A Perfect Priest (Jesus Understands Us) Part 4

 

Lesson Three

Jesus Understands Us

Hebrews 2:17-18

 

Theme: Jesus Christ is not inferior to angels because of his humanity.  Christ, through His humanity, secured our great salvation which involves the exaltation of believers, freed us from the fear of death, and affords us the help of a compassionate High Priest in Heaven during temptations.  Christ’s humanity enables Him to understand our needs and challenges fully. 

Introduction:

Jesus was “made like unto His brethren” (vs. 2:17) in that He experienced the sinless infirmities of human nature. But, why?

Lesson: 

Why is Jesus the perfect high priest for us? (Heb. 2:17-18)

A.    His Experience for the Office. Jesus’ humanity enables Him to be a perfect and sympathetic High Priest to His people (2: 17–18).

a.      Being pure spirits who have never suffered, the angels cannot identify with us in our weaknesses and needs.

b.      But Jesus can! While He was here on earth, Jesus was “made like unto His brethren” (vs. 2:17) in that He experienced the sinless infirmities of human nature. He knew what it was to be a helpless baby, a growing child, a maturing adolescent. He knew the experiences of weariness, hunger, and thirst (John 4:6–8). He knew what it was to be despised and rejected, to be lied about and falsely accused. He experienced physical suffering and death. All of this was a part of His “training” for His heavenly ministry as High Priest.

B.     His Execution of the Office. Jesus Christ is both merciful and faithful: He is merciful toward people and faithful toward God. He can never fail in His priestly ministries. He made the necessary sacrifice for our sins so that we might be reconciled to God. He did not need to make a sacrifice for Himself, because He is sinless.

 

Question 7. It might also help the discussion if you ask how Jesus' pain and temptation are different from our own.

8.  In what ways is Jesus able to help us?

A.    Christ Can Run To Our Aid. But what happens when we who have been saved are tempted to sin?

a.      There will still be temptations to fall back into the way of death. But now Christ lives as our faithful High Priest to help us when we are tempted.  We who have been dead are now alive—and now we can hear and respond to the voice of God calling us back to a life of righteousness.

b.      Christ stands ready to help us!

                                                    i.     He was tempted when He was on earth, but no temptation ever conquered Him. Because He has defeated every enemy, He is able to give us the grace that we need to overcome temptation.

                                                  ii.     The word “succour” (Heb. 2:18) literally means “to run to the cry of a child.” It means “to bring help when it is needed.” The Lord promises to help us (Isa. 41:10; Ps. 37:40)!

                                                 iii.     Angels are able to serve us (Heb. 1:14), but they are not able to succour us in our times of temptation. Only Jesus Christ can do that, and He can do it because He became a man and suffered and died.

B.     Christ Can Intercede For Us. It might be good at this point to explain the difference between our Lord’s ministry as High Priest and His ministry as Advocate (1 John 2:1).

a.      As our High Priest, our Lord is able to give us grace to keep us from sinning when we are tempted.

b.      If we do sin, then He as our Advocate represents us before the throne of God and forgives us when we sincerely confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:5–2:2).

c.      Both of these ministries are involved in His present work of intercession; and it is this intercessory ministry that is the guarantee of our eternal salvation (note that in Heb. 7:25 it is “to the uttermost”—i.e., eternally—and not “from the uttermost”).

C.     Christ Can Understand Us. Because he was fully human, Jesus himself was tested by what he suffered (Heb 2:18).

a.      “Tempted” refers to Jesus’ exposure to conflicts, tensions, and suffering. The testing was not to show that he might fail, but to show his real power and strength under fire.

b.      This suffering refers not only to the Cross, but also to the testing Jesus experienced throughout his life—from Satan’s temptations in the wilderness to the drops of blood he shed in prayer before his crucifixion. Having undergone all the tests and temptations of human life, Jesus is able to help us when we are being tested.

c.      Knowing that Christ suffered pain and faced temptation helps us face our trials. Jesus understands our struggles because he faced them as a human being. We can trust Christ to help us survive suffering and overcome temptation.

d.      What are you facing that you need Christ to face with you? When you face trials, go to the Lord for strength and patience. Jesus understands your needs and is able to help (see 4:14-16). –The Life Application Commentary Series

D.    Christ Has Exalted Us. As you review this section, you cannot help but be amazed at the grace and wisdom of God. From a human point of view, it would seem foolish for God to become Man; yet it was this very act of grace that made possible our salvation and all that goes with it. When Jesus Christ became Man, He did not become inferior to the angels, for in His human body He accomplished something that angels could never accomplish. At the same time, He made it possible for us to share in His glory!

He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. Are we ashamed to call Him “Lord”?

 

Inspiration

 

Here is an uplifting thought.

It is an undeniable fact that usually it is those who have suffered most who are best able to comfort others who are passing through suffering. I know of pastors whose ministries have been enriched by suffering. Through their trials they have learned to “live through” the difficulties of the people in their parish. They are able to empathize as well as sympathize with the afflictions of others because of what they have experienced in their own lives.

Our sufferings may be rough and hard to bear, but they teach us lessons which in turn equip and enable us to help others. Our attitude toward suffering should not be, “Grit your teeth and bear it,” hoping it will pass as quickly as possible. Rather, our goal should be to learn all we can from what we are called upon to endure, so that we can fulfill a ministry of comfort—as Jesus did. “For in that he himself suffered being tempted, he is able to succor [help] them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). The sufferer becomes the comforter or helper in the service of the Lord.

By the way, by “enduring” suffering, God led me to my wonderful wife, Ruth, who was His intended one for me. (From Unto the Hills by Billy Graham)

 

Response

 

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

 

 

9.  How is Jesus' pain and temptation relevant to us?

 

 

 

10.  In times of trouble, why do we turn to other people rather than to Jesus?

 

 

 

11.  In what way does God equip us to reach out to others with compassion?

 

 

Prayer

 

Lord, we stand in awe of you for what you have done—you left your throne to live among us, you faced temptation, ridicule, and shame so that you could understand us, and then you died on a cross to save us from our sins. You gave up everything so that we could spend eternity with you. Help us to grasp the depth of your love. And as we experience your great love for us, help us to share it with others.

 

Journaling

 

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

 

 

How has Jesus shown his love for me? How can I thank him?

 

 

Additional Questions

 

 

12.  How should Christians respond to the pain that comes their way?

 

 

 

13.  How has knowing God increased your sensitivity and compassion for others?

 

 

 

14.  What can you do to show God's love to someone who is hurting?

 

 

For more Bible passages about Jesus' ability to help hurting people, see Job 36:15; Psalm 46:1; 121:1, 2; 147:1–5; Isaiah 41:10; 53:3–5; Romans 8:26, 27.

 

To complete the book of Hebrews during this twelve-part study, read Hebrews 1:1–2:18.

Recommended reading material:

Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary.

 

Freedom Through Christ (Jesus Understands Us) Part 3

 

Lesson Three

Jesus Understands Us

Hebrews 2:14-16

 

Theme: Jesus Christ is not inferior to angels because of his humanity.  Christ, through His humanity, secured our great salvation which involves the exaltation of believers, freed us from the fear of death, and affords us the help of a compassionate High Priest in Heaven during temptations.  Christ’s humanity enables Him to understand our needs and challenges fully. 

 Introduction:

Satan uses people’s fear of death to enslave them to his will. We who trust in Jesus Christ have once and for all been delivered from Satan’s authority and from the terrible fear of death.

Lesson:

What effect did Jesus’ victory over death have on Satan? (Heb. 2:14)

A.    Not Annihilation, but Annulment.

a.      Jesus’ victory over death enabled Him to disarm Satan and deliver us from death (2:14–16). Angels cannot die. Jesus did not come to save angels (note Heb. 2:16); He came to save humans. This meant that He had to take on Himself flesh and blood and become a Man (2:14). Only then could He die and through His death defeat Satan.

b.      The word “destroy” does not mean “annihilate,” for it is obvious that Satan is still alive and busy. The word means “render inoperative, make of none effect.” Satan is not completely destroyed, but he is disarmed.

B.     Not Authority, but Allowance.

a.      In what sense did Satan have the power of death? Because Satan is the author of sin (John 8:44), and sin brings death (Rom. 6:23), in this sense Satan exercises power in the realm of death. Jesus called him a murderer (John 8:44). Satan uses the fear of death as a terrible weapon to gain control over the lives of people. His kingdom is one of darkness and death (Col. 1:13).

b.      The final authority of death is in the hands of our God (Deut. 32:39; Matt. 10:28; Rev. 1:18). Satan can do only that which is permitted by God (Job 1:12; 2:6).

 

Question 5. Refer back to the prophecy in Genesis 3:14–15. Point out that this is what most people consider the first reference to the effect Christ would have on Satan.

6.  What can free people from their fear of death? (Heb. 2:16)

A.    Understanding the Problem (2:15).  What is the “fear of death”?

a.      People have always feared death. This fear has motivated folk to exercise, to eat right, to seek medical attention, and to try to look and feel younger. This preoccupation is so prevalent that people are described as being slaves to the fear of dying—“all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Eventually, however, death strikes everyone; it is unavoidable. 

b.      Satan uses people’s fear of death to enslave them to his will. Often people make wrong choices out of their intense desire for self-preservation. This is why there is religion all across the globe. Sinners are constantly living in bondage to the fear of death, because they have no real hope beyond the grave. It is true that all men naturally fear death!

c.      The people who know not God are in continual torment through the fear of death, and they fear death because they fear something beyond death. They are conscious to themselves that they are wicked, and they are afraid of God, and terrified at the thought of eternity. By these fears thousands of sinful, miserable creatures are prevented from hurrying themselves into the unknown world.  –Adam Clarke’s Commentary

B.     Understanding the Provision (2:15). We who trust in Jesus Christ have once and for all been delivered from Satan’s authority and from the terrible fear of death.

a.      The word “deliver” in verse 15, means to change. To transfer from one state to another, to remove from. Strictly to change by separating, therefore, to break up an existing connection and set the one part into a different state or relation, to set free, make loose. –The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament

b.      The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ have given us victory and freed us from the fear of death! (1 Cor. 15:55–58) Through Christ, we no longer need to fear dying and death.

                                                    i.     Christ died and rose again and only in this way could he deliver humanity. Because Jesus died and arose, we no longer need to be enslaved to the fear of dying. We know that because Jesus rose from the dead, we will also.

                                                  ii.     Jesus also promised eternal life in paradise with him, and we know we will receive it. We may die physically, but we are promised new bodies and a new life in eternity with God. Thus, death becomes the gateway to a new life. To be absent from the body will mean being present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8).

                                                 iii.     “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor. 15:55,57).

C.     Understanding the Power (2:13). We are reminded that we are no longer subject to such slavery and that we can face death with the same confidence in God our Captain had (Heb. 2:13).  The power of trust—faith is the key!

a.      We have the assurance of God’s love, thus the fear of death is removed; and by the purification of our hearts through faith, the sting of death is extracted.          

b.      Every person must die, but death is not the end; instead, it is the doorway to a new life. We have assurance that we will be resurrected from the dead. All who dread death should trust Christ to bring victory. Remember that Christ will not fail you. Live without fear. Trust the Savior.  –The Life Application Commentary Series 

D.    Understanding the Person (2:16).

a.      Jesus Christ did not take on Himself the nature of angels in order to save the fallen angels (2 Peter 2:4; Rev. 12:7–9).

b.      Instead, He stooped lower than the angels to become Man! And not just “man” in general; but He became a Jew, a part of the “seed of Abraham” (Heb. 2:16). The Jews were a despised and hated race, and yet our Lord became a Jew to free all believers from the fear of death.

Question 6. You might want to explore the fear of death before answering this question. Has anyone known someone who was terrified of dying? (Maybe someone present is.) What is he or she specifically afraid of? Then, when you start to discuss what frees us from that fear, you can relate it back to the specific fears mentioned.

 

Response

 

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

 

 

9.  How is Jesus' pain and temptation relevant to us?

 

 

 

10.  In times of trouble, why do we turn to other people rather than to Jesus?

 

 

 

11.  In what way does God equip us to reach out to others with compassion?

 

Prayer

 

Lord, we stand in awe of you for what you have done—you left your throne to live among us, you faced temptation, ridicule, and shame so that you could understand us, and then you died on a cross to save us from our sins. You gave up everything so that we could spend eternity with you. Help us to grasp the depth of your love. And as we experience your great love for us, help us to share it with others.

 

Journaling

 

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

 

 

How has Jesus shown his love for me? How can I thank him?

 

Why Jesus Suffered (Jesus Understands Us) Part 2

 

 Lesson Three

Jesus Understands Us

Hebrews 2:10-14

 

Theme: Jesus Christ is not inferior to angels because of his humanity.  Christ, through His humanity, secured our great salvation which involves the exaltation of believers, freed us from the fear of death, and affords us the help of a compassionate High Priest in Heaven during temptations.  Christ’s humanity enables Him to understand our needs and challenges fully. 

Introduction:

God’s purposes will be accomplished even concerning believers! We have been called into God’s eternal glory. God's initiatives will be done. 

Lesson:

Why did God allow his Son to suffer? (Heb. 2:10-14)

A.    The Character of God.  It was entirely consistent with the holy character of God, the Great Planner (2:10)—“For it became Him [Father]”.

a.      The Plan. It was completely in keeping with the righteous character of God that man’s dominion should be restored through the humiliation of the Savior.  

                                                    i.     Christ must suffer, bleed, and die to put away sin. Sin had disturbed God’s order. Before order could be brought out of chaos, sin must be dealt with righteously; a manner worthy of a holy God (Rom. 3:21-26; 2Cor. 5:21).

                                                  ii.     He sent His only begotten righteous Son to die in our place (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6-10; 8:31-32). Thus God remains “just” and can “justify” the ungodly who trust Christ.

b.      The Planner. The Father as the wise Planner is described as the One for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things.

                                                    i.     First the Father is the objective or goal of all creation; all things were made for His glory and pleasure. This defines the purpose of all men and everything.

                                                  ii.     But He is also the Source or Originator of all creation; nothing was made apart from Him (2:10). To live in His will is an expression of his design for us.

                                                 iii.     Because everything belongs to God, he determines what sacrifice is necessary for sin. He, the Creator of the world, determined what was needed for our “great salvation.”

c.      The Purpose. His great purpose is bringing many sons unto glory.

                                                    i.     What does this glory consist of? Glorification includes immortality, moral perfection, spiritual power, liberty, reigning in the Kingdom of God, and sharing God’s glory forever! (Rom 8:23; Phil 3:21; Rom 2:7; 1Cor 15:43-44; 1Thess 2:12; 2Tim 2:10-12; Rom 5:2; 1Thess 2:12; 2Thess 2:14; 1Peter 5:10).

                                                  ii.     When we consider our own unworthiness, it staggers us to think that Jehovah would have even bothered with us, but it is because He is the God of all grace (Heb. 2:9) that He has called us to His eternal glory (Heb. 2:10). Truly this is a “great salvation!”

                                                 iii.     We are destine to share in Christ’s glory and honor as fellow sons of God—what a marvelous-dignified-elevated future is ours (Rom. 9:23-24; 2Cor. 3:18; 2Cor. 4:17-18; Col. 3:4; 2Tim. 2:10; 1Pet. 1:5, 10).

                                                 iv.     In life or in death, God’s purposes will be accomplished and his promises to believers will be fulfilled because believers have been called into God’s eternal glory. God called—this was his initiative; therefore, he will do as he promised.  Why did Christ suffer?  Because it is the character of God to endure remarkable sufferings to secure our salvation—our highest eternal good!  How can I be comfortable with giving Him token and convenient service? Is it my purpose to bring many sons unto glory in concert with the purpose of God?

d.      “Just A Little While”

For believers, suffering will not last forever. If you're under stress, if food is scarce, if disease is spreading, God promises that suffering will last "just a little while more."

No matter what trouble you face, hard as it is, God has stamped your life "temporarily out of order," with emphasis on "temporarily." A day is coming when the Great Repairman will wrench evil from the world and restore your life so that it works as God intended. You will be in mint condition, guaranteed to function as God designed.

Many times all we can do is trust God and look forward to Jesus' return, when God will restore us. Our hope is in him! –The Life Application Commentary Series 

B.     The Captain of God.  It was necessary to prepare Christ to be our perfect Captain of salvation (2:10).

a.      His Passion. This is the cost of our glorification! The captain of our salvation had to be made perfect through sufferings.

                                                    i.     Hebrews 2:10 says: “Make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

1.      Jesus Christ was perfect throughout His earthly experience (Heb. 4:15; 2Cor. 5:21; 1Pet. 2:22). As far as His moral character is concerned, the Lord Jesus was always sinlessly perfect. He could never be made perfect in this respect.

2.      The word “perfect” means “complete, effective, and adequate.”

3.      According Ex 29:33, 35, “to perfect” describes the consecration of the priests, and indicated the qualifying of a person for priestly service.  Jesus qualifies as High Priest because he has completely fulfilled his role as Messiah.

                                                  ii.     Jesus could not have become an adequate Savior and High Priest had He not become Man and suffered and died.

1.      He was made perfect or adequate as our Savior and Intercessor.

2.      What do sufferings mean? Basically it means enduring hardship, affliction, pain, persecution, and Calvary.  

a.      In order to purchase eternal redemption for us, He had to suffer all the punishment that our sins deserved. Christ’s death was punitive.

b.       Besides being forsaken by God, and the extreme sufferings of His physical body, He was also brought into waters so deep, there was no place to stand. He endured extraordinary punishment, arising from the awful visions of the sins He had of His people, and of the wrath such sins deserved, and felt all those inward and painful sensations which such views provoked. In these things, no doubt, the sufferings of His soul far exceeded His physical agonies on the Cross, though these must have been colossal also.—The Biblical Illustrator

3.      We could not be saved by His spotless life; His substitutionary death was an absolute necessity.

                                                 iii.     He must be made perfect for this role “through suffering.” Since His brethren must suffer, so must He if He is to be the kind of Captain they need. By having done so, He can give them the help they require (cf. v. 18).—Walvoord, John F.

1.      Always bear in mind that God has a glorious purpose in sufferings and He uses such experiences to prepare us for ministry and leadership (2Cor. 1:3-7).

2.      Be mindful of this the next time you are dealing with the pains of this life; suffering is preparatory (Rom. 8:17-18).

3.      Sharing with Jesus Christ … involves more than anticipating the glories of heaven. For Jesus Christ it involved suffering and abuse and crucifixion; therefore being co-heirs with Christ requires that believers share in His sufferings (cf. John 15:20; Col. 1:24; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12). In fact believers do share in His sufferings… (cf. Rom. 8:9). Then after the suffering they will share in His glory (2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Peter 4:13; 5:10). –The Bible Knowledge Commentary

b.      His Pioneering. Christ as the Last Adam is our Representative, but He is our Restorer as the Captain of salvation.

                                                    i.     That word Captain literally means “pioneer—one who opens the way for others to follow—a leader.” Christ gave up His glory to become man. He regained His glory when He arose and ascended to heaven. Now He shares that glory with all who trust Him for salvation (John 17:22–24). He is literally bringing an entire band of redeemed children to glory—great is our Restorer!

                                                  ii.     As lost children, we were once held in servitude by our enemy, Satan (2:14-15). Since we were human, our Captain had to become human and die for us, in order to rescue us.

c.      His Path. In God’s eyes, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for God’s people, pioneering their salvation through his suffering and death. Because humans experience suffering and death, Christ became fully human and experienced these aspects of being human as well. That Christ both lived and died gives us confidence that we have a High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (4:15). We have confidence that because Christ conquered death, he also can save us from death.–The Life Application Commentary Series

C.     The Children of God.  It was necessary to sanctify and identify with God’s children (2:11-13). The next three verses emphasize the perfection of Jesus’ humanity. If He is going to regain the dominion which Adam lost, then it must be demonstrated that He is true Man.

a.      Christ Sanctified Us.

                                                    i.     First, the fact is stated: For both He that sanctifieth and they who are [being] sanctified are all of one, that is, they are all possessors of humanity, and have the same origin; meaning that in our humanity, we all have one God and Father.

                                                  ii.     Christ is the One who sanctifies, that is, He sets apart or separates men to God from the world. Blessed are all those whom He thus sets apart!

1.      A sanctified person is set apart from ordinary uses to be for God’s own possession, use, and enjoyment. The opposite of sanctification is profanation.

2.      Lookout for the various passages in Hebrews where sanctification is mentioned, and carefully determine which type of sanctification is in view.

b.      Christ Identified with Us.  He is united to us, and we are united to Him: we are spiritually one.

                                                    i.     We are His “brethren” (Heb. 2:12). This quote from Psalm 22:22—a messianic psalm— refers to Christ and His church as His brethren. This means we and the Son of God share the same nature and belong to the same family! What a marvel of God’s grace!

1.      He became a true Man therefore He is not ashamed to speak of His followers as brethren. Is it possible that the Eternal Sovereign of the universe should become man and identify Himself so closely with His creatures that He would call us brothers?

2.      The answer is found in Psalm 22:22 where we hear Him say, “I will declare Thy Name unto My brethren.” The same verse also pictures Him as identified with His people in common worship, “in the midst of the church [assembly] will I sing praise unto Thee.” In His dying agony, He looked forward to the day when He would lead the ransomed throng in praise to God the Father.

                                                  ii.     We are all believers (Heb. 2:13). 

1.      Christ’s humanity is demonstrated by the fact that He placed His trust in God. Implicit confidence in Jehovah is one of the greatest marks of true humanity.

2.      Jesus lived in utter dependence on God and with complete confidence in God.  All of his brethren must live in the same faithful manner even in the midst of hard sufferings.

3.      He can also speak to them of His own trust in God (v. 13a, quoting Isa. 8:17) and can regard them as the children God has given Me (Heb. 2:13b, quoting Isa. 8:18). Like an elder brother in the midst of a circle of younger children, the Captain of their salvation can teach them the lessons of faith along the pathway of suffering. —Walvoord, John F.

4.      Like those faithful to God in Isaiah's day, we should stay true to Christ and ignore the advice that would distract us from following him. –The Life Application Commentary Series

                                                 iii.     We are His “children” (Heb. 2:13).  Not only are believers His brethren, but we are also His children: “Behold I and the children which God hath given Me” (Heb. 2:13).

1.      The Lord quoted Isaiah 8:18, which refers to the Prophet Isaiah and his unique sons who were given significant names (see Isa. 7:3; 8:1–4). But the ultimate reference is to Jesus Christ.

2.      The thought is that we are members of a common family, acknowledging a common Father.

3.      If Jesus Christ had not come to earth and become man, He could not take us from earth to share in His glory. The Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection must go together. They all lead to glory.

D.    The Conquest of God. It was necessary to destroy Satan and the power of death (Heb. 2:14).

a.      This exaltation, vaulting us far above the angels to be Christ’s brothers in God’s family, is also our deed to freedom. Satan, who held the power of death, was destroyed by Christ’s self-sacrifice. Now we are free.

b.      By dying Christ was able to destroy …the devil. The author did not mean that Satan ceased to exist or to be active. Rather the word he used for “destroy” indicates the annulment of his power over those whom Christ redeems. –Bible Knowledge Commentary

 

Response

 

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

 

 

9.  How is Jesus' pain and temptation relevant to us?

 

 

10.  In times of trouble, why do we turn to other people rather than to Jesus?

 

 

11.  In what way does God equip us to reach out to others with compassion?

 

 

Prayer 

Lord, we stand in awe of you for what you have done—you left your throne to live among us, you faced temptation, ridicule, and shame so that you could understand us, and then you died on a cross to save us from our sins. You gave up everything so that we could spend eternity with you. Help us to grasp the depth of your love. And as we experience your great love for us, help us to share it with others.

 

Journaling

 

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

 

 

How has Jesus shown his love for me? How can I thank him?