Exaltation after Christ’s sacrifice
Key Verses: 3, 9, 11, 14, 18
This chapter begins with the first of six warning passages. They could be summed up like this: since Jesus is so much more superior to all the old revelations from God, we had better wise up and obey. Now I know my language is a bit modern, but the point is the same.
Here the writer uses the angels as the object lesson. They were judged for disobeying a lesser revelation. Now we have a salvation announced by Jesus and spread by the disciples and other believers. God put His stamp of approval on their activity and message by sending His power into the physical realm in ways that people could see His hand at work. Jesus accomplished what the angels never could. He went through death for us. He paid the price for our salvation. The angels were incapable of performing this task since they are just creatures like us.
Jesus added humanity to His eternity. He did not cease to be God, but became human as well. He added something to His being: humanity. Now we both possess humanity as part of our nature. He is forever bound to us through His physical body, the same body that died on the Cross.
In order to make up for what Adam and Eve did, the first humans, Jesus stepped in and took up where they left off. Where they disobeyed, He obeyed. He stepped back into their shoes as the representative of all of us and He gave His life. He died and was separated from the Father, bearing the full weight of sin’s punishment. He rose again demonstrating that the weight of sin had been lifted.
And he can relate to us, and we can relate to Him. He did not come and live the life of privilege and walk above life. He lived right where we live. He was tempted as we are. It was hard for Him to not give in to temptation’s pull. And yet He didn’t. Because of this, He can help us when we feel temptation’s pull. He wants to come to our aid in those moments.
Angels offer none of this kind of help. As we read Scripture we see angels coming to give messages from God. Sometimes they bring judgment. They rarely rescue. But Jesus rescues everyone who will call out to Him. Are you willing to call?
The Arnold Journey 