September 13, 2023 -- Hebrews 2:5-11 -- Jesus' Glory and the Glory of those Who Believe in Him

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5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him,
    or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
    you have crowned him with glory and honor,
8     putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.
Hebrews 2:5-11 ESV

What is your opinion of humanity? Infinitely valuable? Evolved pond-scum. The Dr. Rev. Michael Kruger, in his series on Hebrews offers two quotations which emphasize the very different view of the world versus the Christian’s view. Kruger's teaching has shaped today’s devotional.

“The human race is just a chemical scum on a moderate-sized planet, orbiting around a very average star in the outer suburb of one among a hundred billion galaxies. We are so insignificant that I can't believe the whole universe exists for our benefit. That would be like saying that you would disappear if I closed my eyes.” ― Stephen Hawking

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.” ― C.S. Lewis

The world is so inconsistent in its view of humanity. Are people merely dust in a vast, nearly limitless universe? Then there are woke view of humanity that the feelings of a person are so important that any harm, real or perceived, is punishable. Strange.

C.S. Lewis captures the sense of the reading from Hebrews. Man is made for glory. People are not mere mortals, but those who have been designed by God for “immortal horrors” (hell) or “everlasting splendors” (life God with in the new heavens and new earth).

We do not yet see man as such for the effects of sin have clouded our eyes and dulled our senses. However, the eyes of faith see Jesus, and Him glorified, so that empowered by the Spirit and taught by the Word, believers know the weight of glory that is in store in Christ.

Such a high view of humanity leads the believer to bring honour and praise to God.

Such a high view of humanity causes the believer to be urgent in evangelism.

Such a high view of humanity brings the believer to his knees in prayer for those who do not believe in Jesus, asking God the Father for their salvation and that by His Spirit He will raise up missionaries and preachers and teachers to go out in Jesus' Name.

Such a high view of humanity enables the believer to patiently endure adversity and suffering, knowing that God the Father has a weight of glory in store for those who abide in Christ.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. It is almost too much to think about, that You have created Adam and Eve with such crowning glory. Indeed, Your people today have such glory, though it is veiled to the sight of the world, it is revealed in Scripture and perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. How great and blessed are You, God of Heaven's Armies and how vast is Your mercy to us, who so often aimlessly run in circles and do not seize upon the riches You have for us in Christ. Spirit of the Living God, lead us to meditate on the wondrous truth of Scripture. Help us to see the weight of glory given and in store for Christians and send us out to our neighbours, family, and this world as representatives and ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Amen.

https://youtu.be/tvSAZaHae2I?si=KVqcfRR9Av-t71qN “Lord, our Lord, Thy Glorious Name”

If you are able to read the words of this hymn, perhaps as you sing along, you’ll see it follows Psalm 8, which was quoted in Hebrews 2.

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