Jesus Made Perfect Through Suffering

Hebrews 2:10–18
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Jesus did not come into this world to gain status or political power, but to suffer and die so that we could have eternal life. Through the Lord’s suffering God made Him fit to bring man unto salvation (v. 10). Because we have the same Father, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters (v. 11). Because God’s children are human beings made of flesh and blood, Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form (v 14). The concept of a suffering Messiah was a stumbling block to the Jews.

These verses tackle the problem by declaring the necessity of the cross in God’s plan of salvation:

1. It proved Christ’s absolute identity with humanity (vv. 11-13). We can see how Jesus Christ was not ashamed to identify Himself with sinners, but was willing to die for them.
2. It destroyed the power and fear of death (vv. 14-15). The thing that terrifies people more than anything else in this life is death. When we receive Christ, we have been released from the bondage of death and can now actually enter into the presence of our Lord.
3. It provided an intercessory High Priest (vv. 16-18). The Christian Jews of that day needed to hear that Christ had suffered as they were suffering.

Because He has gone through temptation, He is able to help us when we are tempted (v. 18).

Application

I should never have fear about death. It is very comforting to know that Jesus conquered death. Death will actually be a graduation time from this life.