“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
(Hebrews 2:17)“But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” (Hebrews 3:6)
When I was younger, I liked to believe that I was a math genius. I thought that I could be the substitute teacher, teach the class with no lesson plan whatsoever, and still have my classmates brag about how much better I was than our actual teacher. One day I took it upon myself to help a classmate who was struggling with the homework, refusing to admit to myself that I was struggling with it too. I failed that homework assignment, and I led my classmate underwater with me.
Earlier in chapter 2 of Hebrews, verses 5 through 9 speak of how God made the Son lower than the angels. Being made lower meant being made exactly like humanity. The Son of God was sent to us, like us, so that He could obtain the greater victory. Jesus became flesh and blood so that through death, He could destroy the one with the power of death, Satan. Jesus couldn’t atone for our sins unless He was tempted to sin. Except of course He did not sin because one who sins cannot pay a debt for others like themself. I couldn’t help, or “save” my classmate because I was in the same sinking boat as they were. How much sense did it make to aid them, when I was lost to a point where I couldn’t pull either of us from the trenches?
All who are in Christ and who believe in His sacrifice to deliver us, are a part of God’s household. There is no requirement to be at a certain spot in your life for Jesus to enter it. He’s always there, waiting for us, we just have to acknowledge Him. At that time, He’s preparing our seat at His table. And when we finally do acknowledge Him, He meets us where we are and invites us in His kingdom.
For reflection:
- How would you say Jesus was able to be a faithful and merciful high priest for us because He was made fully human? How does that change what you pray about to Him?
by Damar James-Harvey (Grade 9)
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