October 21, 2018
In this four study series titled, “Jesus In Focus” we have so far looked at:
Study one ‘Why having Jesus as the focus of our lives is important.’
In terms of Biblical theology & revelation nothing & no one, has more significance than Jesus. In terms of salvation everything depends on Jesus. In His person & work, Jesus is everything that God offers to you; but – Jesus is, in His person & work, everything that you can offer to God. To forsake Jesus is to choose spiritual ruin, eternal condemnation & utter alienation from God.
Study two titled ‘Jesus the Superior Son’.
He is superior:
• In His Revelation, Hebrews 1:1-3.
• To the Prophets.
• In His Name being ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’ Revelation 17:14.
• To the Angels.
This week’s study is titled, ‘Jesus the suffering Son’.
Next week’s study is titled, ‘Jesus the serving Son’.
Let’s tie all this together to see the big picture of God’s plan.
Read Philippians 2:5-11.
Consider the following:
….Several key characteristics of Jesus Christ…. are praised in this passage:
(1) Christ has always existed with God:
(2) Christ has always existed because He is God (John 1:1ff; Colossians 1:15-19:
(3) Though Christ is God, He became a man in order to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for all people;
(4) Christ did not just have the appearance of being a man-He actually became human to identify with our sins;
(5) Christ voluntarily laid aside His Divine rights and privileges out of love for His Father;
(6) Christ died on the cross for our sins so we wouldn’t have to face eternal death;
(7) God glorified Christ because of His obedience;
(8) God raised Christ to His original position at the Father’s right hand, where He will reign forever as our Lord and Judge…. *
Read Hebrews 2:5-8. Who is this referring to?
Consider George’s words:
Hebrews 2:6-8, refers to the creation mandate that God gave to man in the Garden of Eden in Gen 1:26. Man’s creation role was lower than the angels in terms of the spiritual hierarchy of beings. However, despite being created lower than the angels, man was given dominion over the physical world into which God had placed him. However, the writer of Hebrews observes, 2:8(b), “But now, we do not see all things put under man”…. God’s intention was that man would have dominion over the physical world into which he was created – what we find is the very opposite. Instead of man ruling the world, the world rules man.
What is the condition of the world today? Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 8:20-22.
How did this effect mankind? Romans 5:12.
Rather than mankind having dominion, having control of the world as God intended (Genesis 1:26-28) who is? 1 John 5:19.
What did the Son of God do because of man’s condition? Read Hebrews 2: 14-17, Philippians 2:6-8.
Discuss in your group:
• Your understanding of the reason Jesus needed to come to earth to become a man to die in order for us human beings to be saved?
• What if He didn’t what then?
• Was there any alternative?
Read again what Jesus did. Hebrews 2: 14-17, Philippians 2:6-8.
Discuss George’s comments about ‘Jesus’ remarkable reversal’ of how the ‘exalted/Superior Son now becomes the human Jesus’.
Jesus, whom the writer extols & elevates above the angelic host is now revealed as the subject of a remarkable reversal; a remarkable re-positioning. Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels”. This is the wonder of the incarnation.
The writer to Hebrews refers, for the first time, to the Son in terms of His human name – Jesus. The exalted Son, the one who is superior to angels is now linked to fallen man. Jesus was made lower than the angels because this was the status of man in the created order. Lower than the angels indicated that Jesus in His incarnation was truly human. The incarnation of Jesus involved a massive condescension for the Son of God to become the Son of man. See Phil 2:6-8.
The scriptures indicate that Jesus was made inferior to the angels in at least the following ways.
i. He partook of human generation (birth)
ii. He experienced physical frailty (Mark 4:38).
iii. He suffered temptation (Matthew 4:1-11).
iv. He suffered physical death.
The judgement & curse of God against your sin, is transferred to Jesus; your sin is taken by Jesus. This was possible because Jesus had no sin of His own to die for, so God could accept His death as a substitute for your death! Jesus took your sin to Himself & suffered the consequences of it before a Holy God so that you wouldn’t have to. Hebrews 2:14
As a result of all Jesus did through His life, death and resurrection what do all who have put their faith in Jesus as their Saviour have to look forward to? Read 1 Corinthians 15:21-23, 51-57. Romans 6:9-11.
How then should this Good News effect our everyday living? Romans 6:12-14, 17-18. What mistake do we need to avoid?
Because of what Jesus God’s son did through His incarnation, suffering, etc. discuss how Jesus became a ‘perfect Leader’. Hebrews 2:10.
What was perfected through Jesus suffering was the salvation that He secured by His suffering. Only a complete & perfect salvation could qualify Jesus to be the captain or pioneer who could “lead many sons to glory”. The question for each of us today is, “Is Jesus the captain to whom you are looking for:-
• your righteousness before God,
• your peace with God &
• Your assurance of an eternal salvation?
Jesus is the winning captain, when it comes to salvation – those who are on His team become winners too.
* taken from ‘Life Application Study Bible’