Hello world OR Today we celebrate

Hebrews 2:5 – 10

Hello world OR Today we celebrate

“Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. [6] It has been testified somewhere, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? [7] You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, [8] putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. [9] But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. [10] For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” [Hebrews 2:5 – 10]

Today we are celebrating “communion.” The question is why? Other than obedience to Jesus’ command, the Bible describes many reasons for our celebration of Jesus death and resurrection.

I. God became personal because Jesus became human [vv 5 – 8]

A. “God” can be “fuzzy” and “generic.”

1. When we are able to keep God as a fuzzy idea rather than someone who WANTS to be involved in our lives then God is a comfortable idea.

2. We can keep God around like a bicycle pump. There when you need Him, out of the way when you don’t.

B. Jesus is God.

1. When Jesus became human, God lost all of the “fuzziness” and became much less comfortable.

2. Jesus commands our attention. If we don’t pay attention, we won’t obey... and some of us are just fine with that.

II. God prevails because Jesus lowered Himself.

A. Quote from Psalm 8:4 – 6 [Hebrews 2:6 – 8]

1. Historically Psalm 8 has been understood to be about Jesus (not humans in general... modern idea).

2. The Bible clearly applies Psalm 8 to Jesus. [Matthew 21:6, 1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:20 – 22]

B. [v 6] “son of man”

1. This was Jesus’ favorite title for himself...

2. This title was understood to be applied to the Messiah/Christ.

3. The idea is that Jesus is “the sum and substance of the human race” and our “representative and restorer.”

C. [v 7] “lower than the angels”

1. We have to understand, that when Jesus left the glory of heaven He voluntarily restricted Himself.

2. e.g. While angels can be in the presence of God, Jesus entered God’s presence a different way... Jesus prayed.

D. [v 8] “putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

1. Adam and Eve were given dominion but lost it because of sin in “the Fall.”

2. Jesus as “the son of man” reclaimed that dominion. It is authority given by God NOT man.

3. [v 8] “nothing outside his control.”

a. Jesus has rights to control everything. (However…)

b However, we don’t see that yet. (“Already but not yet”)

III. God pardons us because Jesus was punished.

A. [v 9] “Suffering death.”

1. Death is a human event but Jesus didn’t just die.

“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” [John 10:18]

2. Jesus died voluntarily as a free action of His will.

(The second phrase in this verse is… “taste death”)

B [v 9] “Taste death.”

1. Death is a result of the curse sin brings.

2. Death is the just penalty of sin.

3. Death is the manifestation of the power of the devil.

4. Death is the expression of the wrath of God (and an image of eternal hell).

5. Death is the image of God withholding His favor and strength.

6. Death is visitation of our forsaking God and God forsaking us to our consequences.

When Jesus died as a substitute for us, He experienced all of that....

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [Matthew 27:46]

C. Song: “I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross.”

1. We do not see the real cost and consequences of sin.

2. We seldom feel the yoke of sin’s slavery.

3. We hedge ourselves from understanding the extent of sin’s cruelty.

4. We protect ourselves from repenting... (Theological truth: no repentance, no salvation)

***** “Jesus death satisfied God’s just, truth, and holiness.”

IV. God proclaims victory because Jesus suffered.

A. [v 10] “It was fitting.”

1. When we speak of God, we speak imperfectly... using human ideas and human words to describe someone we can barely able to begin to understand.

2. However, “God is never so Godlike as when He reveals Himself in Jesus crucified for or sins.”

3. God the Father perfectly expresses Himself though Jesus and magnifies who He is in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

B. [v 10] God’s purpose, “in bringing many sons to glory”

1. This glory is not ours... it is God’s.

“...those whom He justified He also glorified.” [Romans 8:30c]

2. This came through the suffering of Jesus.

a. [v 10] “perfect through suffering.”

b. Perfect meaning “complete, fulfilling function, mature.”

c. In other words, as “Jesus lived His life his maturity and experience deepened.”

C. What does this mean?

1. We are going to see that even though Jesus is God and greater than any angel [chapter one], Jesus connects with us on a very personal level that we are going to see in the rest of this chapter.

2. When we see Jesus crucified for our sin:

a. We celebrate our salvation BECAUSE of the love, mercy, and grace of God..

b. And we are broken in repentance realizing the cost of our salvation.

c. In this celebration of communion the past ties in with today and reaches out in hope to the future. [Salvation/past, Sanctification/present, Glorification/future.]