We talked about this topic yesterday, but today’s
passage has so much extra insight into our High Priest’s nature and work that I
felt the need to spend an extra day on it.
One of politicians’ favorite poses
is that of “the common man,” that he’s “one of us.” He might’ve gone only to
private schools and elite universities, and he might have a dad who’s a senator
and multi-millionaire, but the last thing he wants is to have people think he’s
“out of touch” and doesn’t understand their daily problems. In most
Presidential elections, the one who's less rich has an advantage over the one
who’s wealthier, even though both of them are white-collar and far more wealthy
then 90% of the American public. It has a lot more to do with image than
reality, like most issues in politics.
Before we get to the passage, let’s
back up for just a moment. Jesus left the glories and worship of Heaven, and most
of the privileges of being God. He took on human flesh in joyful submission to
the Father’s will. For 33 years he was not only 100% sinless
but 100% righteous,
always consciously choosing to obey the Father.
So in what sense did he become perfect? That’s a good question. In
another part of Hebrews it says
that he learned obedience from what
he suffered. How could he learn obedience? How does this comport with what we
read in the last paragraph? Although he never rebelled against the Father’s
will, it was during the Incarnation--culminating in the Cross—that he
experienced obedience to the ultimate degree. He said “Yes” to the Father while
in Heaven, but I’d expect that’s a very different prospect from saying “Yes” in
the Garden moments before the soldiers arrived. When going through a mockery of
a trial. When being whipped to the point of barely looking human anymore. When looking
at the soldier positioning the nail above his wrist. That’s when his obedience
was perfected.
But this is where his humanity meets
his divinity to our eternal benefit. The most amazing verse in this passage to
me is vs. 11: “Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” I know
with all the horrible things I’ve done in my life, he has every right to be
just a little reluctant to acknowledge me publicly as his brother. But he’s perfectly
fine with associating with the likes of me.
But the best part comes in vs. 14: “Since
the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by
his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is,
the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear
of death.” He had to become human so that he could die. By his death (for us)
he broke the power of the one who held the power of death. All throughout
history, we’ve been frightened of this universal enemy, this cold embrace which
awaits all of us. But since his death and resurrection, our Lord now
holds the keys to Death and Hades. He now owns them. His human nature and his
divine nature did this.
And there’s even more here: “For this
reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he
might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he
might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered
when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Because of
the Incarnation, he’s a merciful and faithful high priest, meaning he can
sympathize and be compassionate with us when we’re tempted. And because of the
Incarnation, he was able to make atonement for our sins. Only a fully human man
could be our substitute, and only God could carry our sins.
I know we observed Christmas a few
days ago, but according to some calendars in the world we’re still in the
Christmas season. That’s what we celebrate: God who squeezed himself down to a
human embryo, which was just the first in a long line of humiliations—big and
small—he endured. For you and me.
Father God, I’m in awe of your perfect
plan which worked in perfect precision for your glory and my benefit. “Thank
you” seems so inadequate.
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