8-28-12. Hebrews 2:1-18. JESUS’ SUFFERED TO BRING US TO GLORY-devotional

Key Verse: 2:9                                                                                          Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

“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.”

      Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing us back from Montreal safely. Thank you for providing all things so that Jenn could get situated at McGill University. You have paved the way. Please strengthen her to overcome academics and temptations, the rigors of life and also to grow spiritually. May she find her path and her calling in life. I also thank you for the love of many Christians who served out family with their whole hearts. May a community of God’s love continue to grow among them and to other regions. Thank you for helping me to return to a normal life. Help me to find rest in you. Please help me to accept your word in my heart today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Part 1: Do Not Ignore So Great A Salvation (1-4).

Verses 1-4, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, ³ 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. ⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

We are warned to pay attention to the gospel message n verse 1, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” If we don’t then we will drift away from Jesus and the gospel way of life. The hope of theKingdom ofGod and the longing to be with Jesus forever in thekingdom ofGod will fade. That is why a personal discipline to meditate in the word of God and on Jesus is so important. If we don’t, there will be consequences. I used to try to help others to meditate on God’s word daily with me, but I realize the “forcing” others to not ignore such a great salvation does not work. Each person must make a personal decision. The best thing I could do is to actually set the example and show others what it means to build up their personal relationship with Jesus and not to ignore Jesus. There are times when I ignore the precious salvation that Jesus has given to me. I ignore it because I get caught up in my own issues, my sorrows, my complaining, etc and I take my eyes of off Jesus. But I pray that I may stay focused and remain in the word of God.

In this passage we learn that punishment came to those who ignored the Mosaic Law testified to by angels. How much more will we not escape if we ignore the salvation testified to by the Lord Jesus, gospel messengers, and even God himself in signs and wonders! If we continually ignore the gospel that saves us and Jesus the Savior of our souls, what is left? How else can we ever hope to be saved? How else can we draw near to God? All there is is a fearful expectation of judgment. That judgment in not God’s doing it is ours, for ignoring the Savior and drifting off into fatal unbelief.

There is grace too. We all drift away because of the hardships of life. But we need to at least hold onto faith and God will help us to remain in Christ. There may be many difficult and trying times, but God will help us indeed.

Part 2: Why Jesus Became Human to Bring Many People to Glory (5-18).

Verses 5-18, “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ 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? ⁷ You made them a littlelower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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.¹² He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” ¹³ And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”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 — ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Jesus is Lord, crowned with glory and honor. But he first had to become a human being. Why? In order that many sons and daughters may be brought to glory. Through his suffering and death on the cross, Jesus made us holy as he is, and so we are of the same family. He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. Jesus’ suffering blesses us in many ways: he breaks the power of sin and the devil, sets us free from fear of death, makes atonement for our sins, and is able to help us when tempted. By sharing in our humanity, he understands us in every way as a merciful and faithful high priest.

I thank God that I have been brought to glory through Jesus. It was only through his suffering and death on the cross and only by his sacrificial love that I could ever be set free from my slavery to sin and my fear of death. I could become a man of God, a child of God, a servant of God because of Jesus, who took it upon himself to be a faithful high priest.  Where would I be if Jesus had not saved me from my sins of hedonism and selfishness and egotism? Where would I be and who would I be. I know for certain that I would not be child of God with a hope in theKingdomofGod. I would be petty and lost with no real hope in this world. But Lord you saved me…thank you. Thank you my savior Jesus.

What does it mean that he is my faithful high priest? It means that he offered up the sacrifice of his sinless body once and for all. I can now be forgiven and have confidence in that forgiveness. It means that Jesus ministers to my soul and mind and heart day and night through the word. It means that he is praying for me that I may overcome this world and my sinful nature and walk along the narrow path that leads to eternal life. It means that Jesus is always there for me, standing in the gap, so that I my continually stand as a child of God. All of this is possible only in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, help me pay close attention to the gospel message. Thank you Jesus of making me in into you son and helping me to live by faith. .

One Word: Many sons and daughters to glory through Jesus Christ our Lord.