Why Jesus Came as a Human
Notes
Transcript
The author of Hebrews wrote this letter of exhortation to
remind the readers of the faith, that is what we believe about Jesus and His work, showing them how it is better than the incomplete revelation they had in their Jewish roots
exhort them to living as Christians
Over the last two weeks, we have gone through the first section dealing with Jesus as the superior revelation of God, better than the prophets, and far superior to the angels and the message that came through them.
Then, we saw the first exhortation to not drift from what God has revealed.
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,
how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Do Not Drift Away
Do Not Drift Away
This is an exhortation we still need today, as we are also in danger of drifting from what God has revealed. There are pressures we face from the our enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world wants to conform us to its image, its way of viewing things (man is good. people do bad things because of their environment). Our own flesh wants us to abandon what God says in his word to satisfy our own desires (do we really have to consider others? do we really have to submit to authorities?). Satan is always at work to create doubt about what God has said (God is not angry. God would not truly punish sin. God is love. Jesus is not going to come a reign with an iron scepter - meaning truly keeping people in line and punishing those who do not, or bringing plagues on those who fail to give God the worship He is due.).
The way we keep from drifting away is to pay careful attention to what God has revealed. We need to spend time in God’s Word individually, and corporately. We need time with God, learning from Him—seeing what He has revealed. The only way to keep from drifting is to be anchored in the truth.
After giving this exhortation, the author continues developing how Jesus, the Son, is superior.
Why Jesus Came as a Human
Why Jesus Came as a Human
Now, most would agree that God the Son is superior to angels. But He became a man. How could a man He be superior to angels?
The author is going to address that, while showing us why he became a man.
Let’s begin by reading the passage. I am reading today from the NASB 2020.
For He did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking.
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?
“You have made him for a little while lower than angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor;
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.
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.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers, In the midst of the assembly I will sing Your praise.”
And again, “I will put My trust in Him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Prayer
Angels vs. Humans
Angels vs. Humans
Who is superior? Angels or humans? What do you think? What does scripture say?
Angels involved in revelation
Angels involved in revelation
For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment,
you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”
Angels as authorities
Angels as authorities
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in my way for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Then he said, “Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.
However, I will tell you what is recorded in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.
so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Angels used to bring judgment
Angels used to bring judgment
Old Testament - Angels at Sodom and Gomorrah striking people blind
Elisha surrounded by angels, who struck the Arameans with blindness (2 Kings 6)
Revelation 8, 9 has angels involved in the judgments of God
Angels do not die
Angels do not die
for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Who would you say is superior? Angels or humans? Angels.
But, is that the case with the Son of God who became human?
For He did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking.
The World to Come
The World to Come
The author is going to be focused on the world to come, as he has been through chapter 1 as he referenced the Son reigning, rolling up the present heavens and earth, and having his enemies as a footstool for his feet. Jewish culture saw two ages: The present age, and the age to come. The author is speaking primarily about the world to come, or the age to come when the Messiah will be reigning on David’s throne over the whole earth, establishing God’s kingdom, which will then go into all eternity, ultimately in the new heaven and earth.
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?
“You have made him for a little while lower than angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor;
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.
Psalm 8
Psalm 8
I am using the NASB today instead of the NIV because of this portion in particular. The NIV translators have used a plural pronoun, “them,” in some of the verses as they have taken the sense of the singular pronoun in the original to refer to mankind in general.
The quote here is from Psalm 8.
For the music director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.
Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have set in place;
What is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet,
All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field,
The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
But the author of Hebrews is using this passage to speak specifically of the Son of Man—Jesus.
Now we begin to see the reasons Jesus became human, and that even though he became human, he is still superior to angels.
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.
To Fulfill Man’s Created Purpose - Rule over Creation
To Fulfill Man’s Created Purpose - Rule over Creation
God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
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.
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.
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
We will reign with Him
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.
To Die for Everyone
To Die for Everyone
To taste death, means to experience death.
and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.
and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers, In the midst of the assembly I will sing Your praise.”
And again, “I will put My trust in Him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”
To bring many to glory
To bring many to glory
Though he died for everyone, he died for the sins of the whole world, not all will receive Him—that is receive who He is and what He has done. He has paid the price, but not all will accept His payment on their behalf by believing in Him.
But for those who do receive it, we will be with Him for all eternity.
Here again, God uses quotations from the Old Testament to show that this has been the plan all along. He quotes from Psalm 22, a Psalm that is about the Messiah, showing that He desires brothers and sisters—a familial relationship.
He quotes from Isaiah 8:17, showing that it God has always brought to Himself those who come by faith.
He quotes from Isaiah 8, again, showing that it is God’s sovereign work that brings people to Jesus to receive Him by faith.
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
To Break the Power of the Devil
To Break the Power of the Devil
and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
To Free us from Slavery
To Free us from Slavery
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
To Become Our Priest
To Become Our Priest
fully human
merciful and faithful
will be expanding on this in the coming weeks as we go into Hebrews 4-8
To Make Propitiation
To Make Propitiation
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds,
yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
And you were dead in your offenses and sins,
in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
To Come to our Aid
To Come to our Aid
when we are tempted
Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
What about Me?
What about Me?
Why did Jesus become Human?
To Fulfill Our Purpose -
To Fulfill Our Purpose -
do you reign in life?, or do you feel like you are being reigned over… Romans. Our purpose is fulfilled in Christ! We can reign in life in and through Him
The world views humans as the problem, there are too many, We only hurt the earth. we need to keep the truth in mind. The problem is not too many people, but the sin that keeps destroying
To Die for Us
To Die for Us
The world says we are basically good. We only sin because of our environment or circumstances.
God says the problem is the sin in our hearts
The world says we can make everything right on our own.
God says we need a savior to take our punishment
To Bring Many to Glory
To Bring Many to Glory
Many would put us down as uneducated, and ill-informed because of our Christian views. They would look down on us.
But God says we are raised with Christ, and destined for glory!
To Break the Power of the Devil
To Break the Power of the Devil
Death bring fear.
But as believers, death has been conquered!
We can take our stand in Christ, putting on the full armor of God!
To Free Us from Slavery
To Free Us from Slavery
I have no choice. This is the way I am.
But we have been set free! We are new Creations!
To Become Our Priest
To Become Our Priest
Sin is condemned, and to be viewed properly as condemned.
But for the believer, we can be forgiven! We can find mercy when we don’t hide or excuse our sin, but rather cry out, “God have mercy on me, a sinner!”
To Make Propitiation
To Make Propitiation
God’s wrath is satisfied. We do not need to make light of or ignore sin. We can own it, and receive the payment Christ made for us!
To Come to our Aid
To Come to our Aid
We do not walk alone!
We have a living Savior who is interceding for us
We have One who provides the way out for every temptation we face
We have the example and strength of the One who has already overcome!
Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy,
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.
