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Pastor's Blog December 24, 2020

"The Humanity of Jesus Christ"

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Hebrews 2 is one of the "golden chapters" of the Bible on the humanity of Jesus.  Adventists have long loved what Hebrews 2 says about the humanity of Jesus: that he became one of us (verses 9 and 14), that he has experienced temptation without giving into sin and is able to rescue us from temptation (verse 18), that Jesus uses his humanity to make us into God's children so we can share in his glory (verses 10 - 13), and that Jesus uses his humanity to be a faithful and merciful high priest to us right now (verse 17). 

Similarly, Hebrews 2 has many beautiful things to say about the salvation Jesus has provided for us by his death: Jesus has tasted death for everyone (verse 9), Jesus destroyed the power of death through his own death for us, and freed us from the fear of death and slavery to the devil (verses 14-15), and Jesus makes propitiation for us (which is a reference to his sacrificial death) as our high priest (verse 17).  Both emphases - Jesus' humanity for us and his saving death on our behalf - are amazing and moving! 

But have you ever noticed what Hebrews 2 has to say about Jesus' incarnation?  Hebrews 2 describes the process whereby the second Person of the Godhead became a human and died for us.  Jesus "was made [literally, "became"] a little lower than the angels" so that he could suffer and die for us (verse 9).  God saw that "it was fitting" for him "to perfect" Jesus, the author of our salvation, through what he suffered (verse 10).  Jesus, the Holy One of God, had to be "sanctified" by the Father so Jesus could sanctify us (verse 11).  In order to save people of "flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same" so he could destroy death, fear, and the power of the devil (verses 14-15).  And in order to be our faithful and merciful high priest, Jesus "had to be made like his brethren [i.e., human beings]" (verses 17-18).  References to "being made" or "becoming," "being perfected" and "suffering," "being sanctified," and "partaking in flesh and blood" is all incarnation language.  It indicates that God thought it was fitting to become a human, and shows how Jesus was able to save us by his sufferings and death as the God-man. 

Friends, may the gift of Jesus' incarnation encourage you as you continue to pursue a relationship with God.