VICTORIOUS PIONEER
Opening Prayer
As I read your Word, Lord God, help me to understand and apply to my life today what you teach me.
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.[a] 12 He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[b]
13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”[c]
And again he says,
“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[d]
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,[e] 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.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.
- Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
- Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
- Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
- Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you think of Jesus as your Lord, Master, friend, Savior, brother, role model or…?As I write, it is the season for final soccer league and cup matches in the UK. These culminate in the victorious captain (not the manager) receiving the trophy and leading the team in their celebratory triumph. The captain has been through it all with the players.
Jesus suffered for the sake of all those whom he came to call his brothers and sisters (v. 12). His suffering enables them to be made holy as he is holy (vv. 10, 11). By virtue of being a sibling of Christ they become a child of God. (This is different language from Paul’s use of the concept of adoption: see, for example, Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15.)
Jesus’ ultimate goal as the ascended and exalted Christ was to be the pioneer of salvation, leading his brothers and sisters into God’s eternal presence (v. 10). He played and won the match singlehandedly. He has earned the right to lead his ‘team’ in their victory march. The writer expanded on the consequences of Jesus’ human suffering. The one who held the power of death was utterly crushed. Death’s terrifying stranglehold was destroyed (vv. 14, 15). Jesus had been through it all. Remember his terror in Gethsemane and on the cross (Luke 22:42, 44; Mark 15:34)!
Apply
If you (or someone you know) are going through a tough time, remember that Jesus has been there before us. Pray in the light of that.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your love that surrounds me and that you sympathize with my suffering. Keep me ever mindful of the fact that your compassion and care will never fail me.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.