What a Wonderful Savior

MASH, a television series which focused on an army medical unit in South Korea, had an interesting show which debuted in 1975. In this show, a wounded soldier seemingly had lost his identify. He identified himself as Jesus Christ. Obviously, this was not true. However, this identifying as the Messiah was actually a defense mechanism in order to try to cope with the fact that he was an air force bombardier who had flown 57 different combat missions.

Some called this battle fatigue which made sense when it was discovered that this soldier could not cope with bombing all those villages with him never having to see the results of what he was doing or whom he was bombing. In the end, he is given a medical discharge since he will never be the soldier he once was. However, as he’s leaving, Radar asks the soldier, who was claiming to be Jesus Christ, to bless his teddy bear. The soldier did that and addressed Radar as Radar, to which the company clerk stated that his given name was Walter. Obviously, Jesus would have known that.

Friends, there have been people throughout time who have claimed to be Jesus Christ. One was a 13-year old who was supposedly a guru of some sort. Another individual chose to have himself buried alive in order to rise again so people would think he was Jesus. It never happened; in fact, he died. Hitler made claims to this effect during his time. There are many more to have made this claim.

However, we will see in these verses that:

Jesus is the only Savior.

Let’s take some time and look at some verses which show that Jesus is the only one who could be the perfect Savior.

Our Savior Suffered. - 2.9-10

Hebrews 2:9–10 NASB95

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of 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 author of their salvation through sufferings.

Suffering is often associated with pain, though it doesn’t have to involve physical pain. There is at least two areas that seem to describe suffering in some form in these two verses.

First, we see that, for a little while [he was made] a little lower than the angels. Consider the reality that Jesus created the angels and was above everything as the Son of God. Then, because of His great love for us, He chose to limit Himself and take upon Himself a human body that would forever identify Him as fully man and fully God. Consider the One Who was absolutely perfect in every way, upon His incarnation, now experiencing hunger, cold, growing pains, rejection, etc.

Second, He chose to experience the suffering of death. We recall that death is required for sin, so it would make sense for you and me to have to undergo a painful death for our sin. However, Jesus had no sin, yet chose to experience the pain of carrying our sin in our stead, so that we would not have to die for our sins. Plus, He had to experience complete separation from the Father while He was bearing our sins on the cross. This is not even considering all the other physical and emotional pain which Jesus suffered.

For it was fitting for Him, reminds us that this whole process was completely consistent with Who God is.

Note also, that this suffering as a man was also the author of our salvation. This word literally means pioneer, leader. Jesus is our leader and example. His way of life is our example, whether it be living or dying. That’s correct. If you know what eternity holds, then you have no need to fear death.

The idea of Jesus being made perfect for our salvation is not to imply that He was imperfect. Rather, it carries the meaning of being complete, effective, adequate. In other words, if Jesus would not have gone through what He did as a man, He would not have been able to accomplish the purchase of our salvation. He could not have been the necessary Savior or High Priest, unless He would have become a man.

Our Savior Provides Sanctification. - 2.11-13

Hebrews 2:11–13 NASB95

For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, 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 whom God has given Me.”

What does the word sanctify mean? It basically means to be set apart. It also carries the meaning of holiness. A person who is sanctified is set apart for something very special. In the context of the Scripture, there is the idea that we are separated out from the rest of the world to be a holy people.

To become sanctified requires Someone to do the sanctifying. It takes God, Who is completely holy to be able to do this. Jesus sanctifies and is from the Father. We who are sanctified, have experienced this from the Father, through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the One Who makes us holy. Interestingly, most days I don’t feel holy. In fact, most of us feel that we are in a constant struggle against sin. However, even though we may not think in a holy way all the time, or act holy, we are holy because of Jesus. Let’s bring this down to a level most of us can understand. Even though our children may not behave and live like we’ve taught them or want them to live, they are still our child.

We see here the wonderful honor which we have in being identified with Jesus Christ. This is a positional truth or a legal truth, though we wish it were an experiential truth. Even though our behavior may not always match who we are supposed to be, it does not change our legal position in Christ. Amazingly, He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Can you imagine? Not only are we sanctified, holy, we are brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ.

It’s interesting to note that before Calvary, followers of Jesus were never called brothers. They were called friends, or disciples. I believe the reason for that is the fact that until the cross work was finished, sin had not been completely paid for and salvation had not yet been accomplished. Once that occurred, for all who would believe, they received the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. That makes us brothers and sisters.

My friends, what a glorious truth. However, doesn’t this cause you to want to live like a brother or sister of Jesus? We should all want to be just like Jesus in how we live and think. However, when we fail, we are still called brothers and sisters; all because of Jesus.

Our Savior Frees from Slavery. - 2.14-15

Hebrews 2:14–15 NASB95

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

We know only too well the sad situation we used to experience. We were slaves to sin. Thus, we were slaves to Satan and to death itself. We were flesh and blood without hope because we were too busy ignoring or rebelling against God.

The word for share comes from the Greek word, koinonia, which speaks of having a common fellowship. Jesus became flesh and blood, He shared that characteristic in order to identify with us. Then the writer used the word for partook, which means to take on something which is not normally something which you would have. He had to become this in order to be able to die so as to pay the price for sin. Normally, one might think that all is lost at death. But Jesus actually beat death. In order words, He beat the devil.

Eternal life is far more powerful than death. You might see death as the weapon which Satan wielded over humanity. Eternal life is the weapon which Jesus uses. It is almost like a battle with a nerf gun and an army tank. Listen to John MacArthur’s explanation of this.

The way to eternal life is through resurrection, but the way to resurrection is through death. So Jesus had to experience death before He could be resurrected and thereby give us life. Jesus’ dying destroyed death. How? He went into death, through death, and came out on the other side, thereby conquering it.

Death can cause the bravest, strongest person to quake in fear. Horror movies take advantage of this. Even dangerous midway rides use this. Organizations that promote thrill seeking by push for an adrenaline rush, state that being on the edge of death is what triggers the ultimate adrenaline rush.

However, when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, they have been set free. We’ve been set free from the fear of death because Jesus took care of our sin. We’ve been set free from the power of death, for Jesus has conquered death, rendering it powerless.

Our Savior Became Our Substitute. - 2.16-18

Hebrews 2:16–18 NASB95

For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, 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.

The angels did not need salvation, nor could they receive salvation. Those who fell, along with Satan, do not get a second chance. Humanity, however, desperately needed help, for we were hopelessly caught in that trap of slavery to Satan, sin, and death.

Thus, Jesus had to become man, identifying with man, along with performing the duties of a high priest. He died in the place of man. He chose to bridge the gap and reconcile humanity to God. Jesus did this to clothe us with robes of righteousness, so that we might be presentable and acceptable to God. This is seen in what Jesus did as He made propitiation for the sins of the people. Jesus took my place and your place.

It’s wonderful to see the adjectives describing His duties as a priest; merciful and faithful. As humanity, we deserved death, yet Jesus showed mercy. To the Father, Jesus showed absolute faithfulness. What benefit does that provide us today? Consider this; when you and I run into difficulties, struggles, trials, temptations; Who better to go to than our merciful high priest who experienced what we are going through, yet in His faithfulness, he did not sin. Jesus can identify with us. Jesus can help us during those times.

Jesus is able to do this because of He is not only fully God, but fully man. He experienced the same temptations which we experience. He suffered as He knows that we have suffered. Jesus experienced what it was like to be totally dependent on His parents as a baby. He experienced the growing up years. He experienced physical and emotional suffering. Thus, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Summary

Our Savior suffered in my place.

In doing so, our Savior has sanctified us, making us holy and set apart for Him.

He did this by freeing us from the slavery of sin.

Jesus, our Savior, became my substitute and sympathizes with all my weaknesses.

What a wonderful Savior!