One of the Family
Opening Prayer
Jesus, thank You that You entered into all that we suffer and You are never far off.
Read Hebrews 2:10-18
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[10] In 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. [11] Both 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. [12] He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” [13] And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” [14] Since 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- [15] and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. [16] For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. [17] For 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. [18] Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Why can Jesus understand all we pass through?In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal to Elizabeth Bennett famously misfires because he is so conscious of his family’s social superiority. He says to Elizabeth, “I have fought against judgement, my family’s expectation, inferiority of your birth, my rank. I will put them aside and ask you to end my agony.”God’s great purpose to “bring many sons and daughters to glory” (10) was not hampered by such disdain, but it did involve crossing barriers of rank. Although human beings are “lower than the angels” (2:7) God was determined to unite the human family with himself. This was achieved as God’s Son became human, sharing fully in our human suffering (10) and temptations (18), becoming our perfect high priest (17). In fact, he was made like us in every way (17). “For that which he [Christ] has not assumed he has not healed; but that which is united to his Godhead is also saved” (Irenaeus of Lyon).And so Jesus is able to make us holy (11), break the power of the fear of death (15) and help us when we are tempted (18), ultimately bringing us to glory (10).
Apply
Look to Jesus. Trust and obey him with confidence that he is able to do in You what he calls You to.
Closing prayer
Jesus, my Lord, my Savior, my Brother, as you are not ashamed of me, may I not be ashamed of you.
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