What a beautiful unpacking of why Jesus put on flesh and dwelt among us! Because we are human, He became human. God Himself distilled into a physical body. Only by a human dying and taking on the punishment we deserve, could we be freed. And the only human who could do this would be a perfect one. That would be Jesus. No one else. Hebrews 2:15 makes it clear: “Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”
Did you catch that last part? We are no longer slaves to fear! Death has lost its sting thanks to our Savior, Jesus! Death might be painful and hard, but it’s not the end. Instead, our earthly deaths are the entryway into our heavenly forever after. WOW. That changes the perspective on dying. We pass from this broken world into a perfect one, and exchange our worn out bodies for new ones. There is JOY and WOW in that thought. Yes? Oh, YES!
Last of all, I love that Hebrews mentions another reason the Son of God chose to take on the flesh of a human. He did it to understand and help us better. Hebrews 2:18 explains it this way: “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” Whatever we’re going through: betrayal, pain, torture, loneliness, grief … Jesus can whisper to us, “I know.” Because He really does. He chose to feel what we feel. The High King of Heaven who did not need to die … did not need to take on the weight of a cumbersome earthly body … did not ever need to experience pain and suffering … chose this for you and for me. All praise to Him!
My verse: Hebrews 2:15, “Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”
My response: OH, how I praise You, Lord Jesus, for removing that fear of death – for enabling me someday to step out of my dying old body and into a new and eternal one as well as life everlasting. Do I have any idea, really, just how grand and extraordinary a gift this is? Oh the riches and depths of Your love for me … beautiful. Thank You.
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18 “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Thank you, Jesus, for enduring temptation to save me from my sins. Thank you for your humanity so you understand what I go though, what I am tempted by, and my weaknesses. Help me to resist temptation and to rely on your strength, rather than mine.
It’s amazing to me that Jesus didn’t just get tempted and resist … He suffered! He truly does understand temptation and how hard it can be to say “no” to it. Oh, what an amazing God we serve, who would humble Himself as He did, feeling what we feel!
Hebrews 2:18 “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Lord may I lean on you when tempted. May I run to you when tempted. May I think of you when I am tempted. I long to keep my eyes on you. I long to mirror you, to walk closer to you. Satan has crafted temptation at every corner, may we all know the Truth, that walking with you Lord is the only way.