Why the Word Became Flesh

Why the Word Became Flesh Hebrews 2:5-18 Even though we find the words “And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” in the Gospel of John, the Book of Hebrews describes the incarnation of Jesus in detail. The first chapter of Hebrews sets the table for the earthly Jesus. He describes the Son in majestic detail. He is the speech act of God in the latter times. He speaks what the prophets of old spoke and more. He is presented as the means by which God created as well as sustains the universe. This Son is the exact representation of God and the radiance of His glory. He is the One whom the Scripture of old prophesied. Because the Son is all of these things, He is greater in all respects to everything in creation. This includes the greatest of all creatures, the angels. Even though one could by analogy argue that if the Son is greater than the angels who are greater than all other creatures, then the Son is greater than Moses and the Aaronic priesthood, etc. But the writer of Hebrews does not argue this way. Instead he makes direct comparisons between the Son and all creatures at every level. He is greater than Moses. He is greater than Aaron. He has a greater prieshoodand is a better offering than their offerings. Indeed the Son is worthy of all praise, worship and majesty. And this worship is even commanded of the angels themselves. After a short interlude at the beginning of chapter 2 in which the people are warned from drifting away from this truth at the peril of their salvation, Hebrews goes on to address the other nature of this Son. Not only is the Son fully God, but He also fully participated in our humanity with the only exception, apart from sin. The great wonder we remember at Christmastime is why God would enter His own creation? This is a wonderful mystery to which we can only affirm that He did and that He did this for us, for our salvation. The writer of Hebrews picks up the topic of Jesus’ humanity in 2:5. He quotes the 8th Psalm to achieve this purpose. This psalm states that God has a special purpose for humanity. He created them a little less than the angels. This, places the angelic beings in a higher rank. We read from the Scripture of two falls, one of 1/3 of the angels in heaven under Lucifer and the fall of Adam and Eve. God did not institute a plan of redemption for the fallen angels. But He did for us, which is utterly amazing. Why should God care for an inferior rank of creatures, and sinful and rebellious creatures at that? Charles Wesley puts this in powerful words: “And can it be… that Thou my Savior didst die for me.” What amazing love! Even though the 8th Psalm seems to address humanity in general, Hebrews adapts this to speak of Jesus specifically. When we look at Paul’s second Adam presentation in Romans 5, we realize that Jesus, as the second Adam, represents all of humanity in Himself. We who were once one with the old Adam and have received Christ have changed from the curse of the first Adam to the blessings offered by the second. Jesus came down and participated in the flesh of the first Adam so that we could participate in His new nature in a restored humanity. The image of death is replaced by eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. This Jesus was God’s visitation to us. He who is exalted above the heavens came down to be a creature like us. In His humanity, He became a little bit lower than the angels. The time would come that after Jesus had accomplished our salvation that He would be restored to His full and rightful glory. All things would then be re-subjected under His feet. He who already and eternally was crowned with glory and honor would be granted even greater glory and honor. Some might at this point ask the question which is known as the “Full bucket.” How does one add water to a bucket that is full? Of course, for humans, that would only be possible if one removed the water from the bucket first. Then one could add the water back. Some see this as having happened to Jesus. The theory of kenosis, of Jesus divesting Himself of His divinity, at least in some degree, when He came to earth is offered as a possible explanation. But there are problems with this theory, and it would take too much time to argue this. But it is sufficient to affirm that that which seems impossible for us is possible with God. Speculation beyond this leads to problems. We must affirm that the Son, the Creator and sustainer of all things inherited what was already His by His death. The reason that Jesus came is stated in 2:9. He became human that He might taste death for every person. Death is the curse brought by Adam’s fall. All humanity is subject to death. We shall also die if the Lord tarries. But once the death penalty is suffered, there is no further earthly penalty that can be inflicted upon the person. If Jesus tasted our mortality, then it becomes possible for us to share in His immortality. The Jesus who tasted death for us rose from the dead and is ascended to the Father’s right hand. And the end of chapter one tells us we have a share in His inheritance. 2:10 continues the discussion of this mystery. It seemed good for the One who is the agent of all creation as well as being the owner of all creation by both nature and right of inheritance that the one who is the pioneer of our salvation should be made perfect through suffering. Who is this Creator and Owner? Is it not the Son, at least in equal participation of the Father and the Holy Spirit? In this sense, He who was already perfect decided that He would become perfect by participating in human suffering. The motivation for His doing this is so that He might lead many sons into glory. To do this, He had to become one with them in every way, with the single and necessary exception as we noted hearlier, without sinning. Hebrews tells us He was tempted to the extreme degree. Unlike Adam, Jesus did not yield to temptation. This one exception is vitally important. The decision of Jesus to stand up to Satan rather than Adam and Eve’s to yield is the one which puts the old curse away and makes it possible for us to live eternally. Jesus suffered hunger and rejection. He felt real pain. He was tortured and put to death. No one has ever suffered more than Jesus did. We all failed far short. We fall in the ordinary course of life without even being subjected to such abuse. He became one with us, that we might become one with Him. This Jesus is willing to be our brother. Several Old Testament quotes are strung together like pearls to show that this was God’s plan all along. In the Old Testament, the presence of God was seen and felt at the Tabernacle in the center of the camp. The presence of God was understood to be in the midst of His people. Jesus came down as John said and tabernacled in human flesh. He was the presence of God in the midst of His people. Even though this is true, Israel was mostly blind to this fact. He came into His own creation, but His own people rejected Him. The time of his earthly sojourn ended at the cross. The body of death was put off and buried. A new body arose from the grave, not subject any more to tasting death. He still desires to be the presence of God in the midst of His people, this time in glory. This is the promise of the New Zion assembly which Hebrews later addresses. In His death Jesus destroyed the one who had power over death, that is the Devil. But how did Satan have that power? Does not God hold death in His prerogative? It is true that God has ultimate power over life and death or else He would not be the Almighty. But we remember from Job, that the devil does have some degree of delegated power. When Adam fell, he surrendered himself and the earth’s dominion which God had granted humanity over to the devil. This includes the power of the curse of death. He would hold this usurped power until Christ came. The sinless One came and abolished Satan’s hold over death once and for ever. We might wonder at times why God does certain things. Some of us might even think we have a better plan of redemption. Be it sufficient to affirm that God did it this way because He is God and you are not. He is not obligated to give a reason, although He has graciously given us one. Also we must affirm that what God has done is effective. Hebrews goes on to tell us of Jesus’ priesthood. This is another reason He had to become human. He needed to feel our pain and suffering and not just observe is from afar. Again we stand in utter amazement of God. No wonder Hebrews calls this such a great salvation! What more could God do than what He has already done. He has redeemed us and not angels. In the end, we will judge even the angels. No wonder Hebrews warns us against letting this great salvation slip from our fingers. If we consider what punishment we deserved for our sins, how could we neglect the offer or become careless? This is a once-and-for-ever opportunity. I know this exposition of Scripture gets quite deep. Even the writer of Hebrews admits when He starts speaking about Melchizedek that it was going beyond the milk of the faith. He also stresses that we need to go beyond the milk of the faith. God has put even the hard to grasp doctrine of the faith into His Word. Even so, we must leave off the simple things and go on to perfection. We need a deep faith to be able to stand in these difficult times. To be careless will cause us to slip, and perhaps to lose everything.