Hebrews 2:11-15 Jesus, Our Perfect Brother

Hebrews 2:11-15

For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,

I will proclaim Your name to My brethren. 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 whom God has given Me.”

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Background

Jesus, being fully human gave Him intimate insights into the human struggle against sin. Jesus’ humanness also gave Him the right to represent humanity in facing the punishment of death, which effectively broke its lethal sting over the human race. Jesus’ death led humanity towards the path of freedom from the fear of death and slavery. Today’s passage teaches us that our own struggles against sin can be a source of humility and empathy towards the struggles of others. Christianity is not about being perfect; it is the process of appreciating our daily struggles against sin as part of the journey of humility and grace.

Observation

I will proclaim Your name to My brethren.

The text explicitly states that Jesus (He who sanctifies) and humanity (those who are sanctified) come into being from one common parent: the Father. Hence, Jesus is not ashamed to call men his brothers (brethren), which means that He does not feel incongruity associating with the human race or a sense of irreconcilability with sinful men. In a quote lifted from Psalm 22:22, Jesus addressed men as His brothers as He declares the goodness of God. The Greek term for brothers (adelphos) refers to one who has the same parent, same nationality, same psyche, and one of equal rank and dignity. Hence, Jesus in calling all men brothers:

–           He emptied Himself of His divine privileges by forsaking His divine power, divine wisdom and the ability to travel seamlessly through time and space. And He became an ordinary man with ordinary intellect, possessing all mortal human weaknesses as well as the propensity for sin.

–           He was exposed to the harshness of the physical environment, the trials of men as well as temptations of the devil.

–           He was demoted to the status of fallen men (made lower than the angels) having no authority over things on earth or in heaven.

–           He was numbered with the scums of humanity and died as a common criminal.

Through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death.

While Jesus possesses the same spirit, mind and body of His fellow human beings (the children share in flesh and blood); He also possesses the right to represent them in facing the judgment of God. Jesus suffered vicariously for every men and women when God directed the punishment of the entire human race at Him. Jesus’ death completely satisfied the requirement of divine justice. Hence, the power of death (or punishment of death) that the devil had over humanity is fully quenched and made redundant (rendered powerless).

The fear of death is due to unfinished business (judgment for sins committed) with God which gives an anticipation of imminent punishment. Jesus’ death has forever satisfied the punishment that is required of every sinner; thus, reinstating humanity in glory and sonship. Slavery is a condition where one’s heart and desires is under bondage to the pleasures of darkness. It is the curse of sin and men’s sinful nature that gives the devil the power to enslave him.

Therefore, the punishment placed upon Jesus on behalf of humanity has completely satisfied the divine requirement for justice thus freeing humanity from fear of death and slavery forever.

Truth

The more holy we are, the more gracious we become towards people who have differing moral standards. The more holy we become, the more effective we are in reaching out to the fallen world. Holiness is not perfection – it is Christ-likeness. Jesus is perceived as a friend of sinners and tax collectors (Luke 7:34). Referring to the fallen human race, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He does not condone their sin, but in the same vein urges them to repent and walk in the truth. Jesus acknowledges the glory hidden in the sinner that must find reinstatement through grace and truth. Grace is the undercurrent of love and power that liberates every sinner who is powerless against the bondage of the devil. Truth stands for the righteous standards of God that calls out for repentance and regeneration. Jesus is holy, but He is also familiar with the struggles of sin and poverty, of which men has no control over. Therefore, believers must never condemn another for their sinful behavior because they have no control over it. But with grace and truth, we will bring salvation to them and reinstate them in their glory as sons.

Our fallenness and susceptibility to temptations makes us more humble and better able to understand the struggles of others. We in our struggles against sin must not condemn ourselves in our failures to resist sin. But we must learn and understand why we fail at times and succeed at other times. As we learn to accept our weaknesses as part of the journey of sanctification, we will also learn to accept others in their struggles. Jesus, possessing the fallen human psyche (flesh and blood), struggled with temptations and lusts of the flesh just like any human being would: Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same. The fact that He also partook of the same struggles gave Him insights into the human condition and causes Him to accept sinful men as His brothers.

Slavery and the fear of death is one spiritual condition that requires repentance and faith. The decision to turn from sin in repentance and turn to Christ in faith sets men free from slavery and fear of death. Slavery and fear of death comes from one single spiritual condition: the unwillingness to submit oneself to the Lordship of Christ to walk in the truth. Popular Christianity seeks to deal with the fear of death or condemnation by emphasizing the finished work of the cross but does not deal with slavery to sin. Hence, many could not truly experience freedom from self-condemnation and needed repeated reminders and emotional uplifting concerning God’s love and mercies. They go to church on Sunday but as soon as they step out of the church, they return to the life of fleshly pleasures and self-centeredness. When a person is set free from slavery, he lives life abundantly; he begins to think creatively; he approaches work with confidence and courage and his heart is filled with hope and peace. A person enslaved to the things of darkness is imprisoned by the bondage of envy, strife, anger, jealousy and drunkenness. Although he understands the grace of God and the work of the cross, he experiences no true freedom and salvation. Only repentance and faith can bring true freedom and abundant living to the believer.

Application

  1. Are you struggling with a certain sin? Are you accustomed to condemning yourself because of that? Perhaps, you should accept your weaknesses and struggles as part of the journey towards holiness. Through your own struggles, you could better understand the human condition and how to overcome our sinful nature. Overcoming the sinful nature begins with reading the word every morning and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
  2. Do you tend to look down on those who seem to have lower moral standards? Christ came not to judge but to save the world and reinstate humanity in glory and sonship. Perhaps, you should stand on the side of Christ by accepting and loving them for who they are.

Dear Lord, I accept my current weaknesses and struggles as part of my journey of growth. I thank you for accepting me as I am. Strengthen me with your Spirit as I fight against the urges of my flesh. Through my own struggles, help me to empathize with the struggles of others and to bring out the best in them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.


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