Main point– Jesus was made perfect through suffering and in turn has become our example, our source and our sustainer of salvation.

Hebrews 2:9-14

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.[b] That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,[c] 12 saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

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Verse 9-10

Why is it fitting for our founder Jesus to be made perfect through suffering?

• • Because He became our template, our example, illustration, model, standard, ideal
  • Lets see how Jesus, the founder of our faith became “perfect through suffering”

• Hebrews 5:7-9

• Prayers and supplications to Him who was able to save Him from death

• • • • Man of sorrows, garden, cross

• Although  He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered and being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him

• • • Jesus was made perfect through suffering because of His obedience
    • He became the founder, the source of our salvation 
  • It was fitting that Jesus would become perfect through obedience and suffering, because we too must also be obedient in suffering
  • Lets enter the shore of this topic of our emulation of Jesus in being obedient and suffering
• Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
  • We follow Jesus in HIs example of obedience by taking up our cross (suffering) and following Him (obeying Him)
  • What does this look like?  Denying ourselves.
    • Our life is no longer our own
    • It is a life conformed to Jesus
    • His word, His spirit, seeking Him
    • Its a life of Matthew 26 not my will but yours be done
    • Its a life of galatians 2 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me
    • Its a life of romans 8 putting to death the deeds of the body
    • Its a life of philippians 2 in humility counting others more significant than yourselves.and looking to the interests of others. 
    • It was fitting for Jesus to be made perfect through his obedience to suffer because he was our example of also being obedient and suffering
    • Back to our text

 

**It was fitting for Jesus to be perfected through suffering because His suffering sanctified us

Verse 11

• What is sanctified-made holy, saints (holy ones)
• Hebrews 13:12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people though His own blood
  • Outside gate: refers to the sin offering that was burned outside of the camp, but blood brought in to the holy of holies
  • Jesus suffered, let us not forget this fact
  • The cross isn’t only to be viewed as a romantic sacrifice of Jesus who loves and the Father who sent Him to restore our relationship
    • It is also good to be reminded of the blackness, the suffering, the evil, the anguish, the agony, the piercing, the throbbing of our savior’s suffering on the cross
• Hebrews 10:14 for by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified
  • He’s done it and He’s doing it
  • He paid it and He’s paying it
  • What does this mean?
  • By Jesus’ suffering on the cross, He made a one time transaction that made you righteous in the eyes of the Father.  
    • Even though you still sin
    • Even though you still say things you shouldn’t say, even though you still have sexual sin, even though you are still prideful, even though you still choose yourself over God, even though you still don’t always treat people right, even though you still lack compassion, even though you still are not humble, even though you still trust in money more than God…I’m talking about myself too here….Even though i still have these imperfections Jesus has already made me perfect in the eye sight of God.
    • This is the first part of the truth.  The second part (those who are being sanctified)
    • We are in the process, by the spirit of God who beckons us, becoming more holy and less sinful.  I experience remorse over my sin and I look to Jesus and His word to change from glory to glory becoming more and more like Him and less and less like my former sinful self.
• We must understand this truth because it is foundational
• The enemy will whisper in your ear after you sin and say, see, your not really a Christian, you are going to hell
  • He will say, just give up, you are never going to stop sinning, your never going to change and have never really changed
• Your pride will tell you to keep your failures and flaws to yourself and put up a facade of Christian perfection and sanctification
  • Instead we should be testifying of our flaws and our sanctification process
  • We would be sharing our struggles to get help, encouragement, prayer and accountability from our brothers and sisters in Christ
• On the other side, this understanding is paramount because there are others that may take this scripture and say I am already made perfect, there is no need for this process of sanctification.
  • I won’t obey, I won’t suffer my cross, I won’t try to change to become more and more like Christ because I’m already perfect.  This too is deception and that person’s salvation is in vain
  • Back to the text

 

***Jesus’ humanity and sacrifice made Him a perfect High priest 

• • As we dive into this last point about the humanity of Jesus, lets get a primer of Jesus the God man.
  • John 1:1 and 14

• 1 In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God 

• Jesus, described here as the Word, was with God and was God.  This is the mindblowing nature of the trinity.  With and was.  Three in one.

• 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  And we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the the Father, full of grace and truth

• • • Jesus, who was with God and was God became flesh, became a man (the God man)
    • With glory and power and majesty that reflects that He is in fact the son of God
  • This is the Jesus, the God man, fully human, fully God that we are about to look at in His role as High Priest
    • Lets go back to the text
  • Verses 11-14a then 17

• Merciful and faithful

• • • He is faithfully merciful
    • Can you count the number of sins you have committed?  Can you count the amount of times He has been merciful?  Jesus takes the concept of longsuffering to another dimension.
    • Jesus’ high priesthood (the mediator and atoner of our sins) personifies the scripture James 2:13 Mercy triumphs over judgement
      • His mercy trumps His judgement over us every single time, why?  Because He took the sentence of our judgement and now extends to us grace and mercy.  What an awesome God!

• Romans 8:1-4

• Verse 18

• • As high priest He not only covered our sins, but helps us in our sanctification.  Remember, He made us perfect who are being sanctified.
  • He helps us, not in a far away God sense, that can not possibly relate.
  • But He helps us in the sense that He knows exactly where we are and what we are going through
    • Hebrews 4:15 for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
• Let us use this help from our Lord
• Let us call on the name of the Lord for help
• Let us call on the name of the Lord when temptation is near and here
• Let us call on the name of the Lord when we need strength 
• Let us call on the name of the Lord because He is there 

End with Hebrews 7:25 he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Preacher notes on Hebrews 2:9-14