Hebrews 2 (5)

Introduction
Why did God become a Man? Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) addressed this question eloquently in his classic work, Cur Deus Homo or, Why the God/Man. Our writer makes the same case and point in fewer words, and perhaps even more eloquently. Unless God had become Man in Jesus, we could have no part with God. Now, however, we are His children – so great is our salvation! – because of the suffering of our great Lord Jesus.

Read Psalm 22.22-31.

Read Hebrews 2.10-15.

Think it through.
1.  Psalm 22 divides into two dramatically different sections. The first, verses 1-21, is taken up with the suffering of God’s Servant. The second, verses 22-31, shows the results of that suffering: God accepted it, gave His Servant the Kingdom, and now the world is being put under the dominion of our saving God. But getting to that place involved significant suffering, as we know. What does the writer of Hebrews mean when he says “it was fitting for Him [God]” to bring His Servant Jesus through such suffering? What could be fitting about that? Why does the writer of Hebrews, after having urged us to “see Jesus” (v. 9) now turn the focus of our seeing Him to His suffering? Why did his first readers need to focus on this? Should we, as the brethren of our Lord, expect to know some suffering in this life? Explain.

2.  Note that, according to verse 14, those who believe were “children” even before Jesus came in the flesh to redeem them (cf. Gal. 4.6). How could this be (Eph. 1.4)? When Jesus came among us, the writer implies, we were prisoners of death (vv. 14, 15). Paul says the same (Eph. 2.1). In what sense were we “dead”, and why were we in this condition? In whose power did we exist at that time? With what effects? Do people today still exist under that power and in that condition? What alone can deliver them from that bondage? Why can this alone suffice? We note also that those who are thus dead live in “the fear of death” all their lifetime. How can you see that this is true? Are those who are dead trying to avoid dying? What does this say about them? How should we be encouraged by this? 

Meditate.
“Insofar as he is the only begotten, he is without sibling, but insofar as he is the “firstborn” he has deigned to call all those his siblings who, subsequent to and in virtue of his being first, are born again unto God’s grace through filial adoption, in accordance with the teaching of the apostle.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5.10, 11

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for becoming a Man and for suffering according to the will of God, so that I…

Pray Psalm 8.
Praise God for the way His excellence is seen in the suffering of Jesus.

Psalm 8.1-9 (Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
O Savior, how majestic, Your Name in all the earth!
The heav’ns display Your glory, and tell Your wondrous worth! 
From babes and nursing infants, Lord, let Your strength increase, 
Till all Your foes surrender, and all their boasting cease. 

When I regard Your heavens, Your handiwork above, 
Ordained by Your good pleasure, according to Your love, 
Then what am I, O Savior, that You take thought of me? 
Or I should know Your favor and thus delivered be? 

Yet we in Your own image with glory have been crowned, 
To worship and to serve You throughout creation ‘round. 
These works that sing Your glory in our poor hands are placed, 
That we may rule before You to magnify Your grace. 

Let every beast and creature, in sky or sea or field, 
In our hands bring You glory as we Your favor wield. 
Let all things sing Your praises, let all declare Your worth! 
O Savior, how majestic, Your Name in all the earth!

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.