14 day plan

Hebrews: Better, Best

Day 3 of 14

NIV

Hebrews 2:9-10

9But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

Reflection

One of my guilty pleasures is people-watching. Airports are great, since everyone’s high (or low) on emotion. But being in someone’s home is even more revealing. And more so, being at their table. Family mealtime is like a microcosm of how a family operates. How they relate, who’s in charge, how healthy the food is, if eating is more about food or the company…

Say we could glimpse the dynamic of God’s world, sitting, as it were, at the table of the King. Who’s in charge here? Well, it’s not the angels. They’re just the waiters. And though we/mankind were given a mandate to manage, we’re doing an unholy job of it. But see Jesus? He’s the one at the head of the table. The preacher reminds us that he’s earned this honour: Having taken a position inferior to the angels by sharing in our humanity, he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he might taste the bitterness of death on our behalf. And that, brothers and sisters, is how we find ourselves at this table. Sons and daughters of the King under the leadership of Jesus Christ!

Prayer

Here we are, feasting in each other’s company, Father God, Son and Spirit. Eating and remembering. Chewing and remembering your humanity–your 30-some years of kicking up the same dust that covers our shoes. Drinking and remembering your self-sacrifice–a world of shame. We’ve been cleansed and you’ve been crowned. What a glorious salvation!

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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14

Hebrews 2:1-18

Warning to Pay Attention

1We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Jesus Made Fully Human

5It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,

a son of man that you care for him?

7You made them a little lower than the angels;

you crowned them with glory and honor

8and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;

in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

13And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.