For 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.11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
14 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, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 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.18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Verse 11 of this text pushes us into deeper wonders of the glorious mystery of our Lord. We read there that the one who makes others holy, and the ones who are made holy are all of the same family. Jesus suffered as a man…enduring it perfectly, being made perfect, that is full and complete, as a man, so that He can now be all the help that men and women need to be holy…to belong to the family of holiness.
And then, what I think is the most breathtaking aspect of all of this, the end of verse 11 and 12. For this reason…the perfect man of God’s choosing, is making you perfect and so He is not ashamed of you…He is not ashamed to own you as His brother or sister…He stands with you, for you…no matter what.
This might be hard for some, because if truth be told, we are ashamed…ashamed of ourselves. Shame is due to being uncovered, seen for who or what we really are; it is a nakedness that goes right to our very souls. And typically, we work really hard at covering that up so that no human being ever sees it. And Jesus sees it, all of it, and here he is saying, I am not ashamed of you…not even in the least.
I am not sure how many Christians can relate to being in that place in life where you feel so alone…so empty, and even as a person fully aware of the Christian message, but I would guess it is most of us. And you are not angry, but you are quite embarrassed…of yourself…of your actions…of your failures. And then someone comes along, or someone who was there the whole time says, I love you…and nothing changes that. I am going nowhere, no matter what.
That is powerful…it changes a person. Now, what you must realize is that, that is exactly what your elder brother is saying to you. I don’t care about all the mess, I am with you, for you.
Look at verse 14 and hear what Jesus is saying: Because you are a man, a woman, flesh and blood…I became like you…a man…flesh and blood…I took on everything that you must take on…and I did it to prove to you just how “for you” I am, for I did this so that I would destroy death and the one who thinks to control death, even the devil.
I did not come to help the angels, verse 16, but men and women…You see, my brother, my sister, I had to be made just like you, in every aspect of what it means to be human, so that I might, as a man, just like you, become the source for life eternal. And because of that, verse 18, I am here to help you…when you are tempted, I understand, I know what it is to be tempted…I suffered through it all, and I am here to help you through everything you suffer as well.
Why? Because we are family. And that is what families do.
A book I read some time ago recounts a story that many of you probably know, it is from the movie A River Runs Through It. The story is of two brothers growing up in the beautiful Montana countryside.
The older brother was studious, hard-working…he got a good job and became a respected man. The younger, well, he was fun but always pushing the limits and he ended up getting in with the wrong people and his life became colored by all kinds of trouble. The older brother wanted to help, tried to help, but couldn’t. There was nothing he could do.
The point of this part of the sermon called the book of Hebrews, is that Jesus, the older brother of a much bigger family, could and did come to where his siblings were, wallowing in the land of sin and death. He identified with them, shared their fate and rescued them from it. He did this without looking down his nose at us or as if he is patronizing us…it is utter goodness, love and mercy that He has come to help us out of this mess. (NT Wright)
And so that we do not forget and so that we might know His continued presence, his continued love, His continued help…he gives us Himself. Rejoice my friends, Jesus the Christ is with us always, and because He was tempted in every way as a man, yet without sin, He is able…He is able to help you in your time of trouble.
Prayer: Father, I do not entertain thoughts too large for me, but rather as the Psalmist I quiet my heart and give myself to You…fully. Be my thoughts, my wants, my motives, my words and all my actions. I want to be still…to know You are God and I want more than anything to hear the echoes of Your voice saying to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Father, I live for and unto that day, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Hymn: And Can it Be?