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?