Christ Took On Humanity
Jeremy Bell
Hebrews 2:14-18
December 18, 2022
Sermon Recap PDF
Three reasons why Christ came to earth:
I. To become human like us
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things (verse 14)”
- Eternal God become man! This is a glorious mystery!
- Christ is the maker of all things, stands in authority over all things, and sustains all things.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3).”
- This same Jesus came and took on human flesh.
- The maker of all heaven and earth humbled Himself, took on flesh and bone, and came to tabernacle among us.
- He was fully human, yet he was also fully God.
When God became man “two whole, perfect and distinct natures were inseparably joined in the One person of the divine Son without confusion, mixture or change”
– Sovereign Grace Statement of Faith
- Why become human? To relate to us – to enter the human experience with us. Ultimately He came to bear our sins on the Cross.
II. To become a high priest for us
“Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people (verse 17).”
- What did a high priest do? In the Old Testament, the high priest would make sacrifices for the sins of the people. A death was required to deal with the guilt and punishment of sin.
- They would sprinkle blood of pure animals as an offering of sacrifice. They did this in faith that God would one day send a Redeemer. That Redeemer was Jesus.
- We are right to celebrate this fact. This is the very heartbeat of Christmas. Christ’s sacrifice for sins was acceptable before God, and declares righteous any who trust in Him. By His sacrifice, Christ strips the power of the devil by propitiating sin.
III. To help us
- Verse 16 tells us that it is not angels that He came to help, but the offspring of Abraham.
- He comes to help His people.
“For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted (verse 18).”
- Christ, though without sin, knows what suffering under temptation is like, He now can relate to us. He is our sympathetic High priest, come to help us.
Questions for Discussion/Application
- Re-read the text, Hebrews 2:14-18. What initial insights and observations do you have from reading this passage?
- Take a few moments, and cosndier the passage. What truths within this passage are reason to be grateful that Jesus came into the world on that first Christmas?
- What does it mean that Christ is our great high priest? How does that truth affect you?
- Re-read verse 18. In what ways does Christ help us when we are tempted in various ways?
- Consider taking time to pray, lifting up prayers of thanks to God that Jesus came into the world that first Christmas to be our Savior.