The Suffering Savior

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, church. Kids, first through fifth grade, you are dismissed for BLAST.

I want to invite you to open your Bible and join me in Hebrews chapter 2. This morning, we are in week 5 of our series, “Greater” as we journey through the New Testament letter to the Hebrews.

Last week, as we were in verses 5-9 of this chapter, we saw that the author of Hebrews begins to unpack for us the power of Jesus’s incarnation—why the eternal Son of God took on flesh—became a human being.

This morning, in our text, the author is going to refer to Jesus as the “founder” of our salvation. In the Greek language, this word, founder, also refers to someone who is a “pioneer”—someone who blazes a trail/goes before and makes a way for others. It’s a person who says “I’ll go first. I’ll go into the “unknown” and pave the way.

I think about all of the great pioneers of history who were trailblazers so those who came behind them could experience a new way of life. Daniel Boone—who pioneered the Kentucky wilderness and established settlements. Amelia Earhart—the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Henry Ford—a pioneer in the automobile industry. Jackie Robinson—a pioneer—first African American to play Major League baseball.

Look at Hebrews 2:9 “But we see him who for a little while was 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.”

Hebrews 2:10–18 ESV

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder (pioneer) of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” 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 the service of 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.

The theme of this passage is SUFFERING and SALVATION.

Main Idea: Our great salvation is accomplished through the suffering of Christ.

The author says, in verse 10, that…

English Standard Version Chapter 2

it was fitting (appropriate) 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.

The author has already identified the Son of God as, not just the final and full revelation of God, but as the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

Hebrews 1:2–3 ESV

…in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

As we saw last week in verses 5-9, the Son of God took on humanity/flesh and blood so that he could restore God’s original design for humanity.

And, now, he continues this line of thought by saying that the Son of God—God Himself—took on flesh/became human so that he could suffer.

This concept, though, of a deity suffering was absurd to the Greco-Roman mind.

A few weeks ago, I posted a video on Facebook, from Christian Apologist, Wesley Huff, in which he talks about this picture…

>>MEDIA TEAM SHOW PICTURE<<

This picture is the earliest known depiction of Jesus on the cross. It is part of a collection of ancient graffiti that is found in Palantine, Rome. This drawing is believed to have been drawn sometime between the first and third centuries.

It depicts a roughly drawn figure of a man with the head of an ass crucified on a cross. Next to the crucified figure is a smaller figure with one arm extended towards the former. Underneath the figures is a caption that reads “Alexamenos worshipping his God.”

At that time, Christianity was roundly derided by the pagans of the Roman Empire as a strange minority religion, centered on a man punished as a criminal in one of the most humiliating form of execution. The notion of a suffering god was ridiculous to them. Equally absurd was the concept of a savior who was himself defeated by the powers of evil.

(https://www.amusingplanet.com/2020/03/the-earliest-depiction-of-jesus-was.html)

This is why Paul writes, in 1 Corinthians 1:23

1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

And, so, the author says that it was fitting that the Son of God, the Creator, who is the founder—the pioneer—of our salvation should be “made perfect” through suffering. That he would suffer in order to conquer.

Being “made perfect” doesn’t mean that Jesus was morally imperfect and had to be made better. It means that by becoming a man, subjecting himself to the same sufferings that we are under as humanity—suffering temptation and overcoming as sinless, giving himself to death and rising again—he has accomplished all the plan of God and fulfilled all of God’s purposes for our redemption—our salvation.

This is why the author called it “such a great salvation” in verse 3. It is such a great salvation because it required the suffering of the Creator.

This entire text is filled with profound—and shocking—news. First, we’re told that the Son of God lowered himself by taking on humanity. Then, we’re given the news the the Creator of the world subjected himself to suffering.

And, now, we’re given even more shocking news—we’re told that he calls us his brothers and sisters and that we have the same Father, now, as he has! And the profoundly good news the author gives us, here, is that…

1. Through Christ's suffering we are adopted as children of God (vs. 11-13). 

The author quotes three OT verses—Psalm 22:22, Isaiah 8:17 & 18. Why?

Psalm 22 is a Psalm of suffering—opens with—my God, why have you forsaken me? This is what Jesus cried out on the cross. But, as Psalm 22 progresses, the Psalmist is delivered from death and then says,

English Standard Version Psalm 22

I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you

Isaiah 8—God is telling Judah that the Assyrians are going to attack. And in these verses from Isaiah, Isaiah is hoping in God who will be merciful to he and his children.

The background is suffering.

Why is this important to the Hebrew Christians? They’re being persecuted. Probably have been shunned by their families. Their Jewish families ashamed that they’ve converted to this new movement called Christianity and abandoned the Jewish religious system.

This is why Jesus is “not ashamed to call them brothers.” (also, sisters). Your earthly family may have shunned you/rejected you but God has adopted you for eternity and said “you are mine.”

(Romans 8:15–17) “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Notice that the author says that Christ has brought us into his family and brought us to “glory.” He has changed us from paupers to princes. This means that he is conferring honor and status on them. When you get adopted into the family of God, your identity changes! You go from the label “sinner” “rebel” “enemy of God” to “child of God” “co-heir with Christ.”

It’s interesting—the number one image of being a follower of Christ in the NT is being a “brother” and “sister.” We’re in this family together. Listen—some of you have biological family members that are not saved. You have more in common with the people in this room than you do with your own family members.

Through Christ’s suffering, we are adopted as children of God.

2. Through Christ's suffering we have victory over our enemy (vs. 14-17). 

VICTORY OVER DEATH

Hebrews 2:14–15 “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.”

Death is a scary thought. You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.”

Death is the cloud that hangs over us. It’s the inescapable enemy.

There were 64 people on an airplane and 3 on a Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night that had no idea they were about to step into eternity. Call it failure/call it neglect/call it a freak accident. I’m going to call it what the Bible calls it.

Death is the curse of sin. It’s what God said would happen if Adam & Eve chose to take the fruit and disobey him and death has reigned over humanity ever since.

And Jesus, the Creator, subjected himself to death—only to DESTROY DEATH THROUGH HIS RESURRECTION.

He doesn’t just destroy death—but the one who has the power of death. Jesus didn’t just win a battle to give us entrance into heaven—he won the war by crushing the head of the Serpent.

We don’t have to FEAR death. We can ANTICIPATE death with hope.

(1 Corinthians 15:56–57) “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

VICTORY OVER SIN

(Hebrews 2:17) “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

By suffering on the cross for our sin, Jesus does what no priest, no rabbi, no pastor—no other human—can do…redirect the wrath of God against sin from US and onto HIMSELF…and because of that, he can offer forgiveness and cleansing of sin to sinners.

3. Through Christ's suffering we have strength for our own suffering (vs. 18).

(Hebrews 2:18) “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Because he suffered under the wrath of God, Jesus can offer forgiveness for our sins…but…because he was tempted in every way and, yet, OVERCAME temptation—he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus didn’t live a detached life. See, again, verse 17—he had to be made like his brothers IN EVERY RESPECT. He faced every form of temptation we do. He had emotions that he was tempted to let control him. When the bible says he was tempted in EVERY WAY…it means EVERY WAY. This is something we’re going to come back to when we get to chapter four of Hebrews but the point is that He identifies with us. He empathizes with us and offers us a way out of temptation—as we look to him, his life, his faithfulness, his fight—in our daily struggle against sin and temptation.

God doesn’t just know about/see suffering. He has experienced it.

Illustration—Wayne Grudem—imagine a female OBGYN who delivered hundreds of babies but then, one day, she and her husband get pregnant and 9 months later, she goes through childbirth. What happens is a shift—she goes from KNOWING ABOUT pregnancy and childbirth to KNOWING ABOUT pregnancy and childbirth—experiencing.

THROUGH CHRIST’S SUFFERING WE HAVE…ADOPTION // VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH // STRENGTH FOR OUR OWN SUFFERING

My Next Steps

Live with confidence in my identity as a child of God.

Live in freedom and victory over sin and death.

Live in dependency on Christ in my weakness.