Jesus is Greater (August 22nd, 2021)
Morning. I would ask that you open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2, which we just heard read for us. For those of you who saw the bulletin and didn't recognize the first name, but recognize the last name. I am Pastor Don son, and I have the tremendous privilege of opening God's word with you this morning and this morning a special for me and it's always a privilege to open God's word with God's people, but this morning is especially important and helpful. For me. I am actually the third consecutive generation Simon's man to preach from this day to you. And inside out is something neat and fun for me. I'll also let you know. I have two sons and I plan on coming back in about 30 years.
Hebrews chapter 2 and if you know me and no notes know, if you are like this and that you were like me and you love sports. I love watching them. I think the competition is fascinating. I think just the idea of athletic performance the idea of strategizing tactics and game cenarios is inherently interesting. To me and I enjoy watching the Olympics for that reason and it is fascinating to me that a game, a sport. Where if you break down The rules, it's it's profoundly silly. I need you to get this this past. This line passed that guy who's trying to stop you, but it in Gross has so many people. Is it in a gross has so many people who are paid handsomely, I made out and they sit around a chalkboard and they will draw X's and O's and go through all of these details. And if you follow a sports even casually, something you have probably picked up on something. You've probably realized the trend you have noticed is that former players very often become coaches. In almost every sport. Coaches are very often former players, usually at a high level. And the reason for this is rather simple. It is not because former players always make the best motivators. It's not because they always make the best technicians. It is because they understand what it's like to be a player. They understand and can relate to the people. They intend to train, generals are very often former Infantry. Because if you're an infantryman, it is easier to follow somebody you trust. And it is easier to trust somebody who has been in the situation you now find yourself and who can say, I know what that's like and I know you can do it. I want you to keep that in mind as we consider this section of Hebrews. Now look at your texts. Please notice in verse 10. He begins with the word for the for is one of those words that immediately connects it to what was proceeding. Until look at the previous verse that he tasted death. Or the author of Hebrews calls us to notice something. That is true because Christ, tasted death, three things this morning. We want to look at that would not be true. Had Christ not have tasted death. And they are one, his death, made him a sanctifying sibling. To his death, made him a suffering Savior. And three, his death, made him. I forgot a sympathetic servant. Look at verse 10. Let's consider our first point this morning. For it was fitting, the idea being that it was. It is good. It is reasonable. It is a good and praiseworthy thing. It fits within the plan of Redemptive history that the Christ should die. No, I want to remind you who the Epistle of Hebrews was primarily written to Hebrews or Jewish Christians. As you well, know how the concept of Messiah. But it was incomplete. And the Jews of Jesus's day had long forgotten, the concept of a suffering Messiah, despite the remarkable Clarity of the scriptures on this issue. And so to the audience, it would not have seen a tall fitting to have a messiah. Who would taste death. It was not at all in keeping with what they expected to have a messiah to have to enter the author. He was really driving the point here. This is fitting. This is good. This is part of the plant. This is what Messiah is supposed to do. He is supposed to taste death. This was fitting that the man Jesus of Nazareth should die. Why, why is it so fitting? Why is this part of the good plan? Notice was just because it made him the founder of our Salvation perfected by suffering. But the founder could literally be read as a Pioneer think of it. As a Trailblazer, a leader. Somebody who goes first, a captain can be used in the sense of a ruler, but a ruler with whom something originated. PS3 origin of your salvation and of mine is the perfect leader. The perfect coach, the perfect General. The perfect ruler because he was made perfect through suffering. The who is made perfect through suffering. Will, of course Christ is that the God man is perfectly understand that. But notice what he's called here. The founder of Salvation that is, what is made. Perfect. This is not a reference to Jesus is eternal nature or his mortal Essence. It is a response to the empowerment of God's Redemptive Mission. The Blazing of the trail of salvation of man. I'm so those who were in the mind of God in eternity past would find Salvation in time in history. Why? Because God himself would come Emmanuel God With Us and he blazed the trail of salvation. Until he dies. And as we will see you later on this morning. He'd defeat death in his death. It is probably worth noting here that the words there. You see perfect in. The Greek is tell us, it didn't speak. So to complete a mission. It is the goal of History to fulfill to accomplish perfectly accomplished to close or to bring something to completion. And again, this speaks of the Redemptive mission. And Christ's role in it. As the founder or the originator of it. I drew a proper understanding that of Christ. As the founder made, perfect shows. Our first point. I look at verse 11. He sanctifies further than that. He sanctifies Those? Whom he is not ashamed to call Brothers, sanctification is probably something you are familiar with the idea of being set apart for Holiness. And the idea of growing in Grace is something. We understand that we gradually become more and more like Christ. And now I want to remind you, that what we see here is that Christ is the source of that sanctification. And yes, he is the one that's in whose image, we are striving for and it is him who we look more and more like, but it is also true that he is the origin of that sanctification. He is alright. Sanctification art. Sanctifier and that because he suffered and was made perfectly put. Let me put it this way for you. Jesus had to suffer with men in order to suffer for men. Because he suffered. He was made perfect in suffering and he now becomes the sanctifier, the source of our godliness.
In scripture, you will see the concept of sanctification used in one of two ways. Generally, speaking, positionally and progressively sanctification is said to be the very fact that we are set apart for God. It is our position we exist for his glory, his service and his you. Since so, we have been set apart by God the father. And so we can say that we are sanctified. But it is also use progressively to explain the growth in the Christian Life. Yes, we exist for his glory and that then becomes the motivation for our life. And so it defines our progress as we mature in Grace and a knowledge and in truth. We look more and more like Christ. And I say that because here it is used in both senses showing the relationship between the two. We are being Sanctified by him as the sons. He has brought to Glory. That is the progressive tense. But then it says those who are Sanctified past tense and that is the positional side of those people. And so it is those who are positionally set apart. Those will be progressively Sanctified and they have one source. Notice again, the one who does the saying to find work. That is Christ. And those who are Sanctified, that is all True. Believers have the same Source, the same spiritual origin. and this means that if you are in Christ, positionally, you will be made to look like him progressively.
If you are not in him cuz isshin Ali, if you do not trust Christ as Lord and Savior, if you do not submit to his loss, then you will not be made to look like him progressively. Likewise, if you look at your life and you see, you are becoming more and more like Christ that you loved his word and you loved his people, you can be sure that you are found positionally in him. And that is why we say the fruit of a person's life, reveals the root or his grace is salt water, doesn't come from a fresh spring. Those in Christ are made like him. Christ washes, Those whom he purchased
Notice the last line of verse 11. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers. And so the Sanctified, the being Sanctified and Christ are a Band of Brothers, so to speak because we have the same source as him and he is the one who sanctifies us. I want you to think about that for a moment. The god of the universe calls, you brother or sister. The one who created all things. Calls you sibling. The creator of time itself, the Everlasting comes and calls you you who were created from the dust and who rebelled, he calls you brother.
To understand him is beyond measure to approach. Him is suicide to know him is impossible. We look at the Heavens Door cuz Hannah me think what is man that you are mindful of him? Your friends not only is he mindful of us? He calls the redeemed, brother. And in doing so brings no shame. He is not ashamed to call us Brothers.
And what follows is 3 Old Testament quotation. Psalm 22 verse 22 and Isaiah 17 and verse 18 and those Old Testament. And Isaiah are about overcoming death, or an enemy or hardship and trusting. In God, as the author of Hebrews, is using them to illustrate. Just how we became Brothers of Christ of Jesus. Jesus overcame death winning Sons to Glory. Know what is interesting is that these are given as quotations not just from Holy scripture. Of course, that's true. But from Jesus. As if Jesus said it. But if you go back to some 22, David says it prefiguring, Messiah. Yes, but not calling him, and if you go to Isaiah chapter 8, the speaker is not the Messiah, but Isaiah. Continue to ask ourselves. When did Jesus say these things in reference to himself and his church? It is interesting that there is no recorded statement in scripture of Christ saying these things.
Different. I believe he will say them when he returns.
I think they're there some other options. They're all well within Orthodoxy, but I think the best understanding is that the idea is that Christ will say those things when he is truly and completely. In the midst of the entire Congregation of Those whom, he went to save those whom the father had given him. He lays down his life for he is in the congregation and he proclaims victory. This is the reference to be in congregation the entirety of the redeemed. All of those Sons brought to Glory the Sanctified, who are being Sanctified home. He is not ashamed to call Brothers.
The next quote, has a similar construction. Jesus says, I will put my trust in God, that is Future, and he does. So with the children that God has given him, that's past. So if you are locked, you are given to the Sun. And you will be in that congregation when Christ finally and fully proclaims victory over death. When we see that he is not only the founder of our faith, but the completion of it also. We are brothers and Christ would not be ashamed to call us Brothers. So we are set apart for God and becoming more and more like him every day, but there is coming a day. When that process will be complete and the founder, the Trailblazer the origin of your salvation.
Will stand in the midst of the congregation of all believers. And we all as Brothers and Sisters in Christ will sing. Praise to God.
Our second point, this morning is his death, made him a suffering savior. Not only did it. Make him a sanctifying siblings, but he is also, the suffering savior noticed that he partook of Flesh and Blood. Because we do No, we know that Christ died. But please notice the condition that we were in before Christ verse 14 says that the devil has the power of death. And this is important for two reasons, one. We need to recognize that Satan has real power.
He has the power to kill of course, with God's allowance, but none, the less. We need to recognize that Satan, though. He has a delegated power. A power with permission. He does exert, real power and real influence. The second thing I want you to notice is what the text does. Not say, the text does not say that the devil has power over death. Did you notice that? It says he has the power of death until he can take life. He has that power. He does not have power over Death Christ, has power over death and that your friends is an altogether different and more impressive power. It is Christ who will destroy the Devil. It is the key that has power over the one who has power of death.
Again, I want you to know this is directly, the result of him becoming a man. You could not defeat death, had he not died and he could not die unless he took on flesh and blood for only flesh and blood. Notice also our condition before Christ is said to be that of lifelong slavery. That is perhaps the most succinct definition of The Human Condition. A slave to sin, slave to our desires. What is price? They all who practice in our slave to it. You will either serve Christ or you will serve your sinful desires. Those are the only two possible options. And you will know one thing. If you have been associated with church, a member of a church for any length of time. You will know that people need hope. And the people are often short on Hope in times of trouble. Even for those of us who have been redeemed can still at times in our sin return to a hopeless state. And allow ourselves once again to be slaves of sin for a Time.
You know, I think God knew that. I think God knows that.
And so he knows that hope would be vitally important for fallen people. Until we see that in scripture. For example, when men when mankind fell when Adam sinned, what did God do? He promised that a seed of the woman would come and defeat the serpent, right?
Did you save mankind? The hope that their slavery wasn't forever? Moses spoke of the rewards for Covenant obedience providing hope to the Israelites even specific specifically promising. The restoration that would follow after captivity and the wind. Captivity team. The people were not without hope and God urge Joshua to be strong and courageous. And this too. It was to instill hope. As they were about to begin the difficult conquest of Canaan. So God knows we need help. And for the profit, they spoke clearly of judgment and the effects of sin, but they were never without a message of Hope of coming Redeemer coming Messiah, who would come and beat the prophet greater than Moses. Who would be the seed of the woman.
I'm going to look at scripture. We recognize that God gives his people hope. Another few ways. We could give somebody. Hope, you could give somebody Hope just by listening to them.
But really hope is found in Christ to truly forgive. Hope you truly have hope.
We must look to Christ. It is the most pervasive the most effective in the absolute dominant through it. All the scripture. That is Hope in simply that hope comes from highlighting the promises of God. Hope comes from highlighting the promises of God looking for 16. For it is, surely not angels that he helps but he helps The Offspring of Abraham. He helps you. That is Christ. Helps those that are his. That is the promise that removes us from the fear of death. Because his death rescues us from lifelong slavery, and so if you know Christ. Then he helps you and if you know Christ than there is a promise for you and the promise is simply this, what did Paul say in Romans. You did not receive a spirit of Slavery to fall back into fear. But you have received the spirit of what adoption as Sons by whom we cry Abba Father. This is why we can sing. Oh death. Where is your sting?
No, please note. I am not minimizing your problems.
How does your son? Get your just moving it to a different sphere and that's the reason I don't have hope is far more complex and it's far more serious and far more nuanced than you could possibly imagine.
I can take that. I understand that. And please note. I am not simply taping, Jesus's name on everything in your life. I'm saying what Paul said, no temptation has overtaken. You that is not common to, man. God is faithful. And he will not let you tempted beyond your ability. I am staying with Peter, his divine power has, granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness. There's that sanctification again. I'm not minimizing problems in your life.
The God promises that there is a way through that, that does not involve you being a slave to your sin. I'm saying that everything in this life can be conquered by his divine power, through the knowledge of him who called us into his glory and excellence. As a, you need to know that if you are a Seed of Abraham Christ, helps you.
He helps you as an older, brother. It might take much work. It might take much to humility. It will certainly take much wisdom to search the scriptures and and your own life and recognize what promise you were forgetting. But you need to know. But if you were seated Abraham, there is a promise and I promise begins and ends with the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is because of his humanity and his death that he defeated death. And not just death, but the devil and all that goes along with it. And he has promised you something better, and it is summed up. In this phrase. He helps The Offspring of Abraham.
I remind you, what scripture says, if you trust in Abraham's God, then you are Abraham's offspring. What is Paul saying in Romans for that? Abraham was counted, right? Just before he was circumcised that he might be father to all be circumcised. And the uncircumcised, the Jew. And Gentile earlier is God the god of the Jews only or of Gentiles. Also. Yes, of Gentiles also, gone is the God of all who trust in the god of Abraham, and that makes you Abraham's seed.
1/3 point.
His death made him a sympathetic servant. Until we want to be sure that we are Sons and Daughters of Abraham, but look at what happens next. Notice there in verse 17 and his brothers are the sons of Abraham from birth 16. So it is for us that he is in service to God as a merciful and faithful high priest. And then when we speak of Christ, we speak of him in many ways. One of those key ways that we see and scripture is his office of high. Priest. Jesus Christ is our high priest into that is his service to God on our behalf.
I want to understand this morning, the role of the high priest. Remember, he's writing to Jews who knew their Old Testament scriptures. Well, and so as soon as he says high priest, they know what he's talking about. They had a very good understanding of the Old Testament. And so the author is drawing on some of those things, especially in Leviticus, and he's applying them to the New Covenant and the mediator of that Covenant Christ. Until look at verse Leviticus. I want to build some of that contacts from the old Covenant, Leviticus chapter 16. This is about the day of atonement and nine of Leviticus chapter. 16. We see that are in the high priest. We see what he was to do. He was to take a goat and use it as a sin-offering. Verse 6 says, he has to slay a bowl for atonement for himself and his house. In verse 11, says the same thing at Omen for himself and his house atonement. By the way, is the reconciling of God, and man, atonement speaks of a broken relationship that is repaired. And in fact, the Anglo-Saxon form of atonement is is drive safely from one mint. At one minute. It is the act of making one or coming together in relationship with Erin is to make atonement. Through the sacrifice of bulls and goats and then noticed what he has to do in verses 15 and 16. Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with his blood. As he did with the blood of the bull. Sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of The Mercy Seat. He shall make atonement for the holy place because of the unclaimed, this of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions all their sins. And so you shall do for the tent of meeting which dwells with them in the midst of their unclean, this Please notice something very important. Atonement is not just the death of the animal. It is the def, the sacrifice and the intercessory sprinkling of the blood. That provided that atonement. In other words, when we speak of the office of priest and Christ's role as the high priest. We are speaking of his sacrifice and his intercession for God's people. That is the second point that the intercessory work of the priest was identical to the sacrificial work. It was for the same people and silver those for whom that sacrifice was made had the blood applied to them sprinkled over them. And so it is with Christ For Those whom he died. He intercedes. He does not die for you and then leave you. Continues his ministry on your behalf to the father. And so his role of high priest includes both his sacrificial death, and his intercession for those people. Those same people. We have been talking about those Sons and Daughters of Abraham, Those whom he is not ashamed to call Brothers.
Until Christ intercedes for all of those for whom he died in John chapter 17. We see the same thing that Jesus is interceding on behalf of his. Sheep. You to read through the whole chapter and you will see, the emphasis is on those for whom Christ will die. And he says, to the father specifically, I am not praying for the world. But for those, you have given me, Those who have the promise.
All of that theology is in the mind of the author and the original audience when he hears when he says that Christ, is the sympathizing servant or the faithful high priest. And I hope also that this fills you with comfort fit, because it means that, if you are Seed of Abraham, you can't be forgotten. The priest that laid his life down. Intercede on your behalf.
It is certain it is absolute. It is 100% that if Christ had you in mind at the cross, he still does. And he can't leave because his role of high priest demands, that he will intercede for all those who belong to him. Because there was a promise given to them because they are The Offspring of Abraham because we have been brought in to the family.
There is no forgotten Christian who gets less of Jesus Christ.
All Christians have all the blessings in Heavenly places, Ephesians 1.
I hope this fills you with comfort and second. I hope it fills you with hope because it has an immediately practical application. Look at the very end of Verse 18. He is able to help those for being tempted. Not only is he there? But he is able. You know, the lot to say when you're grieving, we see this in the book of Jobe. One of the best things you can do is just be there. You don't actually have to say anything a lot of the time and very often people are very uncomfortable and nervous. I don't know what to say. I don't really know what to bring to mind and sometimes it's best if you don't say anything or just they're your friends Christ is there. But beyond that he is not just there he is, able, he is able to sympathize with you. He is able to help you be able to bring comfort and hope real hope in the promises of an unchanging God. Because he suffered and he died. And who did he die for by the sons of Glory? The Seed of Abraham and for all those whom he intercedes?
And that is the story of scripture, how the death of Christ can be credited to your account and how that result, in Jesus Christ, being the faithful high priest, who can help you when you are tempted. In other words, he gets it. He knows what it's like to be hungry to be tired to be thirsty. He knows what it's like to experience exhaustion to experience. Trauma to the point of sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knows what it is like to have a close friend, betray you. He knows what it is, like to feel let down by somebody you poured into and have them abandon the faith and speak ill of you. And bring reproach upon the gospel.
Jesus was betrayed. And his betrayer Pre Played an instrumental role in his execution.
He knows what it is like to experience the death of a friend. We don't know for sure, but most commentators are almost certain that Joseph and Jesus his Earthly father died. When Jesus was young, perhaps a teenager.
He knows what it is like to pour your heart and soul into teaching a disciple and then have him abandon and deny you three times. He knows what the end of a whip feels like what the sharp point of a nail. What? Split, spit and blood dripping down your face. Feels like Your friends. I say all this so you can know for certain. If the blood of Christ covers your sin. Then the intercession of Christ can sympathize with your infirmities. All of them? And to those infirmities issues, you a promise, one of Hope. And that is he is able to help those who are being tempted because praise God, that he helps The Offspring of Abraham. Let's pray. Father, God, we thank you that you have given us so much that we don't deserve. And that as we were Rebel, as we were insolent hottie, boastful proud, envious jealous and moral and every conceivable way you loved us.
And you did not love us because we are lovable. We are lovable Because You Loved Us. And we thank you that you became sand. He who knew no, sin became sin for us that we might be called your righteousness Seed of Abraham and brothers of Emmanuel, God With Us and Them.