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.

Hebrews 2:10-18: Perfect is Going the Distance

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.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

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. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 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. - Hebrews 2:10-18

 "...make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered." How could Jesus be made "perfect"? Wasn't he already perfect? Yes. But perfect is only perfect not just for a moment. It must be carried through to the end. This is the sense of "perfect" as "complete"

Baseball pitchers can have a good game. They can throw a shutout: no score. They can throw a no hitter: no hit allows someone to reach a base. They can even hold their opponent scoreless. But in a "perfect game" "no batter from the opposing team reaching any base" for all 9 innings of a baseball game. 

What Jesus did had never been done before: a human who lived holy from beginning to end. Perfect game. By doing it, he proved that "human" was not the problem but rather "sin"-something external to our being human-was the problem. Since it was external, it could be "atoned" for-paid for. 

That doesn't mean it was easy for him. He was tempted like we were. That temptation led to hard choices. Those hard choices were suffering. But it was going through those hard choices and choosing God's way in each one that gives me hope. Sin is not me. It is an ill chosen accessory to the person God made me to be. That gives me hope. And gratitude that he still considers me to be his family, since "the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family." 

Hebrews 2:1-18: Following The Trailblazer of Our Faith

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

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.”

And again, “I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

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. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 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. - Hebrews 2:1-18

There can always be an accusation leveled against God that he can never be truly compassionate because he has never lived with our limitations. God was never powerless. God was never ignorant. God was never limited to one place. So how could he really have sympathy because he has never experienced any of these things. Like a rich person from a wealthy family who claims to "feel" for those who are poor, and therefore will misjudge acts of help because they can only imagine what it is like. There are certain aspects of knowledge which can only be learned by experience.

Jesus was "fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest. He did not exercise his power. He relied on the Spirit for knowledge. He lived in one place. He suffered, both physically, emotionally and spiritually. Then he could be compassionate because he knew what it was like to live as a human and the suffering that would attend that human life. 

But he also came to show us what was possible as a human. The design of God was that everything should be under the human authority, "yet at present we do not see everything subject to them." But when Jesus, who was human, showed us that God intends to restore us to that position which we, through sin, had forfeited. 

He showed that the very suffering which is endured because of our fallen, weakened condition, could be overcome through the grace of God and would, in fact, bring us to maturity.

He came to show us that we could have a brother and sister relationship with Jesus.

He came to show us that the devil and death and the slavery that comes from the fear of both could be overcome.

Jesus lived with and understood our limitations, but he also showed what was possible and blazed the trail for us to find.