In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a scenic little village. They walked by an old man sitting beside a fence and asked him, “Were any great men born in this village?”
“Nope,” said the old man, “only babies.” (Leonard Ravenhill, The Last Days Newsletter; www.PreachingToday.com)
I guess that’s the way all of us start, so How do people become truly great? How does anyone find any real significance in life? How can you make your life actually count for something? Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Hebrews 2, Hebrews 2, where we discover the source of significance.
Hebrews 2:5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. (ESV)
If the angels are not in charge of the world, then who is?
Hebrews 2:6-8a It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. (ESV)
In other words, man was in charge of the world. The human race was in control.
When God created man, He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26).
When God made man, God put him and his wife in charge of His creation. God gave him control of the world and everything it. But that’s not what we see, is it? Look at it in verse 8.
Hebrews 2:8b At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. (ESV)
Man is not in control today. Most people cannot control even themselves, much less their environment and the world around them.
What happened? I’ll tell you what happened: Sin happened. God put man in charge of His creation, but man abdicated that role. Man gave that role to Satan when he submitted to that Serpent in the Garden.
Now, let me make it clear: In all of this, God NEVER lost control of the earth. There are some false teachers out there who teach that God gave control of the earth to man; and when man gave control of the earth to Satan, God lost His control. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible makes it very clear: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1); and the Lord “works ALL things after the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11).
God NEVER lost control of the earth, but WE did. When we sinned, we went out of control; we lost our status, our significance as rulers of this world, having become slaves of Satan.
“But,” verse 9. Oh, I love the “buts” in the Bible. Man is out of control, BUT…
Hebrews 2:9 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. (ESV)
Man is out of control, but we see Jesus. We see Him, who became a little lower than the angels, just like us! We see that Man crowned with glory and honor. So if you want to find any real significance in life, then don’t look to yourself…
LOOK TO JESUS WHO BECAME A MAN.
Pay attention to Christ, who became fully human. Focus on the Lord, who became lower than the angels for a little while, so He could be our Sovereign Savior.
In Hebrews chapter 1, we are urged to pay attention to Christ, because He is fully God in a position higher than the angels. Now, here in chapter 2, we are urged to pay attention to Christ, because He is fully human, who for a little while took a position a little lower than the angels.
Jesus became one of us, so He could become the Crowned Sovereign of the world. He became one of us, so He could regain control where we lost control.
You see, as a man, Jesus never submitted to Satan like we did; He never lost control. So as a man, Jesus elevates all men (and women) who align themselves with Him. You see, when you submit to Christ, you regain your position, because you are no longer slaves to Satan. Instead, you are under Christ’s rule, who conquered Satan on the cross.
Christ’s cross led to a crown. His suffering was the key to His sovereignty.
Joni Eareckson Tada, a paraplegic, talks about visiting Corrie ten Boom in her later years, after she too had been paralyzed by a stroke. She says, “I recall how our eyes met as we were fed our cucumber sandwiches. Helpless and for the most part dependent, I felt our mutual weakness. Yet I am certain neither of us had ever felt stronger. It makes me think of the Cross of Christ – a symbol of weakness and humiliation, yet at the same time, a symbol of victory and strength.”
Joni continues, “A wheelchair may confine a body that is wasting away. But no wheelchair can confine the soul – the soul that is inwardly renewed day by day. For paralyzed people can walk with the Lord. Speechless people can talk with the Almighty. Sightless people can see Jesus. Deaf people can hear the Word of God. And those like Tante Corrie, their minds shadowy and obscure, can have the very mind of Christ. (Joni Eareckson Tada, quoted in My Heart Sings. Christianity Today, Vol. 33, no. 1; www.PreachingToday.com)
That’s what it means to be a Christian no matter how small and insignificant and weak and frail you are. So look to Jesus, who became one of us, if you want to find any real significance in life. Pay attention to the God-Man, Jesus Christ, and trust Him with your life. Jesus became one of us so He could become the Crowned Sovereign of the world.
More than that, Jesus became one of us, so He could become our Complete Savior. He became one of us, so He could become our Perfect Liberator.
Hebrews 2:10 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. (ESV)
Jesus was made perfect through suffering. That is not to say that Jesus was in any way imperfect. It’s just that He could not be our Savior unless He was also one of us. You see, since it was human beings who sinned, only a human being could pay the price for their sin. Jesus had to become one of us, so He could represent us on the cross and die in our place for our sin.
Actor Kevin Bacon remembers the time when his 6-year-old son saw Footloose for the first time:
He said, “Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you swing from the rafters of that building? That's really cool, how did you do that?”
Kevin said, “Well, I didn't do that part – it was a stunt man.”
“What's a stunt man?” his son asked.
“That's someone who dresses like me and does things I can't do.”
“Oh,” the boy replied and walked out of the room looking a little confused.
A little later he said, “Hey, Dad, you know that thing in the movie where you spin around on that gym bar and land on your feet? How did you do that?”
Kevin said, “Well, I didn't do that. It was a gymnastics double.”
“What's a gymnastics double?” he asked.
“That's a guy who dresses in my clothes and does things I can't do.”
There was silence from Kevin’s son, then he asked in a concerned voice, “Dad, what did you do?”
Keven sheepishly replied, “I got all the glory.” (Joel Sarrault in Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching, Baker; www. PreachingToday.com)
That’s what Christ did for us. He dressed in our clothes. He took on human flesh and did what we couldn’t do. He paid the price for our sins on the cross. And now, those who look to Him stand forgiven and bask sheepishly in His glory! So if you want to find any significance in life, look to Jesus who became a man. Then…
TRUST CHRIST WITH YOUR LIFE, WHO BECAME LOWER TO LIFT YOU UP.
Rely on the Lord, who humbled Himself to exalt you. Depend on Jesus, who became your Brother to set you free and serve as your High Priest.
Hebrews 2:11a For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. (ESV)
Christ who sanctifies the sanctified literally “are all one”! The word “source” is not in the original Greek. That is to say, Christ puts believers in the same class as He is! He elevates you and me who have trusted Him as equals with Him.
Hebrews 2:11b-12 That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” (ESV)
This is a quote from Psalm 22, which describes the suffering of Messiah in graphic detail 1,000 years before it ever happened (Psalm 22:22).
Hebrews 2:13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” (ESV)
These are two quotes from Isaiah 8 (verses 17 & 18), which talk about the coming of “Immanuel.” That’s one of the names given to Jesus (Matthew 1:23), which means “God with us! You see, when God became a man, He was not ashamed to call us “brothers.”
When Jesus became one of us, He set us apart as His siblings. He sanctified us as His brothers and sisters, giving us equal status with Him! Hallelujah! That’s hard to believe, because we know that we do NOT deserve it!
Years ago, the Chicago Bulls had a reserve player named Stacey King, who during the 1990 season started in just six games and averaged 15 minutes per game. Then one night, during an overtime game against Cleveland, he contributed to an important victory. He said it would always be the greatest memory of his life. It was the night he and Michael Jordan scored a combined total of 70 points in a NBA playoff game. It didn’t matter that Michael Jordan scored 69 of those points (his career high). King shared in the glory as Jordan’s teammate. (John Ortberg, "For the Glory of God Alone", www.PreachingToday.com)
In the same way, those of us who have trusted Christ share in His glory. It’s not because of what we have done; we don’t even contribute one point to our salvation. It’s because of what HE has done.
So if you want to find any significance in life, trust Christ with your life who became lower to lift you up. For when Jesus became one of us, He made us teammates. Better than that, He set us apart as His siblings.
More than that, when Jesus became one of us, He set us free from Satan and fear. He released us from the Devil’s power, who used the fear of death to enslave us.
Hebrews 2:14-15 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (ESV)
Through His own death, Jesus destroyed the one who had the power of death, i.e., the devil. Or better, Jesus rendered the devil powerless, who used the fear of death to enslave people. Now, because of Christ’s death on the cross, those who put their faith Him no longer need to fear death. That’s because His death opened the way to heaven, and death for the believer is but an entrance into glory!
So stand boldly against evil. Stand boldly against Satan, because the worse He can do is kill you, but that only leads to eternal life.
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
A boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon, when a bumblebee flew in the car window. The little boy, who was allergic to bee stings, was petrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it. The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him. Once again, the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee. “Do you see this?” he asked. “You don't need to be afraid anymore. I've taken the sting for you.” (Adrian Dieleman, Waupun, Wisconsin. Leadership, Vol.15, no.1; www. PreachingToday.com)
In the same way, Jesus took the sting for us on the cross. He died in our place for our sins. Then He rose again. He is alive forevermore, and now He holds His hand out to you, offering you eternal life if you will just trust Him with your life. Look and see the nail print in His hand, the sting of death, and don’t be afraid anymore. Just trust Christ with your life and live forever!
If you want to find any real significance in life, depend on Jesus, who became lower to lift you up. For when He became one of us, He set us apart as apart as His siblings; He set us free from Satan and the fear of death.
And finally, when Jesus became one of us, He began to serve as our High Priest. He offered the sacrifice of Himself for our sins and continues to help us when we’re tested.
Hebrews 2:16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham (ESV) – I.e., those who like Abraham believe God.
Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (ESV)
In the Old Testament, the High Priest had two duties: 1) To offer sacrifices for the sins of the people; and 2) to help people in times of suffering. Well, that’s exactly what we see Jesus doing here.
1st, He makes propitiation for the sins of the people. That is to say, He offers a sacrifice that satisfies God’s holy anger against our sin.
Now, in Old Testament days, the High Priest sacrificed an animal to pay for the people’s sins. However, those animal sacrifices were not sufficient to cover their sins. That’s why they had to be offered year after year.
On the other hand, when Christ came, He sacrificed Himself to pay for our sins. It was a once for all sacrifice that was sufficient to cleanse us from all sin forever and ever! Christ’s sacrifice satisfied the righteous requirements of God’s Law, which kept us from ever having to pay for our own sins.
Years ago, a duck hunter was hunting with his friend in a wide-open desolate piece of land in southeastern Georgia. Far away on the horizon he noticed a cloud of smoke. Soon, he could hear the sound of crackling. A wind came up and he realized the terrible truth: a brush-fire was advancing his way. It was moving so fast that he and his friend could not outrun it.
The hunter began to rifle through his pockets. Then he emptied all the contents of his knapsack. He soon found what he was looking for – a book of matches. To his friend's amazement, he pulled out a match and struck it. He lit a small fire around the two of them. Soon they were standing in a circle of blackened earth, waiting for the brush fire to come.
They did not have to wait long. They covered their mouths with their handkerchiefs and braced themselves. The fire came near and swept over them, but they were completely unhurt. They were not even touched. Fire would not burn the place where fire had already burned. (Paul Zahl, Who Will Deliver Us? Wipf & Stock, 2008, pp. 42-43; www.PreachingToday.com)
In the same way, Christ allowed Himself to be burned by the fire of God’s wrath against our sins! He sacrificed Himself to provide that burned-over place; so that when we stand in Him, that fire can no longer touch us. The Bible says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Oh dear friends, please put yourself in Christ’s hands. Trust Him with your life and escape God’s judgment against your sin. For that’s why Christ came. He came to serve as our High Priest. 1st, He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
And 2nd, He helps those who suffer. He comes to the aid of those who are being tested.
Hebrews 2:18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (ESV) – or better, tested.
Christ is no “ivory tower” priest. He is a priest who knows what it’s like to suffer. He knows what it’s like to be tested, so He can offer real help to anyone when they’re tested.
In his book Unspeakable, Os Guinness tells the story about a well-known Christian leader whose son had been killed in a cycling accident. Although the leader was devastated, somehow he managed to suppress his grief, even preaching eloquently at his son's funeral. His display of hope in the midst of tragedy earned him the admiration of many.
But a few weeks after the funeral, the man invited Guinness and a few friends to his home. According to Guinness, this man spoke and even screamed “not with the hope of a preacher but with the hurt of the father – pained and furious at God, dark and bilious in his blasphemy.” In his agony, he blamed God for his son's death.
Rather than rebuke him, one of Guinness's friends gently reminded the enraged father of the story of Jesus at Lazarus' tomb. On three occasions in that story, Jesus expressed anger, and even furious indignation, in the presence of death.
Guinness says, “When Jesus came to earth, he became a human being just like us, feeling the abnormality of our suffering. In Jesus' humanity we see God's perspective of our pain: the beautiful world God created is now broken and in ruins. Jesus will heal this broken world and our broken lives, but first, he came to earth in order to identify with our anguish.” (Os Guinness, Unspeakable, HarperSanFrancisco, 2005, pp. 144-145; www.PreachingToday.com)
Jesus knows exactly what you’re going through, so depend on Him in your anguish.
For that’s why He came! When He became one of us, He set us apart as apart as His siblings; He set us free from Satan and the fear of death; and He began to serve as our High Priest, sacrificing Himself for our sins and suffering so He could help those who suffer.
If you want to find any real significance in life, look to Jesus, not yourself, and trust Him who lowered Himself to lift you up.
He became what we are that He might make us what He is. That’s the way Athanasius (295-373), one of the early Church Fathers put it years ago. Let me say it again. He became what we are that He might make us what He is.
Please, let Christ do it for you. Trust Him with your life and find your significance in Him.
