Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12: Why Family?

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. - Hebrews 1:1-4

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” - Hebrews 2:5-12

 "So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters." It seems like an extraordinary statement. Jesus, who is "crowned with glory and honor" is "of the same family" as we are. Seems like a bit of a come down. He is God. He has done all this marvelous stuff like miracles and coming back from the dead. Then there is us. As much as I like a number of the humans around me and love some of them, I don't normally think of Jesus with the term 'family'. I certainly don't perceive him with the emotional warmth that comes with this term, partly because of the perceived distance in our relations but also because I have a sense that says, 'I'm not at the same level as him.' I am me. Just Tim. With limitations and sins. Why would Jesus decide that I am a good fit to call me 'brother'?

It reminds me a bit of Pride and Prejudice, when Mr Darcy must wrestle with the fact that he would be associated with a family such as the Bennetts. Their very name would bring questions about whether Mr. Darcy was the class of person he claimed to be. Likewise, by being associated with me, Jesus puts his name at risk. My background would bring questions about whether Jesus was the class of savior that he claimed to be. Why would he do that? Probably for the same reason that Mr. Darcy cast his doubts aside and assumed the task of helping Wickham and Liza Bennet and being around the utterly foolish Mrs. Bennett. Love--a sort of love that gives even at the sacrifice of reputation. Jesus has done some much for me, not just so he could tolerate my presence, but somehow so he could call me 'brother'. 

It is an extension of what he always did . As it says, 'For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.' (Hebrews 12:2) He didn't just love us. For him it was a joy. Whatever the shame, it is nothing compared to his love for me. I'll take it.

Matthew 10:16-23: Tough Choices

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. - Matthew 10:16-23

This passage is hard to read, not because of the difficulty of the scenarios that Jesus' disciples might find themselves in, but because it is hard to image the scenarios happening to any family.  How many dramas are built on the backs of a family at odds with each other, whether for the favoritism from one, the inheritance from one, the perceived slight from one, the failures and disappointment. The list goes on and on. I don't like to think of these scenarios because the thoughts in my head required to imagine such circumstances are painful and my brain shies away from them. None of Jesus' disciples were strangers to how this could play out in ordinary life in 1st century Israel. 

Now the disciples were followers of a man-a rabbi-Jesus, who they are alternately mystified by or enthralled by. And he seemed to know them so well that he could speak directly to their souls. Sure, he said some pretty abrasive stuff. Sure, he was pretty good a put downs for those who had an overinflated sense of self. Sure, he was really zealous when God's reputation was in question. But to imagine a course of events that would lead people against Jesus and against his followers to such a degree that their own families would turn against them. That's harsh.

I think this is the difference between spiritual childhood and spiritual adulthood. Spiritual adulthood comes when you own what you believe as your own, not as the pattern of spiritual rituals inherited from your parents or learned from the culture around you. Spiritual adulthood is when God is actually your God and not someone you just heard about. In many ways, God can end up being like your unpopular friend. You like him and everything, but who-through no fault of his own-everyone else doesn't like and ridicules. With your friend, you have a choice-you can continue to sit with him at lunchtime or you can pretend that you didn't bring your lunch for a few days so you don't have to sit with him like you used to. I know its weird to put God in that sort of role. Now increase the heat: not only is he unpopular at school, but now your siblings pick on him and your parents don't want you to hang around with him. What to do then? How to navigate "love your father and mother" vs. "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength"?

Jesus says those tests will come. Maybe not one of the ones listed in these verses. But God will subtly or obviously bring us to a test over and over again and ask us who is more important. He isn't pining away for us, wishing we would choose him. No, instead he is bringing out truths about ourselves and our loyalties that we may not be aware of ourselves. Just like Peter, who thought he was loyal to Jesus, up until the time the rooster crowed. Jesus knew Peter's weakness and told him about it, so he wasn't surprised. The choice became a point of self-knowledge: do I want to be closer to God or not.

I've always asked God to change me slowly, because I am really a coward when it comes to the big failures in my life in terms of choices. I really don't want those super testimonies about failures and God's amazing redemption. I would rather a 1,000 small failures and a 1,000 small redemptions to help me see my need for Jesus and his unmitigated love for me, his son. So I must be willing to be a failure that many times and not grow weary of my missteps because they are all course-corrections in my coming closer to Jesus.

If I Could Tell You One Thing...Family (Deuteronomy 6)

These were group-time lessons used for Cornerstone's Family Camp. The room was split into three groups. The speaker introduced the topic (Key Idea) the led the groups through a series of questions and then had them brainstorm actions. Each topic took 20 minutes.

Key Idea
The family is God’s means of producing servants.

Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. – Deut. 6:3

God wants serving families more than he wants successful families. Well-educated but spiritually bankrupt describes much of our generation. Why? Because we have become convinced that families should produce superstars rather than servants. We have become convinced that a career is more important that character.

But we do not have the ability to make our children successful. We do not have the ability to make our children joyful. Those are in God’s control, not ours. And in these verses. In Deuteronomy 6, we see how intimately God tie together our spiritual walk with our family’s walk. Verses 4 and 5 are famous (and rightly so) as the Great Commandment. But verse 6 says: “Impress them on your children”

Questions
Why was this experience different for Israel from what happened in the past?

What is it about seasons of hardship (such as Israel’s slavery) that makes it hard to remember God? What is it about seasons of blessing (such as the promised land) that makes it hard to remember God? Write out 3 reasons each. Why is the transition between hardship and blessing critical?

Application
Find God’s advice for families in this chapter and paraphrase them as actions for today’s family.