II. The Superiority of the Son in His Humanity (Hebrews 2:1-18)

II. The Superiority of the Son in His Humanity (2:1-18)

2:1-4 Here the author gives his first warning. He’s concerned that the readers not drift away. He wants them to pay attention, and he exhorts them not to neglect such a great salvation (2:1-3). If God was serious about his message that came through angels (the law), how much more serious is he about his message that came through his Son, the Lord (the gospel)? (2:2-3).

If you’re bobbing along on the ocean and do nothing, you’re going to drift. Similarly, if you’re neglecting your spiritual life, you’re going to drift from God and will inevitably find trouble. What do you do when times are hard and the waves are rough? Keep swimming. Don’t give up.

2:5-9 The author has more to say about angels, humanity, and Jesus Christ. After Satan rebelled and took a host of fallen angels with him, God created humans—constitutionally inferior beings—and subjected the world to them instead of angels (2:5). Why? To demonstrate what he can do with less when less is dependent on him than he can do with more when more is in rebellion against him. According to Psalm 8, God made Adam lower than the angels but crowned him with glory and honor and subjected everything under his feet (2:7-8).

The problem is this: the first Adam failed and handed over ruling authority to Satan. That’s why we do not yet see everything subjected to [man] (2:8). What did God do in response? He didn’t change his strategy. Rather, he committed himself to bring about his kingdom rule on earth through a man. He even accomplished it himself through the person of his Son, Jesus Christ. The Son temporarily became lower than the angels to realign heaven and earth. He came down to taste death for everyone and was crowned with glory and honor (2:9). The Son became man and won the victory over Satan and sin through his obedience, sacrificial death, and resurrection.

Even in Christ’s victory, though, we do not yet see the full results with our eyes (2:8). It’s like what a person who wins the presidential election but whose presidency has not yet been fully experienced. We still await Christ’s return to judge and rule on the earth. But make no mistake: Jesus is already in the victor’s chair (2:9).

2:10-13 In the meantime, he’s assembling his cabinet. You and I are his companions (1:9), so he has roles for us to play—in history and in eternity. You were saved to become Christ’s companion, his partner. But he needs people he can trust.

To bring many sons and daughters to glory, God made the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings (2:10). Jesus was perfect in his deity. But he had to learn obedience as a man (5:8-9) so that he might accomplish God’s kingdom purposes. To do that, he had to suffer. He received glory and honor on Sunday, in fact, because of his obedient suffering and death on Friday.

The author of Hebrews says we are to look to Jesus not only as our Savior but also as our example as we endure suffering (12:2-3). To assume the place of honor God has for you in his kingdom will always require enduring something. This is God’s process of helping Christ’s followers to become sanctified (2:11), that is, “conformed to the image of” Christ (Rom 8:29). When you became a Christian, you entered into the family of God. He adopted you, and you became a brother or sister to Jesus. Now, he’s working to sanctify you so that he’s not ashamed to call you his brother and proclaim your name to the rest of the family (2:11-12). Remember that while this process involves varying levels of suffering, it’s always for your good. Though both a criminal and a surgeon will seek to cut you, a surgeon will cut only to heal.

2:14-18 Since we’re made of flesh and blood, the Son of God shared in these. Why? First, to defeat the devil. The Son became man to put the devil in his place. Christ came to render the devil powerless and take away his authority in fulfillment of God’s dominion covenant for mankind to rule the earth on his behalf under his authority (see Gen 1:26-28; Ps 8:3-6). Through his death, Jesus conquered death to free people from the fear of death (2:14-15). If the Son has set you free, then, the only power the devil has over you is what you permit him.

Satan is “the father of lies” (John 8:44), so he’ll try to trick you into giving him permission to exercise authority over you. But the devil no longer has the power of death (2:14). The gun he’s been intimidating you with has no bullets. Jesus Christ emptied its chamber into himself. Thus, all Satan can do is deceive you into thinking the gun still has ammunition. But the fear of death should no longer make you a slave (see 1 Cor 15:51-57).

The second reason the Son took on flesh was so he could perfectly relate to us. God does not help angels but Abraham’s offspring (2:16). Consider this. The fallen angels that rebelled against God had no opportunity for redemption. Yet God offers help to us—the children of Abraham. In fact, he graciously became like us in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest. This enabled him to make atonement for our sins (2:17). But since he himself . . . suffered when he was tempted, it also enabled him to help those who are tempted (2:18). The Son of God experienced what you experience. In his earthly life, he faced the temptations and hardships that daily come your way. Being tempted isn’t sin. Jesus was tempted, and he didn’t sin (4:15). He understands what it’s like, so he can help you.

When a woman is delivering a baby, a male doctor can sympathize with her to a point. Academically speaking, he knows the pain she’s going through. But a female doctor who has actually experienced childbirth herself can truly empathize. As a mother, she’s felt that pain. As a doctor, she can help others through it. Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest. He has truly felt your pain, and he can empathize with you. Moreover, he can deliver you from sin and enable you to overcome your circumstances (see John 16:33).