Contemplation #127
“ . . . so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
We are always more comfortable with the teaching concerning what Jesus does for us, than with what we might experience in him. That he is our substitute is a comforting thought. He takes on himself the penalty for our sin and we receive his righteousness. But this text also shows us that it is the grace of God active in the life of Jesus that makes him the bearer of death for the sake of others. If we recognize that this same grace of God is what will animate our lives in Christ, giving us direction, purpose, and ministry, then we must acknowledge that we too may be called to bear what is not ours in order to lighten the burden of others.
Contemplation #128
“ . . . so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
The grace of God that brought Jesus to taste death for us was not God’s grace to and for us only, but grace to Jesus as well. Is it the merciful action of God that leads us into situations where we suffer for the sake of others? If this is the grace of God, what is the purpose of this grace? The Hebrew writer reminds us that even Jesus learned obedience from the things that he suffered and that he was made perfect (5:8). We have no path to perfection other than the one opened for us by Jesus. Learning to die to ourselves means becoming willing to die for others, and this is only “by the grace of God.”
Contemplation #129
“ . . . so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
The first part of this verse says, “But we see Jesus . . . now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death . . .” The following verse speaks of another of Christ’s works for us, “In bringing many sons to glory . . .” Do we not see that we share in the death of Christ, not purely by proxy but also in reality, so that we may share in the reality of his glory? Who wants glory by proxy only! Jesus tasted death, and enjoys glory. We must taste death to receive glory . . . though only through him and the grace of God given us in Christ. So often we want to come down from the cross, hoping to skip the death and move straight to glory. The grace of God allows no such shortcut, but takes us through death to glory in Christ.
“ . . . so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
We are always more comfortable with the teaching concerning what Jesus does for us, than with what we might experience in him. That he is our substitute is a comforting thought. He takes on himself the penalty for our sin and we receive his righteousness. But this text also shows us that it is the grace of God active in the life of Jesus that makes him the bearer of death for the sake of others. If we recognize that this same grace of God is what will animate our lives in Christ, giving us direction, purpose, and ministry, then we must acknowledge that we too may be called to bear what is not ours in order to lighten the burden of others.
Contemplation #128
“ . . . so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
The grace of God that brought Jesus to taste death for us was not God’s grace to and for us only, but grace to Jesus as well. Is it the merciful action of God that leads us into situations where we suffer for the sake of others? If this is the grace of God, what is the purpose of this grace? The Hebrew writer reminds us that even Jesus learned obedience from the things that he suffered and that he was made perfect (5:8). We have no path to perfection other than the one opened for us by Jesus. Learning to die to ourselves means becoming willing to die for others, and this is only “by the grace of God.”
Contemplation #129
“ . . . so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
The first part of this verse says, “But we see Jesus . . . now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death . . .” The following verse speaks of another of Christ’s works for us, “In bringing many sons to glory . . .” Do we not see that we share in the death of Christ, not purely by proxy but also in reality, so that we may share in the reality of his glory? Who wants glory by proxy only! Jesus tasted death, and enjoys glory. We must taste death to receive glory . . . though only through him and the grace of God given us in Christ. So often we want to come down from the cross, hoping to skip the death and move straight to glory. The grace of God allows no such shortcut, but takes us through death to glory in Christ.
posted by Greg at 9:07 AM
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