First United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States Daily Devotions for Monday, 22 December to 28 December 2014 Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight by Reverend Jessica Strysko Text to read: Hebrews 2:10-18
Scripture Text to read: Hebrews 2:10-18
Hebrews 2:10-13 It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory. Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn’t hesitate to treat them as family, saying,
I’ll tell my good friends, my brothers and sisters, all I know about you;
I’ll join them in worship and praise to you.
Again, he puts himself in the same family circle when he says,
Even I live by placing my trust in God.
And yet again,
I’m here with the children God gave me.
14-15 Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.
16-18 It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Text to read: Hebrews 2:10-18
Verse 10
[10] For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
In this verse the apostle expresses, in his own words, what he expressed before in those of the Psalmist.
It became him — It was suitable to all his attributes, both to his justice, goodness, and wisdom.
For whom — As their ultimate end.
And by whom — As their first cause. Are all things, in bringing many adopted sons to glory - To this very thing, that they are sons, and are treated as such To perfect the captain - Prince, leader, and author of their salvation, by his atoning sufferings for them. To perfect or consummate implies the bringing him to a full and glorious end of all his troubles, Hebrews 5:9. This consummation by sufferings intimates, 1. the glory of Christ, to whom, being consummated, all things are made subject. 2. The preceding sufferings. Of these he treats expressly, Hebrews 2:11-18; having before spoken of his glory, both to give an edge to his exhortation, and to remove the scandal of sufferings and death. A fuller consideration of both these points he interweaves with the following discourse on his priesthood. But what is here said of our Lord's being made perfect through sufferings, has no relation to our being saved or sanctified by sufferings. Even he himself was perfect, as God and as man, before ever be suffered. By his sufferings, in his life and death, he was made a perfect or complete sin-offering. But unless we were to be made the same sacrifice, and to atone for sin, what is said of him in this respect is as much out of our sphere as his ascension into heaven. It is his atonement, and his Spirit carrying on "the work of faith with power" in our hearts, that alone can sanctify us. Various afflictions indeed may be made subservient to this; and so far as they are blessed to the weaning us from sin, and causing our affections to be set on things above, so far they do indirectly help on our sanctification.
Verse 11
[11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
For — They are nearly related to each other.
He that sanctifieth — Christ, Hebrews 13:12.
And all they that are sanctified — That are brought to God; that draw near or come to him, which are synonymous terms.
Are all of one — Partakers of one nature, from one parent, Adam.
Verse 12
[12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
I will declare thy name to my brethren — Christ declares the name of God, gracious and merciful, plenteous in goodness and truth, to all who believe, that they also may praise him.
In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee — As the precentor of the choir. This he did literally, in the midst of his apostles, on the night before his passion. And as it means, in a more general sense, setting forth the praise of God, he has done it in the church by his word and his Spirit; he still does, and will do it throughout all generations. Psalms 22:22.
Verse 13
[13] And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
And again — As one that has communion with his brethren in sufferings, as well as in nature, he says, I will put my trust in him - To carry me through them all.
And again — With a like acknowledgment of his near relation to them, as younger brethren, who were yet but in their childhood, he presents all believers to God, saying, Behold I and the children whom thou hast given me. Isaiah 8:17,18
Verse 14
[14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Since then these children partake of flesh and blood — Of human nature with all its infirmities. He also in like manner took part of the same; that through his own death he might destroy the tyranny of him that had, by God's permission, the power of death with regard to the ungodly. Death is the devil's servant and serjeant, delivering to him those whom he seizes in sin.
That is, the devil — The power was manifest to all; but who exerted it, they saw not.
Verse 15
[15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
And deliver them, as many as through fear of death were all their lifetime, till then, subject to bondage - Every man who fears death is subject to bondage; is in a slavish, uncomfortable state. And every man fears death, more or less, who knows not Christ: death is unwelcome to him, if he knows what death is. But he delivers all true believers from this bondage.
Verse 16
[16] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
For verily he taketh not hold of angels — He does not take their nature upon him.
But he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham — He takes human nature upon him. St. Paul says the seed of Abraham, rather than the seed of Adam, because to Abraham was the promise made.
Verse 17
[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.
Wherefore it behoved him — It was highly fit and proper, yea, necessary, in order to his design of redeeming them.
To be made in all things — That essentially pertain to human nature, and in all sufferings and temptations.
Like his brethren — This is a recapitulation of all that goes before: the sum of all that follows is added immediately. That he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest-Merciful toward sinners; faithful toward God. A priest or high priest is one who has a right of approaching God, and of bringing others to him. Faithful is treated of, Hebrews 3:2, etc., with its use; merciful, Hebrews 4:14, etc., with the use also; High Priest, Hebrews 5:4, etc., Hebrews 7:1, etc. The use is added from Heb 10:19.
In things pertaining to God, to expiate the sins of the people — Offering up their sacrifices and prayers to God; deriving God's grace, peace, and blessings upon them.
Verse 18
[18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
For in that he hath suffered being tempted himself he is able to succour them that are tempted — That is, he has given a manifest, demonstrative proof that he is able so to do.
Daily Devotion:
Monday, December 22, 2014
Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight
Read through the Scripture passage, and then focus on verse 17.
Try re-writing that verse in your own words.
What new insights do you find?
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight
Can you think of a time that you felt comforted by knowing that Jesus can identify with something you were (or are) struggling with?
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight
Text to read: Hebrews 2:10-18
Read the whole passage, and then focus on verse 15.
14-15 Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.
How have you experienced freedom from the fear of death because of Christ?
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight
How does this passage help us learn what we can do to offer comfort to others in the midst of their suffering?
Friday, December 26, 2014
Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight
What difference does your faith make during difficult times?
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight
If you could ask the author of Hebrews one question about this Scripture passage, what would it be? Why?
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Sermon theme: The Day Begins at Midnight
Pray for those who suffer today, and for those who are afraid of death.
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First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108 United States
(619) 297-4366
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Sermon Story "As One of Us" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 28 December 2014
Text to read: Hebrews 2:10-13 It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory. Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn’t hesitate to treat them as family, saying,
I’ll tell my good friends, my brothers and sisters, all I know about you;
I’ll join them in worship and praise to you.
Again, he puts himself in the same family circle when he says,
Even I live by placing my trust in God.
And yet again,
I’m here with the children God gave me.
14-15 Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.
16-18 It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.
God so loved us that he came as one of us to redeem us from ourselves in how we think, love, and live. God came down as His son, Jesus, to live among us to show us how to live out His Torah in our lives by His Grace and Love. Too often, we have attempted to live up to what He asked us to live by seeking to climb to Him, but He came down to us as one of us. It is not that we can do things to become God, but He, who is God, came down as one of us. From this experience he had for us, he showed us how to trust Him to live out His Torah by His power, not ours. How do you relate to what god has done for us in coming down as one of us? How do you relate to other people going through hard times even as we may go through hard times? How do you live as God in Jesus living in you rather than seeking to be God by your power?
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Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street
San Diego, California
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