Christmas in Hebrews

Previously we looked at some Christmas stories in the Gospels and the Old Testament. There is also a Christmas story in Hebrews. Look at the first two verses:
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Do you see Christmas there? Sure. God had spoken through the prophets, long ago, in many portions or perhaps books, and many ways. He sent Moses with the Ten Commandments and law. He sent judges to lead and point the way. He sent Many (to continue the theme) prophets to correct and instruct the people. Now He has gone the ultimate distance in sending His Son. We saw the joy in the heavenly forces as they announced this miraculous event.

The angels knew the import of this coming, and rejoiced and shouted the news to (excuse the pun) the high heavens. But there is more. Turn to chapter 2:9 through 23. First we identify the main protagonist. (Full text below.)
“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus,”

The author did not want anyone to be confused as to the identity of the Son. Earlier in the chapter it had talked about someone being “a little lower than the angels,” and we might get mixed up. (Unclear antecedent to the preposition. Thank you Mrs. Cheney.) So that is cleared up It is Jesus.

And next comes a litany of reasons why Jesus came. This is the why of Christmas. The Gospels told us Who, and Where, and When. But to make sure we understood “the reason for the season,” our passage today spells out eight specific reasons why He came.

Number one: “He might taste death for everyone.” Back up in the text and we see Him crowned with glory and honor, so it must have been efficacious. It was. But He had to die for everyone. Why? Because all had sinned (Romans 3:23) and the penalty for that sin was death. (Romans 6:23) Recall our Substitute in Genesis 3:15 and we can see Why He came.

Somebody had to die. Sin demanded it. It would be either your and me, or a substitute who was sinless so that He had no sins for which to die. As much as I like you, I could not have paid for you because I had a debt to pay myself. But the Substitute came. And died.

Number two: To bring  "many sons to glory." There is our “Many” again. The sacrifice was sufficient for all, but not all would accept it. So “to those who received Him,” (John 1:12) He gave the right to become His brothers, and sons of God. (There is more about that in chapter 2 of Hebrews.) God sent Him, but gave us the option of accepting him or not. Why would we not?

He died for all. (See Number one.) John 3:16 said that God loved the whole world. The whole stinking thing. (See the post about the lamb.) But, as we complete 3:16 we encounter, “that whosoever believes in Him.” Not everyone will believe. Jesus said that He was the only way to God. John “He who has the Son has life and he who does not have the Son does not have life.” (John 3:36) There is only one way to God. Everyone is on the way. Some are going the right way: those who believe. And some are going the wrong way: those who do not believe.

“Not believing” does not need to be a violent, virulent rejection, just a failure to believe. This is the ultimate “pass-fail” test. Believe–pass with one hundred percent. Do not believe–fail with a zero. Be one of the “many sons.”

Number three: “To perfect the Author of their salvation.” The “perfecting” is not to complete or fill up. Sometimes we hear that God will be disappointed and incomplete if all people do not believe in Him. This is totally wrong on two levels. First, it is impossible for anyone whom God has chosen to be left out. Part of the “completion” is the final accounting of all those who are called by God.

And second, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are in perfect community and communion with each other and are, always have been, and always well be complete within themselves. There is no deficiency and they need nothing. But, God has chosen to give humans an opportunity to join in this perfection. All we have to do is believe, accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and claim His righteousness as our own. We do not fill up the Savior. We join Him in His family. (Number four)

A jeweler who examines a flawless diamond or a pure gold object does not add anything to the object when he pronounces it pure and flawless. He merely demonstrates the perfection that is already there. The Savior was proven to be perfect, complete, and sufficient by the Christmas encounter.

Number four: We are brought into the family. Verses 11-13 exclaim that the believers are included in the fatherhood of God. Jesus calls us brothers after we have been sanctified, or set apart for God, and finally he calls us brothers.

Then it gets personal in Number five: “Since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same.” A rich man could pay the bills of a homeless family and not even miss the money. But if he were to join the family and live with them, on their terms for a while, he would have an appreciation for what his gift would mean. Jesus could have just come, died, and gone back to heaven, and thus saving everyone, as discussed above. But He did not.

He became a man and suffered the same things that man does. More on this later. But He had to become flesh and live in that restricted venue–for Him, anyway–to appreciate what mankind is suffering and to be able to minister to them. He was fully man, as Christmas proves.

Number six: “He might render powerless him who had the power of death.” This is a critical point. Mankind has been subject to a cruel taskmaster. One who has seemingly infinite power, here on earth. The Christmas story proves that his power is not just limited, it is erased. He is powerless. Impotent. And that leads to number seven.

Number seven: “Free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Our oppressor is not just neutralized, we are freed from the sentence of death that has literally held us captive all of our lives. We are no longer slaves to fear, but are free. The “Fear not” of the angels was not just to the shepherds who were recoiling from a terrifying apparition (Luke 2:10). It was a message of freedom proclaimed to the whole human race! You are free from fear!

And that brings us to number eight. He could have left us with the first seven and we would have been eternally praising and thanking Him for all that He did. But number eight puts a human face on it.

Number eight: “He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest.” He did not leave us as free, and saved to face life as best we could. He became our merciful and faithful high priest. In the Tabernacle economy, the priests represented the people to God, and in turn brought “God” to the people. Jesus is the perfect high priest. He totally understands our nature and can convey that to the Father.

He not only pleads for us, but He brings a complete and perfect answer back to the penitent sinner who has come to Him. And He can do this, because, possibly this should be Number nine, but we will include it here: He is the propitiation for us. “Make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

That big word simply means to make us acceptable to God. Remember the lamb? (Link above. Two Christmas Pictures: A Lamb and a Son) The mother was “propitiated” by the skin of her dead baby, and would accept the orphan. In the same way, God views us through the “lens” of Jesus’ blood and sees us as perfect as is Christ Himself.

The reason I left these two together is the next phrase. (It could be Number nine.)Verse 18: “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” We are back to the concept that He partook in humanity so that He is not insulated from the feelings and fears that we all suffer. He not only understands, but He comes to the rescue. He comes to our aid.

The God-man, made a little lower than the angels is our compassionate and caring Shepherd in all things, including paying for our failures and enabling us to live in harmony with the Three-in-One.

The Christmas story is thus “complete.”


Hebrews 2:9-23
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the  author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, 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 whom God has given Me.”

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 

17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.