B. Superior to the Angels. 1:4-2:18

Introduction: We are reminded that compared to the Angels, Jesus is –
1. Superior in Person. 1:4-14
2. Superior in Position . 2:1-8

Today we will see that He is superior to the Angels in His Person, His position, and He is –

3. Superior in participation. Hebrews 2:9-18

Jesus is the answer to the cry of Job.. His dilemma –

Job 9:30-33 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Remember that Job offered sacrifices every day. He knew himself and his family, how easily they might sin against God, no matter how they tried to live a holy life.

The cleansing of the sacrifice was only temporary. The sins were just pushed down the road, only to come up again and present the need for another sacrifice. Even though temporarily clean, he was still in this wicked world and none of the righteous acts he performed could satisfy the just demand of God. Job declared that man needs more than man can provide. He needs more than angels can provide – he needs a mediator between himself and God that is acceptable to God, and this is only God Himself!

A death sentence has been declared that is in power over all men. We are condemned to death and as a matter of fact, are already dead in sin. What we need is life, and that life only comes by God through the death of His Son Jesus Christ. Death is here, we are facing it now. Remaining as we are, dead in sin, we will remain separated from God forever and at the end of this life we have now, we will be in Hell forever. The only escape is another death – the death that Jesus willingly died for all people. No ordinary man can die for us because all men are also dead in sin. No angel can die for us because they do not have the power to do so. Only one answer is given, that God will die for us. Paul set forth how God would accomplish His purpose in these next few verses.

a. He should be subject to death. Hebrews 2:9

1). Position. “…made a little lower than the angels…”

Remember the –

a). Immortality of angels. Refer to –

Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

b). Mortality of man.

We know that angels cannot die, we also know that, because of sin, man must die! We are instructed by the Word of God and by personal experience of the death of mankind.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

He bacme man – ‘lower than the angels’, to die. In this we see –

2). Praise. “…crowned with glory and honour…” The only qualified One

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3). Purpose. “… that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man…”

This death was very unusual. We must understand that His death would be voluntary, not natural. Jesus of Nazareth had no sin nature. He did not just not commit sin, He had no sin in Him! Jesus could not die of natural causes! He knew when He came how He must die.

Refer to – 1 Peter 2 “…Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
We see also that –

b. He identified with man. Hebrews 2:10-13

1). Endured suffering (revealed His nature) 2:10
He was truly the man of sorrows –

Isaiah 53:2-3 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

2). United in fellowship “…he is not ashamed to call them brethren…” 2:11-13

Illustrate with Jesus among men.

His participation in this fellowship among men was prophesied, proving to the world that He was coming in flesh and blood –

Isaiah 8:17-18 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

c. He destroyed the power of death. Hebrews 2:14,15

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
d. He intercedes for believers. Hebrews 2:16-18 He is our –

1). Kinsman. 2:16 The Son of God and the Son of Man our Daysman

He is our –

2). Priest.

Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

God showed His acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus as the Saviour of all men –

Acts 13:29-30 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead:

He is our –

3). Consolation. 2:18
Not only does Jesus understand what we are faced with each day, being tempted Himself throughout His life, “He is able” – not only able to help in power but able in proper understanding of our emotions and experiences. He truly feels what we feel! He is able “to succour” which means not only knowing our situation or hearing our prayer, but running toward us to help. He is not like a cup of water sitting on a sand dune in the desert that we must crawl to in order to satisfy our thirst – He is a river of life that flows to us, where we are in time of need.
The world often speaks of the love of God which they do not understand. The sad thing is that Christians often speak of the love of God which they do not understand either! If we understood the love of God, He would be our all in all! He would be the center of our lives. Is He the center of your life or are you His one day each week?
Do you thank Him for all that you are and all that you have each day?
Do you ask Him for His leadership in the decisions you make each day?
Do you pray for His help in being a witness unto Him each day?
Is God the center of your life? He should be.