For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren…. 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. Hebrews 2:10,11,17,18 (NKJV)
As we grow older, as I have; we can look back over a lifetime of memories. Recently, I shared with all of you the story of my life as I searched for true love. I shared with you many of my trials, my failures, my regrets, and my sorrows along this path. Yet, above all of that I shared with you God’s Amazing Grace toward me. It has been His Wondrous Mercy, love and compassionate care which took the shattered broken pieces of my life into His Loving Hands. Held tightly within His hands of love, He ever so gently and patiently has remolded me. Every time His gentle hands held the broken pieces of my heart, He restored joy, hope and love to my despairing spirit. Were it not for Grace, I would forever be trapped within the fears of failure, looking into Satan’s dark eternal abyss with dread.
God lovingly made all things for and through His Son, Jesus Christ. Man sinned, desiring the gifts more than the Giver of life. Yet, God saw it fitting to perfect the captain of our salvation (Jesus) through suffering so that He might be both a merciful and faithful High Priest who could bring many sons and daughters to glory. Let us break this great truth down, piece by piece as it was so beautifully presented by the writer of Hebrews.
The argument does not suggest in any way that Jesus was not Perfectly Righteous, Perfectly Obedient, or Perfectly Holy before He suffered. So what does it mean?
There are two ways in which Jesus was perfected through suffering.
1. His obedience, righteousness, and holiness were tested in His humanity and withstood the test. He was tempted over and over by Satan, the Pharisees, and the agonies of pain; yet, never sinned. It was not to suggest that He was not perfect before; only, now it was proven to mankind through the endurance of the testing.
2. It was through suffering that Jesus became the perfect High Priest who could compassionately understand our struggles against sin.
COMPASSIONATE AND JUST HIGH PRIEST
So, not only was Jesus now able to compassionately sympathize with our weaknesses, He also remained faithful to justice and righteousness. He took on flesh so that He could bare our temptations, our shame and then die in our place so that never more would we have to fear death.
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, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15 (NKJV)
RELEASED FROM THE BONDAGE OF DEATH AND SIN
He took on human flesh and blood, so that He might forever release me from the bondage of death and of sin. That is the good news of the gospel for all who would believe and by faith in Christ be born again as God’s adopted children. It is not about seeking God for the “gifts”. It is about seeking the Giver of the Gifts.
TRUE JOY EVEN IN SUFFERING
Look once more at Hebrews 2:11
“For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren”
Do you see anywhere in there that it says we are to “have everything our human heart desires?” No!! Quite the opposite. Both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one. Jesus suffered that I might be sanctified. [bctt tweet=”Jesus suffered for me. That doesn’t mean I have no suffering to endure in my sanctification!!” username=”effiedarlene”] That would be absurd. What I am promised is the ultimate victory over death and sin. [tweetthis]My joy, hope, and love are found in Jesus, my High Priest.[/tweetthis] He compassionately hears my cries and wraps me in His arms when I fall down. He lifts me up to walk ever closer to Him.
PAUL’S EXAMPLE
As Paul left for Jerusalem in his ministry journey, he knew that most likely he would face persecution, imprisonment and even death upon arrival. Many tried to tell him not to go because his ministry was too important to the other churches he had formed. Yet, Paul felt the Holy Spirit tell him to go to Jerusalem.
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Acts 20:22-25
CONCLUSION
Paul did not know what he was going to face for certain; yet, he knew it would involve suffering. Still, he said , “so that I may finish my race with joy” I will go and face suffering, imprisonment and even death. Paul was obedient because he knew that true joy could only be found in Christ. Knowing that drives us to joyously proclaim the name of our High Priest even in the midst of suffering. [bctt tweet=”Knowing that our joy is found in Jesus, we can walk boldly without fear of sin’s chain of death” username=”effiedarlene”]
Do you know Jesus as your Merciful and Faithful High Priest? If so, what do you have to fear or dread?
The Song I chose for you today is: He Knows My Name
The picture today is used by permission of Ronald Barba who holds the copyright. Copies can be found at http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mountaintop-experiences-in-the-valley-ronald-barba.html
New King James Version(NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.