The Son's Incarnation Is Absolutely Essential!

Don't Stop Now!

A study of the NT book of Hebrews

by Pastor Frank Rice

Hebrews 2:10-18

“What is essential and what is not?” That’s a question most folks don’t ask themselves this time of year! Maybe it should be! But that question does come into play for some folks, especially if they are thoughtful and concerned with what is really important. Some folks never ask the question of essentiality or necessity. When it comes to the person of Jesus, was it really crucial for God to become human? Why is the incarnation, God becoming man, absolutely essential? There could be no greater consideration for this time of year!

 

v     God’s desire was to bring many sons and daughters to glory!

1.      It was not enough to just save them; He wants to bring them home to glory! (Getting runners on base is not enough!)

 

2.      The sovereign God and source of all life had plans to complete the deliverance of His people! (Hints of Moses?)

 

v     God’s design for their deliverance necessitated a deliverer.

1.      His design was completely appropriate! “What God has done in the suffering of Jesus is in line with what we know of His character and purposes.” (Guthrie)

 

2.      His design included Jesus being the pioneer of deliverance. He is the captain, originator, author, or champion.

 

3.      He was made perfect! This does not imply imperfection! It does refer to being “fully equipped” for an assignment (job).

 

4.      His suffering here refers specifically to suffering in death. His suffering as a man fully equipped Him to be our rescuer.

 

5.      “The Son’s response to the Father attests that it was an appropriate expression of God’s character and faithfulness for Him to use suffering as a means of equipping the Son for His vocation as Savior.” (Cockerill)

 

v     He who sets believers apart for Himself is God!

1.      Believers are set apart for Him positionally at the moment they place their faith in Christ as their Savior.

 

2.      Believers are being set apart practically by the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and their own personal choices.

 

v     He who sets believers apart for Himself isn’t ashamed to identify with us. (That is incredibly humbling and sobering!)

 

v     He who sets believers apart for Himself affirms His commitment to us. Reference is made to two messianic passages in the OT.

1.      Jesus, after suffering for us, announces His solidarity with us (Ps 22:1, 6-8, 14-18; 22)!

 

2.      Jesus, like Isaiah of old, announces His confidence in His God and witnesses to His faithfulness (Isa 8:17-18). “He has assumed their humanity in order to bring them to their destiny.” (Cockerill)

 

v     The Son became human in order to invalidate the devil’s power over humans (v. 14)! (Follow the biblical logic.)

1.      Those whom He was sent to rescue were made of flesh and blood. They were and we are human.

 

2.      In order to carry out His assignment, the Son had to take on the same. He had to share in their humanity.

 

3.      “Since death was the prescription for victory in this case, the only way the Son could accomplish the needed task was to die, and the only way to die was to become human.” (Guthrie)

 

v     The Son thereby released those whom death held captive (v. 15).

1.      The fear of death had kept men in bondage. The risen and ascended Son now holds the keys (Rev 1:18)!

 

2.      Humanity’s uneasiness with death is revealed by Woody Allen’s quip; “It’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”

 

3.      “Although God’s people must still die, by removing their sin Christ has completely bereft the devil of his ability to intimidate them with death.” (Cockerill)

 

v     The Son does not come to the aid of angels but to the aid of humans (v. 16), Peter and the blind man (Matt 14:31; Mk 8:23).

 

v     Humans needed someone to represent them to God who could and would be merciful & faithful in His ministry on their behalf.

 

v     Humans needed someone who could make atonement for their sins that had separated them from God and incurred His wrath.

 

v     Humans needed someone who could realistically relate to their everyday struggles. Only Someone in flesh could do that! That Someone is Jesus, fully God and fully man!