What is Man?

What is Man? (v. 5-9)

Hebrews 2:5–18 ESV

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are 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 made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in 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 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. For 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. 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.

Intro - How do we determine greatness or value? See says “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” What makes it great? How can we determine value? I enjoy learning about the stock market and get to see how companies can increase and decrease in value…how? It is all dependent on what someone is willing to give for it. You are as valuable as the sacrifice that was given for you. In our bondage to sin, we can’t assess eternal value. We are the child with money, burning a hole in our pockets trying to spend it not realizing if we save it we can buy the candy machine and not just the candy.

However, praise God that Jesus knows the value of salvation…and even more so…our value. So much so that He sacrificed it all to come and give it to us...

He first showed the value of salvation and man by choosing to be subjected to His creation...

Subjected (v. 5-9)

Psalm 8:4–6 ESV

what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

What ought man to be?

There is a supreme question that man must grapple with…why would God care about us? (Care = actively caring)

That is the essence of the Fall…the belief that God is disconnected from His creation, unconcerned and withholding Himself.

Paradoxically, in asking the question we acknowledge our unworthiness before God and wrongly exacerbate it.

This is the essence of the Psalmist’s questions when examining the work of God’s hands…you have infinite beauty in creation, the stars, the heavens and then you have....man (cf. -6)

Diseased, fallen, fledgling at relationships, grasping for purpose, breathing in death and exhaling vain wisdom. Why would God care?

And yet God does care! Not with a passing fleeting concern but with promised future glory, honor and dominion.

It’s not to angels that God turns over administration of this inhabited world but to MAN! Of all creatures it is MAN that He chooses!

How is man lower than angels? Man is earthbound and angels are heavenly/spiritual…but it will not always be so; “only for a little while” the Psalmist says

So God, how do we know this to be true?!?! Jesus is the example! cf v. 9

Hebrews 2:9 ESV

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.

The writer of Hebrews points to Jesus to be the model of what man ought to have been and shows how valuable the redemption of man is to God.

Jesus’ rule will be absolute (“left nothing outside his control”)

Although we don’t see things in subjection to Him doesn’t mean His rule isn’t coming.

Jesus is like the President-elect. He’s won the office but His administration hasn’t started yet.

He earned this right to rule for mankind by suffering and tasting death FOR EVERYONE! Do you know what Jesus did for you?!?

Imagine all the many ways we are in fights today! Health, finances, politics, relationships, the very earth itself fights against us with hurricanes, floods and animals.

One of the most troubling things to see is to witness an athlete attempt to get back the glory that they once knew. No matter how they might struggle, they’re just not the same. This is what man does as we struggle in this vain world to achieve dominion again. This is because mankind feels the vestiges of what it was once like to be rulers yet now to see our dominion stripped away. Kind of like King David when Absalom took his throne. We too are wandering royalty.

There’s a beauty in Jesus in not just being a savior but in being the example of what is to come.

We are in many ways like the slaves once emancipated. Although free to leave the plantation, we are put into a world that doesn’t welcome us and is violent toward us. When slavery is all you’ve known and now you’re free....to do what??? Where’s our example of what to do now?

Jesus bore the curse of man, took was needed to restore mankind back to his dominion, and He did it for EVERYONE!

TR: In order to win that crown Jesus had to become similar to us...

Similar (v. 10-15)

What’s interesting is that the writer than pivots his argument and states that not only did Jesus do this, and not angels, but that He did it for YOU and LIKE YOU!

Look at how the next verses describe these people;

Sons of glory; sanctified; one father/source; brothers; children of God; partakers in flesh & blood; offspring of Abraham

It was “fitting” for Jesus to do this! Why? Because it perfectly fit God’s plan/nature

The Father completed Jesus’ purpose on earth through suffering.

Jesus pioneered your salvation through suffering. Jesus blazed the path to the Father with the idea that others might follow after it. I have attempted to do the same for my family. Stopping the tide of drunkenness and poverty in hopes, not that my kids will live in comfort but so that they’ll build on what I’ve done, grind as I have done and help others even more than I have in the name of Jesus.

It is interesting that we often seek to fulfill our purpose on earth through comfort. We believe the path to restore dominion is through adding worldly comforts.

The accomplishing of Jesus’ task, which brought many sons to glory, was through suffering.

The sacredness, the set apartness, of Jesus and those who are set aside as holy by him all have their origination in one God.

This then goes to reason that our walk will look similar. Our fulfillment of purpose and Jesus’.

That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers b/c we have the same Father. We LOOK ALIKE!

The identity of those that follow, the moniker that they wear, is suffering! Not exaltation! Since they’re like Jesus in this way He’s not ashamed to call them FAMILY!!!

NO angel has been acquainted with suffering! No angel has become like you!

When it came to saving man, God became MAN! He didn’t shout directions on how to get out of the burning house from OUTSIDE THE HOUSE!

Also, it is an odd thing to see believers so acquainted with comfort.

This was the plague of the Hebrews, this is the purpose for this letter. The Hebrews wanted to flee the unknown of the New Covenant and go back to the Old.

This would free them from persecution and give them familiarity.

However, Jesus became like man, specifically Hebrews, so that he could partake in suffering and defeat the cause of it! Death! And the welder of death, the devil!

In doing so he also crushed the fear of death which lead to slavery. Slavery to what? The slavery to death and sin!

He didn’t do this for angels! He did it specifically for the Jews but spiritually for all those who can name Abraham as father.

In order to trailblaze Jesus must defeat those that enjoy the present system and benefit from it…that was the devil and now He’s defeated!!!

TR: B/c of how Jesus trailblazed, He can sympathize with us...

Sympathizer (v. 16-18)

He didn’t do this for angels! He did it specifically for the Jews but spiritually for all those who can name Abraham as father. cf. Rom. 4:9-17

To be clear, the writer of Hebrews is specifically talking about Hebrews here, however, b/c we share in the faith of Abraham scripture considers us as spiritual sons of Abraham.

Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers...

Begin to increase intensity

Think of this amazing fact…God desired to redeem His people so much that He placed an obligation on Himself.

God desires you so badly that He OBLIGATES HIMSELF!!!

What’s crazy is that Jesus not only redeems His people, but He does so in such a way so as to familiarize himself with those people.

The most amazing thing in history is that Jesus went before an all power God....as a MAN!!! As a suffering, broken, ridiculed MAN!!!!

This is why so many aspects of charity and giving are shallow. People want to produce redemption without relationship, freedom without familiarity.

People are willing to give to a cause while Jesus will not only give but He’ll participate and PIONEER that cause!!

THAT CAUSE IS REDEMPTION!!!

Our God is not just holy, righteous and powerful. He is FAMILIAR WITH US!

He satisfied the payment for our sins and did so as one of us.

FINISH STRONG

He is the hero that holds us! The savior that’s similar to us!

HE’S NOT SEATED ON HIGH DEMANDING PERFECTION!!! He KNOWS how we fail...

He KNOWS how we grit our teeth and just want to be free!

He KNOWS how we get weary and want to quite and ask “is this all worth it”

He KNOWS how we are tempted to take the easy way out, not because we don’t love Him but just b/c we’re tired of doing it the right way

HE KNOWS YOU!!!! HE KNOWS YOU!!! No other being on earth or in Heaven knows you like He does

And when everything else in creation screams WHAT IS MAN?!?!?! He says “MY BELOVED!!! MY SONS!!! MY DAUGHTERS!!! MY FRIENDS!!!!!”

CONCLUSION