Christmas in Hebrews

(This is a modification and addition to a post of 12/27/16.)

There are many Christmas stories in the Gospels and the Old Testament. There is also a Christmas story in Hebrews. Look at the first two verses: (Hebrews 1:1, 2)
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? Certainly. 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. They rejoiced and shouted the news to (excuse the pun) to the high heavens. But there is more. Turn to chapter 2:9 through 18. First we identify the main protagonist.
“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. Psalm 8:4, 5 described man as “a little lower than the angels,” and we might get mixed up. (Unclear antecedent to the preposition, “Him.” Thank you Mrs. Cheney.) So that is cleared up It is Jesus. He became a man, just like you and me.

And next comes a catalog of Many 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 ten specific reasons why He came.

Reason number one: “He might taste death for everyone.” Back up in the text and we see Him crowned with glory and honor. Since this was after His time on earth, He had been successful. 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. The Law concerning sin demanded it. It would be either your and me, or a substitute who was sinless. This substitute must have no sins for which to die or he could only die for his own sins. 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. Since He was without sin, He could pay for me. And since He was infinite, His death was sufficient for me, and for you–and for the whole world.

Reason 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 us 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, rotten thing. But, as we contemplate 3:16 we encounter, “that whosoever believes in Him.” Not everyone will believe. Jesus said that He was the only way to God. John said “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. John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
We have to have Jesus (believe in Him) to come to the Father and have life.

Everyone is on a 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.”

Reason 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. (See 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 or provides evidence of  the perfection that is already there. The Savior was proven to be perfect, complete, and sufficient, beginning with the Christmas encounter.

Reason number four: We are brought into the family. Verses 11-13 explain 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 (and sisters).

Then it gets personal in Reason 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.

Reason 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. Hallelujah! And that leads to number seven.

Reason 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, yet wonderful apparition, (Luke 2:10) It was a message of freedom proclaimed to the whole human race! You are free from fear! From the fear of death.

And that brings us to Reason 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 has done. But number eight puts a human face on it.

Reason 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 was made “a little lower than the angels.” He became a man who was described as “a little lower than the angels.” 2:7 (Psalm 8:4, 5)

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. And He brought God to man. Charles Wesley got it right in his carol, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Hark! The herald-angels sing "Glory to the newborn king;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,  God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald-angels sing Glory to the new-born king"

Christ, by highest heaven adored Christ, the everlasting Lord,
  Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel
(Hear that? God with us!) Go on.

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth
Hark! Listen, the Angels sing, “Glory to the new born King.” God came to man.


(Sorry, got carried away there.) He not only pleads for us, but He brings a complete and perfect answer back to the penitent sinner who has come to Him. “Forgiven, adopted.”

And He can do this, because, possibly this should be Reason number nine, 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. When a mother sheep lost her own lamb, the shepherd would take another lamb whose mother had died and place the skin of the dead lamb around it. The mother was then “propitiated” by the skin of her dead baby, and would accept the orphan. She would ordinarily reject the orphan, but now she sees it as her own. In the same way, God views us through the “lens” of Jesus and accepts us as His own.

The next phrase could be Reason number ten. V 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 became a man. 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. This includes paying for our failures, sins, and enabling us to live in harmony with the Three-in-One.

The Christmas story is thus “complete.” “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”