Christ Our Brother
Jeremy Bell
Hebrews 2:5-18
February 4, 2024
Sermon Audio
Sermon Recap PDF
Main theme: Kent Hughes says the task of the preacher is “to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.” Through the use of Old Testament texts, in our passage the author seeks to “comfort the afflicted” by reminding them of all that Christ has accomplished on their behalf. He wanted them to see Christ clearly again. They had lost sight of who Christ is and what he had come to do. And so in that sense he seeks to help them to see with new eyes, see with fresh vision once again who Jesus is and what He came to do.
I. Daily marvel at God’s sacrificial love for you.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!…When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? — Psalm 8:1,3-4
“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21
II. Daily turn to Christ because He identifies with your weakness and is eager to help you!
Questions for Discussion/Application:
- Consider taking time to read Hebrews 2:5-18 out loud. What initial insights or observations of the text do you have?
- Re-read Hebrews 2:14-15. How does it affect you to consider that through His death, Christ destroyed “the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” and has delivered “all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery”? How can this truth encourage and strengthen us as believers?
- Verse 18 speaks of Christ suffering temptation and how in light of that, “he is able to help those who are being tempted.” What is the author saying here? How can an awareness that Christ “is able to help” strengthen us when we are tempted in various ways?
- What difference do you think it can make it in our lives if we are faithful to “Daily marvel at God’s sacrificial love” (see application point #1). How practically can we go about doing this? What scriptures come to mind that can help us reflect on God’s love? Consider taking time to read together some of the scriptures the group comes up with.
- On verse 18, the ESV Study Bible says “Jesus is a sympathetic and merciful high priest who knows human spiritual infirmity since he experienced the full range of temptations, and he has atoned for transgressions.” How does this reality of Jesus being a “sympathetic and merciful high priest” comfort and encourage you? What does it look like practically for us to be a people who “daily turn to Christ” (see application point #2) knowing that this is what Jesus is like?
- Consider taking time to pray, asking that the Lord would help us to daily meditate upon His love as revealed in the gospel and draw near to Him in our weaknesses and temptations.