August 26, 2022 – Friday
Hebrews 2:9 NIV
9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone
Hebrews 2:9 CJB
9 But we do see Yeshua — who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels — now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for all humanity.
Hebrews 2:9 KJ21
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Comments
When I first read this verse, I found it somewhat incomprehensible in terms of what we read in Colossians 1:15-16, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Did you get that? Jesus created all things in heaven and on the earth. That would obviously include the angels, yet we read He was made lower than the angels for a little while.
To begin to make sense of this we have to go to Philippians 2:5-8 which reads, 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Paul was writing this in his letter to the Philippians about how to imitate Christ’s humility and prefaced the verses we just looked at with 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Paul summarized this in his first letter to the Corinthians when he wrote in 2:2, For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. In other words, he would do nothing but preach Christ and Him crucified. Earlier in 1:21-24, Paul wrote, 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
So, God so loves us and loves us so much He had His only begotten Son take the form of a human, nothing in comparison to who and what He really is, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Our Creator became like one of His creations and then went to the cross where He suffered death just as His creations did and do. He did it out of love and then He rose on the third day to show He had conquered death and was indeed God. Thus, He tasted death for every man so every man and woman would have the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with Him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit.
Let me recommend an article titled Preaching Christ: The Need to Preach Christ and Him Crucified as it makes the point, if preachers are to emulate Paul then, gospel preachers of all ages must preach Christ and Him crucified. Those who conform to the apostle’s example also ensure while expositing the meaning of each text within its context that their sermons incorporate Christ-centered, evangelistic truths. And then it provides a list of those truths. Go there and take a read, preachers or otherwise.
Bottom Line: Jesus did the incomprehensible out of love, what will we do to follow His example?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, We are humbled by what Your Son did for us. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek