enmity between you and the woman in between your Offspring and her Offspring he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. And then to the woman he said I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing in pain. You shall bring forth children your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you and to Adam he said because you listen to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you. You shall not eat it eat of it and curse. It is the ground because of you in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat the plants of the field by the sweat of your face. You shall eat bread till you return to the ground for out of it you were taking for you are dust and to dust you shall return. That we know we heard this last Christmas embedded in Genesis 3 15 is this promise that there's a descendant coming of Eve Who's going to restore what was lost in the garden and that descendants going to crush the head of the serpent course, we know that Jesus. We could conclude like Paul did in Romans 5:12 there for just as Sin came into the world through one man and death through sin and so death spread to all men because all sinned. We have this this reality from the beginning of the Bible from this very first account that Adamson plunge the world into the fall. And so we have two realities from Adam. We have a sin nature that is given to us because we're descended from Adam and we have sinned guilt that's imputed to us. That means charge to our account because we're in Adam and both of those things sin guilt and sin nature lead to a sinful life and so all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Now back to the book of Hebrews. Why do this long intro regarding Adam? Because the author of Hebrews is making the case that Jesus is greater than anyone else in all of humanity that he's the one who's been crowned with glory and honor and he's better and yet there at the beginning and in 1:2 we hear this reality that the Eternal Son of God became the incarnates Son of God. And if Jesus is the greatest man will we know that all of sand and Olive falling into this curse and this guilt in this sinful life? So how could Jesus be better if he actually became a man and he went and he suffered and died. How could he be better than any of us? That's the implicit question here. If Jesus is better, what about his Incarnation? And what about his death? Well, Jesus is better than Adam because he solves the problem of the fall through his death. Let's read here in Chapter 2 verses 5 through 9.

For it was not two angels that God subjected the world to come of which were speaking. It has been testified somewhere. What is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man that you care for him? You've made him for a little while lower than the Angels you've crowned him with Glory and Honor putting everything in subjection under his feet now and putting everything in subjection to him. He left nothing outside his control at present. We do not yet see everything in subjection to him, but we see him who was for a little while 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. So the author of Hebrews as I mentioned before he's he's doing an exposition of Psalm 110. The book of Hebrews is a sermon and he's preaching Psalm 110 and he's running to another a number of Old Testament passages to make his case and the first point he made in 1:3 and 1:13 is that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, which is verse 1 of Psalm 110. Into a question comes up. Well if Jesus is exalted and seated at the right hand of the father what did his incarnation in death mean? The author is already argued that the angels are simply ministering Spirits. They're not going to rule over the world to come and now he says in verse five. Well, it's not the angels that God subjected the world to come of which were speaking. Well, who is he going to subject the world to come to the conclusion is going to be Jesus in verse 9, but he quotes Psalm 82 make a true statement to explain. What is our role as Humanity see God. His design was to place the world to come under the rule of humanity. Not Angel. That's what the author of Hebrews saying like Adam Adam was placed in the garden and he was told subdue the Earth have dominion over it Rule and Reign name all the animals and fill the Earth with a bunch of King priests who were going to do the same be fruitful and multiply fill the Earth the creation mandate Adam sinned. The fall happens mankind is now placed for a little while lower than the angels. and so the angels why why would the audience think that the Angels might rule the world to come? All in Deuteronomy 32 8 which Deuteronomy 32 was quoted in chapter one, which I mentioned last week that says in verse 8 when the most high gave the nation's their inheritance money divided mankind. He fix the borders of the people according to the number of the sons of God or the angels and two angels were given this ministry to Steward as I mentioned the the word watch her that used in The Book of Daniel the the idea that they were stewarding certain parts of the earth a lot it out by Nation these angels and so some people thought will the angels are going to inherit the world to come after all their stewarding it now. So the author of Hebrews is correcting that potential misunderstanding. He quotes soulmates and his main concern is with Humanity's place in the world to come. What is man that you are mindful of him verse 6 or the son of man that you care for him you made him for a little while lower than the Angels you crowned him with Glory and Honor. As I said before the author is quoting just a portion of Psalm 8, but he means for you to read all of Psalm 8 and if we turn back over to to song made we see this song that speaks of Mankind's role as ruling in raining up Psalm 8 verse 10 Lord our Lord How Majestic is your name in all the Earth. You have set your glory above the heavens out of the mouths of babes and infants, you've established strength because of your foes to steal the enemy and the Avenger when I look at the heavens the work of your fingers the moon the stars what you said in place, what is man that you are mindful of him? And the son of man that you care for him yet. You've made him a little lower than the angel beings and crowned him with Glory and Honor you've given him dominion over the works of your hands. You put all things under his feet all sheep and oxen also the beasts of the field the birds of the Heaven and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the Seas O Lord our Lord How Majestic is your name in all the Earth. Now you might be tempted to think that because he says son of man that it's a reference to Jesus but install made it's not a reference to Jesus. It's a reference to humanity and we know that back in the book of Hebrews as well because the author of Hebrews explains in Chapter 2 that we don't yet see

verse 9 I'm sorry Bruce AIDS now in putting everything in subjection to him Humanity. He left nothing outside of his control. But at present we do not get to see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the Angels namely Jesus crowned with Glory and Honor. So do you think his argument is Humanity was made to rule over this Earth. And they for a little while or lower than the angels and we don't get to see our Glory. We don't get to see us crowned with Glory and Honor but who we do see is Jesus who's been crowned with Glory and Honor because he's been exalted to the right hand of the father. So Jesus is crowned with glory and honor and the father is placing everything under Jesus's feet that's on 110 sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet. Remember Paul's argument Ephesians. We went through it last year. Paul says Jesus has been seated at the right hand of the father far above all Rule and authority and principality and power. That's Angelic beings Spirit beings and in Chapter 2 we've been placed in the heavenlies with Christ. We've been seated there with him and Christ, but we don't yet see it. It's a reality. It's true, but we don't see it with our eyes. That's the exact same argument. The author of Hebrews is making right here. We don't get see our Glory. We don't get to see that were crowned with glory and honor and we don't yet see that. Everything's being placed under our feet but we do see in verse 9 is we see Jesus the man who was made lower than the angels in his Incarnation now crowned with Glory and Honor because of his death burial and Resurrection in an exaltation. And why was he crowned with Glory and Honor in verse 9 because he excuse me because he had the suffering of death. And the author of Hebrews is didn't get to use versus 10 to 18 to explain what that means. It's the substitutionary vicarious work of Jesus on our behalf. What a difference it is to see Jesus by faith. We've seen him isn't that what the author of Hebrews is saying? We he knows that we haven't seen him physically but by faith we've seen Jesus we've seen him crowned with Glory and Honor he is no longer a curse word now he is our Lord and our savior. Now we see him for who he really is. He's God. He's worthy of worship. Jesus as the second Adam did what the first Adam failed to do. He obeyed God perfectly and he did more than that. He redeemed us through the suffering of death that he might taste death for everyone. What a metaphor that he might taste death for everyone. He was a substitute so that we would be crowned with Glory and Honor he's going to be called the the founder that the Pioneer the captain of our faith here in the next verse the one who paid the way the one who was a Trailblazer who went through sin and death and because he conquered it now we can conquer sin and death in him. That's the argument. So Jesus suffered in our place as the second Adam chapter 2 verses 10 to 18. Jesus substitutionary work is better than atoms failure and passing that failure on to us Jesus substitutionary work solves the problem of the fall and stand in fact gas is mentioned in verses 14 + 15 + sin is mentioned in verse 17 death in sin stand in the way of our being glorified. It stands in the way of our glory and Jesus actions as our substitute deals with death in sin so that we could be crowned with glory and honor and so Jesus actions verse 9 our gracious verse 10, they're fitting and verse 17, they're necessary and he does it. All Jesus is better the second Adam is greater than the first atom. This is the argument of the New Testaments. What what is Jesus do versus 10 to 13 Jesus fulfills the father's plan by bringing us into his family. Verse 10 it was fitting that he for whom and by whom all things exist in bringing many sons to Glory should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. Listen to the Divine Purpose of the father there. It was fitting it was right that he for whom and by whom all things exist. That's the father in bringing many sons to Glory that's us should make the founder of their salvation. Perfect. That's Jesus Through suffering. For He Who sanctifies? And those who are Sanctified all have one source, that is why he's not ashamed to call them brothers. The suffering of the Sun than is not a Divine failure. But rather a Divine achievement worthy of worship history is not man-centered history is God centered and he brings many sons to Glory so that we would worship him. So Jesus verse 10 shares in our situation, particularly our trials and our suffering. He's the founder of our salvation and he's made perfect through suffering. What is the author mean by that what he lived a life without sin. He's going to say that in chapter 4 and again in chapter 7, so it's not about the sinless life of Jesus. What it means is that his sufferings qualified him to be our substitute his sufferings qualified him to be our savior. That's why the author of Hebrews uses this word that the ESV translates as founder. Pioneer Trailblazer Captain, it's a it's an idiomatic word in the Greek which means it's the person who goes ahead of us and paves the way hey and leads us into a certain place. That's why it could be translated. All those various ways the founder the founder of the one who maybe perhaps you think of the one who found the new city. He Trailblazers the way finds a place where no one is living starts a work there and found the city. That's the idea behind that word. Jesus is the founder of our salvation. He leads us to our Salvation sanctifying us so that we can draw near in true worship. Not only that I think about what he's saying he brings us into the family so that we could be called brothers and sisters. In fact, he's going to sing over us verses 11 to 13.

Twice not ashamed to call them brothers verse 11 saying I will tell of your name to my brothers. And in the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise and again, I will put my trust in him and behold I and the children God has given me now. The author of Hebrews is quoting Psalm 22 in the midst of quoting Psalm 8 in the reason, he quotes Psalm 22 in verse 12 is because the first part of the song is all about the messiah's suffering and death Psalm 22 This will be familiar to you. It's often read at Easter. Psalm 22 verse 1 my God my God. Why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me from the words of my groaning Jesus out of these words on the cross. He had Psalm 22 memorized and on his mind as he was dying in our place for 6. I'm a worm and not a man scorned by mankind despised by the people all who see me mock me they make mouse at me. They wag their heads the gospel authors say this was in fulfillment of Jesus hanging on the cross and all of the bystanders who were mocking him. He trust in the Lord verse 8, let him deliver him let him rescue him for he Delights in him. 12 mini bowls and Compass me verse 13. They open their mouths at me like a ravening and roaring lion. I'm poured out like water all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like Wax it's melted within my breast. My strength is dried up like a potsherd my tongue sticks to my jaws. You lay me in the dust of death verse 17. I can count all my bones verse 18 to divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.

Again, the gospel writer say this is in fulfillment of Jesus going to the cross. And so when the author of Hebrews quote Psalm 22, and in the verse he quotes is after all of the suffering and death. The Glorious Victory verse 22. I will tell of your name to my brothers in the midst of the congregation. I will praise you. The Afflicted verse 26 she'll even be satisfied in those who seek Him shall praise the Lord may your hearts live forever all the ends of the Earth shall remember and turn to the Lord in all the families of the Nations shall worship before you back to Hebrews 2

The author of Hebrews says oh, yeah, Jesus exaltation and His glory being seated at the right hand of the father. He's going to bring his brothers and sisters with him as it works into the presence of God is going to bring us and he's going to sing over us and sing. He remind the children. You've given me and again, I will praise trust in him. And again he says,

Here am I in the children? You've given me this picture of Jesus as as the founder the Pioneer the captain who he seated at the right hand of the father and he doesn't just come alone to the presence of the father at his right hand. He brings all of us and he brings us as brothers and sisters into the family singing over us the Psalms quoting Isaiah 8 hear the author of Hebrews speaks of the Incarnation. The one who is Emmanuel and Isaiah dates that the ministry of the Messiah who's going to come and do this. To the author of Hebrews is arguing Jesus is the better Adam because he's the one who's going to rule over the world to come and he's the one who's bringing us back to our rightful place of being crowned with Glory and Honor his children of God Sons and Daughters of God into the presence of God singing over a saying here. Am I in the children? You've given me accomplishing all of the father's plan. That's why in verse 10. It was fitting for the Father the one from whom are all things and for whom are all things and bringing many sons to glory to make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. So the author of Hebrews is using the Old Testament and all of these promises of the Messiah to show that God's plan is not plan B. It was always plan A. That God had a plan and a purpose to bring us back to himself and he accomplished it through the work of his son. God spoken many times in many ways to our fathers through the prophets Hebrews 11, but in these last days, he's spoken to us in the Sun. And this is what the author of Hebrews is arguing. It's why he caps off his argument and verses 14 to 18 that Jesus became incarnate not because he was inferior or lower than the Angels but to be the greater Adam and to be our high priest which again if you think of the structure of Psalm 110, it starts with sit at my right hand til I make your enemies your footstool for your feet. And then the second half of the psalm is he's a high priest Forever After the order of Melchizedek. And so the author of Hebrews and thinking about this sermon starts with the rule in the reign of Christ at the right hand of the father and that he's better than all of humanity. He's even better than Abraham here. It says the patriarch of the Jewish people. He's better he's greater and he's kind of pulling in at the end here one of the reasons he's better. Is he is our high priest forever? Verse 14 since there for 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's not two 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's that's the first part of the argument. He fully shares our human nature verse 14. The purpose was to bring us help by taking on our Humanity verse 16. He glorifies Us in verse 10. He sanctifies Us in verse 11. He liberate us from the fear of death by destroying him who had the power of death. That is the devil. It reminds me of John Owens famous book title the death of death in the death of Christ. That's a great book title. I wish I'd thought of it the death of death in the death of Christ. John Owens thinking of this very verse. He quotes it that Jesus by taking on human nature and going to the cross and dying in our place defanged death. That's the idea. He defamed it. He released us who through fear of death were all our lifetime subject to bondage. Do you know that in the New Testament for Christians death is never called Death as it were it's falling asleep in the Lord to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord Jesus Christ to live is Christ to die is gain death is no longer to be feared. Oh, it's an enemy. It's The Last Enemy that's going to be put under the feet of Christ Revelation says, but now we don't fear it anymore or we might have a fear like in our physical bodies like we might be afraid for our Soul and Spirit to be separated from our body because we never been through it. We might fear the effects of going through death. Sometimes it's horrible in horrendous and painful but the consequences of death the separation from God the Judgment of God falling upon us. We don't have to fear anymore because Jesus did the work and paid for our sin as we saying he paid it all. Send had left a Crimson Stain he washed it white as snow so that now death though. It is our last enemy. We don't have to fear it. He has won the victory. And his present work is where the authors heading in verse 17 and 18. He's interceding for us. So the reason we don't have to fear death is not not only did he accomplish the work at the cross. But he is now at the right hand of the father ruling and reigning with the greatest Authority and interceding for us as our high priest so that we will be brought safely home to God that we will receive our inheritance. We will be crowned with Glory and Honor we're going to inherit all things in Christ the Eternal Sun became the incarnates son that we might become adopted sons and daughters and he's the son of God by nature and we're Sons and Daughters of God by grace. What a glorious message. So that he might become verse 17 a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make propitiation that is satisfaction for the sins of the people there because he himself has suffered when tempted he is able to help those who are being tempted. What a what a message what and encouragement. This is the application embedded in the sermon Verse 18. Are you being tempted today? I am we all are. Now think for a moment The Temptations that are coming your way that is headed your way this week that maybe this upcoming week. You have temptations facing you Temptations to anxiety or fear or hide or thin who is the one who can help? Jesus he himself suffered when he was tempted and yet without sin and he's our high priest and he's able to help those who are being tempted. Not just in the past few people to help you today in your Temptation. Jesus is better. Adam isn't going to help you. That that was the whole point of of that image in Pilgrim's Progress is that Adam just drags you into sin. All he's given you is an inheritance of sin. Jesus is giving you an inheritance of life. He's better and he's greater. Want to give you the next scene in Pilgrim's Progress faithful says now when I got above half way up this this past that he was on the hill difficulty. I look behind me and I saw one coming after me Swift as the wind. So we overtook me just about the place where the saddle stands and Christian said just there that Christian. Did I sit down to rest me but being overcome with sleep either lost this roll out of my bosom. Faithful says, we're good brother hear me out. So soon as the man overtook me it was but a word in a Blow for down he knocked me and he laid me dead when I was little come to myself again. I asked him where for he served me so and he said because of my secret inclining to Adam the first and with that he struck me another deadly blow on the breast and he beat me down backwards. So I lay at his foot As Dead As before when I came to myself I cried for Mercy, but he said I do not know how to show mercy and with that he knocked me down again and he doubtless made an end of me, but then one came by and bid him for bear. Christian says who was that the bidding for bear and faithful said I did not know him at first but as he went by a perceived the holes in his hands and in his side and then I concluded that he was our Lord and so I went up the hill Christian said that man that overtook you was Moses and he spares none. Neither know is he not how to show Mercy to those who transgress the law faithful said, I know it very well. It was not the first time that he met with me it was he that came to me when I dwelt securely at home and told me he would burn my house over my head if I stayed there. What a picture Moses running up the hill saw that faithful have been hanging out with Adam the first and beat him into the ground. Beat him up on the roadside and says, I don't know how to show Mercy. All I know how to do is give you judgment according to the law. You have standing you broken the law and you were hanging out with Adam the first but who didn't stop the Lord Jesus the one who has the wounds in his side of Hebrews is going to turn in chapter 3 to Moses and say that Jesus is better than Moses because the cop that he brings in his better because it actually brings life that this beautiful little set of scenes in Pilgrim's Progress. We can relate to this Sometimes were tempted to think that that our old life that it has the answers that are old ways of sin have the solution that somehow living after Adam the first man, that's really what's going to bring satisfaction. Enjoy. But all it is is being sold into slavery is John Bunyan said slaves to send and then Moses comes along the word of God the Holiness character of God and his righteous law comes along and it beats us into the ground and shows us that by Our Own Strength. We would never have life because we'll be judged by everything we do. So we need something this from Grace. We need something that would overcome our sin. That would would overcome this problem. That would solve. This Paradox of God's righteousness and Holiness in the law and his love for mankind in the Lord. Jesus is the solution to it God In the Flesh fully God and fully man who paid our sin and made a way that we could be children of God and that's what the author of Hebrews is getting at. Jesus is the second Adam. He's our mediator. He's the one who's going to forever be the one who brings us to God because he's seated at the right hand of God and he's a faithful high priest. In fact, he's going to take this verse 17 as a faithful high priest and from there until 10:30 and about Jesus as our high priest. And one of the implications I'll read to you out of Hebrews 10:23 by way of closing Hebrews. 10:23 says Actually, let's read a verse 21 to get the context since we have a great priest over the house of God. That's Jesus. Let us draw near with a True Heart in full Assurance of Faith with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water and let us hold fast the confession of Our Hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful. So what a hope? He'd said Don't Drift Away don't fade away right before he dives into this. He says we must pay closer attention lest we drift away. Well, this is what you need to pay close attention to beloved. Jesus is better than any other savior out there. He's a better solution than anything else in your life that you might chase after and if you drift away from Jesus, you're going to experience shipwreck, but if you cling to him, if you realize that he's seated at the right hand of the father. He's your high priest whose interceding for you. You're not only going to draw near to him. You're going to draw near to your father and you're going to find grace and mercy to help in your time of need. Because he's able to help those he's been tempted in all ways yet without sin and he suffered being tempted. He's able to help you when you're being tempted. I don't know any better news for today than that because while we live in this world were tempted and were tried and were tossed and we need a foundation in an anchor. We need a firm foundation in this the Lord Jesus. So remember your savior we don't see our Glory yet. We don't see that were crowned with Glory and Honor. But we see him. We see Jesus by faith who was made a little while lower than the Angels now crowned with Glory and Honor. For the suffering of death that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone and he's done it for us and that's what we're going to celebrate in the table father. Thank you for your word and this time thank you that we can gather at the table and we can remember our savior. Who's been crowned with Glory and Honor he's better. He's better think than anything this world has to offer.

father

we need Jesus. We need his help as our high priest. We need him to intercede for us.

So thank you for reminding us of this. Thank you that you've given us a reminder weekend and week out through the table that Jesus is sufficient for us. He's everything that we need. And we want to respond in worship and praise to say we love you. We want to give you our lives and service. Play all of this in Jesus name. Amen.