Author: Kristen Kansiewicz, LMHC

“And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house. But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.”

Chapter 3 starts with “And so…” which is a noteworthy transition from a couple heavy hitting chapters we’ve read so far. Essentially, the author is saying, “Because of all the claims I have made about God’s relationship with Jesus, angels, and humans…” And what is the challenge laid before us? To think carefully about “this Jesus.” If you are being so bold as to declare that Jesus is God’s messenger, our faithful and ultimate high priest, and even God himself who created all things (see Hebrews 1:2), then you better have thought through the magnitude of what you are saying.

We enter in another character to the scene as we consider Jesus’ place in Israel’s history: Moses. Maybe Jesus was just another great leader like Moses. Nope. Jesus deserves the fullness of God’s glory because of the attributes that we have already described. Moses didn’t create the universe. Jesus did that. And in case you were still unclear about whether the author is really saying that Jesus is God, we have this statement: “The one who built everything is God.” The logical flow is unmistakable. Jesus created all things, he is like the builder where Moses is just the house, and the one who built everything is God.

Whether you are a follower of Jesus right now or not, you have to do something with him. The Bible’s claims about him are radical and audacious. Secular history establishes him as an actual historical figure who did miracles as described in the Bible. Historians of the day recorded that some called Jesus the “Messiah.” If you have any interest in seeking what is really true about our universe and the spiritual realm, you have to do something with “this Jesus.” Take a good, careful look at exactly who he is. Because at the end of the day, you are either following him or walking away. And there are real and eternal consequences to that decision. Think carefully.

“We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

The more I spend time reading Hebrews, the more it seems there are clear theological questions that the first Jewish readers of this letter had that are being answered here. The first two chapters have jumped into some pretty deep stuff quickly. If I could boil it down to a main question that is being answered in this letter, I would say it is, “Who exactly is Jesus?”

So far we know Jesus has been described with the same power, glory, and voice of God. We know he is higher than the angels, though he was made lower than the angels when coming to earth. We know that we as humans are God’s children, and we are above angels in the sense of being God’s children and having ultimately authority to rule with Jesus someday. However, we are lower than angels in the sense that we are living in a broken world full of sin right now and angels have a role of serving us. Today’s passage also makes it clear that Jesus specifically came for humanity and the Jewish people, not to help angels.

Jesus did everything possible to become a merciful and faithful connection from humanity to God. Jewish priests were the only ones that could enter God’s presence — once per year in the Holy of Holies in the very center of the Temple. In this way, the priests would atone for the sins of the people. The problem is that the people kept on sinning and the sacrifice had to be given over and over. Jesus, in his mercy and love, gave his own life as a final and ultimate sacrifice. He is the permanent priest who has atoned for all sins. The testing that he went through was his way of proving himself. If you wondered about God’s mercy and faithfulness before, Jesus’ life demonstrates that he will do whatever it takes to rescue you. The heart of God is a heart of mercy.

“So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. For he said to God,

‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
    I will praise you among your assembled people.’

He also said,

‘I will put my trust in him,’
    that is, ‘I and the children God has given me.’

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

The tagline for Freedom For Today is, “The Word of God for your mental health.” Certainly the Bible is not a cure for mental illness, but studies have shown that spiritual practices including reading Scripture do improve our overall mental health. This idea of the “Word of God” is complex, and it is illuminated even more in today’s passage. Here the author is quoting parts of Psalm 22 and Isaiah 8 and making a statement that those words were Jesus talking to the Father. These Scriptures are directly placed in Jesus’ mouth.

The book of Hebrews has so far been focused on establishing that Jesus is God and distinguishing this from angels and humans. Scripture literally came out of Jesus’ mouth before he was ever on earth, yet he also became flesh and blood. We are God’s children, and the Word of God became flesh to live among us (see John 1). I am struck by the words, “only in this way.” This audacious, ridiculous, painstaking plan of having Jesus take on humanity was the only way to set us free. Freedom is truly a costly endeavor.

The best way to practice empathy is to walk in someone else’s shoes for a while. Jesus’ feet got pretty dirty on earth, and he gets you. He gets your struggle, he gets your pain, he gets your desires. God birthed his children in human form out of pure love, and then birthed himself in human form to create a path to freedom. Only by dying was the power of Satan broken. Only by his embodiment could we be unchained. Love this vast is rooted in togetherness, empathy, and familial bond. Jesus is family in the best sense of the word. He will always have your back no matter what.

“And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. For in one place the Scriptures say,

‘What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    or a son of man that you should care for him?
Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them authority over all things.’

Now when it says ‘all things,’ it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position ‘a little lower than the angels’; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.”

The author of Hebrews continues the written argument about Jesus’ position among God and the angels. It is clear that the angels do not have a position of authority over creation nor over God’s kingdom. The Scripture referenced in this passage is Psalm 8:4-6, in which the songwriter there is reflecting on the paradox of God’s choice to elevate mankind and give them authority despite our lowliness. (In other words, we can get dirty… Ewww….). Why should God elevate us? And why should he have lowered Jesus, making him “lower” than the angels while he was on earth? Why could Jesus get dirty too?

God knew what he was getting into with you. Romans 5:8 says that Jesus came to die for us “while we were still sinners.” God’s choice to elevate us and give us authority reveals far more about him than it does about us. Genesis 1:27 gives us one clue about God’s heart — he made human beings in his image. Angels do not hold that same place in God’s heart. They are not called God’s children. Jesus came as a child to join us as children so that we all together could rule and reign with him in God’s kingdom. It’s mind boggling. God didn’t wait until we fixed ourselves — we couldn’t do it. God chose to love us in the mud, and sent Jesus right into the mud with us. God’s not afraid of your mess — he’s ready to get his hands and feet in it to lift you up.

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.”

Everything God has ever said has held true. Nothing has changed from the Old Testament to now. Many people think of God in the Old Testament as an angry old man who turned nice when Jesus showed up. Far from it! The salvation of Jesus is not a change in the story — it is the story!

God’s law has always demanded punishment. Sin separates us from God. That was never God’s desire for his people. Rather, he has always drawn his people back to himself. For a Jewish audience who was very familiar with their own history, there are countless stories of God calling his people back to himself and saving them after disobedience. Jesus announced a permanent path to salvation and confirmed it through the Holy Spirit when he performed miracles. He proved that he was God himself, Lord over all.

Some Jewish people in Jesus’ day perceived him as a threat. He seemed to challenge God’s law and the religious leaders thought that he was trying to pull them away from the Old Testament law. Instead, he came to make everything right. The law revealed the brokenness of people, and Jesus came as the Savior to say, “Come with me! I can get you out of this mess!” Hold on tight to that truth today. Jesus came to give you a way out.