HE TOOK ON OUR NATURE
HEBREWS 2:14-17 NKJV
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
There is quite a lot in these few verses. Hebrews contains some powerful truths, and what we see here is really good stuff.
Jesus became like us in terms of taking on a flesh and blood body. We can't make Jesus one who floated through life never touched with the feelings and pressures that we face. Instead, He took on our nature so that by His death, He might render inoperative the devil who had the power of death. The New King James Version says destroy the devil, but a more accurate term would be to annul his authority.
That is such good news. Jesus became like us so that by His death, He could free us from the authority of darkness. And He released us who, through fear of death, were always subject to being in bondage. Fear produces bondage. And so much fear is contained in the fear of death. As a friend has said, people who are afraid of flying are really more afraid of crashing and dying. Fear of rejection is tied into the fear of being alone, helpless, and dying. We can tie so many fears back to the fear of death.
But thank God we are free from the fear of death. We may not feel free, so we’ll have to accept these words by faith and then resist fear when it comes our way. This is a huge subject, but for now, we’ll stay with our freedom from Satan's fear and bondage.
Verse 16 says that Jesus does not give aid to angels but gives aid to the seed of Abraham. That's not a good rendering. The actual meaning says Jesus does not take on the nature of angels but took on the nature of the seed of Abraham. That is us; we are the seed of Abraham. If Jesus came as an angelic being, He could not have suffered the death that He did.
So, in all things, Jesus was made like us. Remember, He never sinned. But because He took on our nature, He is a faithful and merciful High Priest in things pertaining to God. Jesus offered Himself for our sins. He was the sacrifice and the High Priest. In the Old Testament, the High Priest would offer the blood of bulls and goats for the sins of the people. But in our new, better covenant, Jesus offered Himself as the spotless Lamb of God. His sacrifice wiped out our sins and allowed us to be reconciled to God as His children. We will spend eternity thanking Jesus for what He has done for us. And no need to wait until heaven. We can offer thanks now.
So Jesus took on our nature that He might render the devil powerless over us and free us forever from the fear of death. Because He took on our nature, He is merciful toward us. And His sacrifice, not our works, is what makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God as His children.
PRAYER
Thank You, Jesus, for what You have done for me. You accepted being made as a flesh and blood man that You might suffer death and free me from Satan's authority. Thank You for making it possible to have a close relationship with God! Thank You for freeing me from the fear of death. Thank You!