Hebrews 2.14–17
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.
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Think about this: it is easy for those who are powerful to condemn those that wronged them, but it takes much greater true power and strength to forgive the people that have wronged you. This is what God does to reveal how strong and good He is.
But there is also a problem. God is holy and just, and He can’t just look the other way when it comes to sin and injustice. Sin – and the sinners who have committed sin – must be rightly and justly dealt with. A good earthly judge can’t just look the other way from a murderer and say, “well, I just want to let you go because I forgive you.” No, a good and righteous human judge will give a proper sentence because he is a good and righteous judge.
The “problem” God has is that though He desires to exonerate me, I must pay my due penalty. Sadly, I could never bear the sentence that must be handed down to me. That punishment would destroy me! In Old Testament times, He graciously but temporarily allowed His wrath toward human sin to be put upon the sacrifice of animals (sort of like a bank carrying a loan for us), but that can’t be permanent because it was not the animals that sinned against God (eventually, we are the ones that have to pay off the loan!). Therefore, it must be a human who fulfills the demands of God’s Law and takes on the punishment of those humans who have broken it. Unfortunately, only God Himself is good enough to fulfill His own Law and then survive His own wrath, and we have the same problem as with the animal sacrifices; they are just an I.O.U., because it is man who must pay, and God is not a man.
Until He was.
Only God could be our redeemer,
but God should not be our redeemer.
Only man should be our redeemer,
but man could not be our redeemer.
Yes, to work this incredible plan and put His glory on ultimate display, God did the unthinkable: He became a Man and took the punishment that only sinners deserved. On the cross, Jesus was treated the way that I should’ve been treated, so that I could be treated the way Jesus should be treated: with the love of a Father.
Read Again Out Loud and Make it into a Prayer:
Hebrews 2.14–17
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Hallelujah! What a Savior
Philip Bliss, 1875
Personalize and Read or Pray Aloud:
Man of Sorrows! What a Name,
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! Can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
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Pray Aloud:
Father, I want to see Your Name
lifted above all other names
in ________ life.
I am asking that Your Spirit
would be at work,
that Your Kingdom would come
and will be done in ________ heart
and life as it is in heaven.
Would You please give __________
truth that grabs them, encourages them,
and guides them to trusting in You.
Help me to forgive those
that have sinned against me,
and remind me that You have forgiven me
for all of my own sin against others.
Lead ___________ out of temptation
and towards truth.
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