Hebrews 1-2: A Savior Who Suffered
In our home we have family movie night every other Saturday. With a nearly teenage boy choosing our movies, the bulk of our movie night selections are superhero movies. We tend to note the strong parallels between superhero movies and the Jesus story. It strikes me that of the many people writing and creating these movies, and of the millions of people paying to see these movies, many likely don’t know or follow Jesus. Yet, this story comes to their minds and hearts, and resonates with them deeply. They are drawn to the story of the hero who does good, saves the people when no one else can, and often sacrifices themself to do so. While this is striking, it isn’t surprising, because like Ecclesiastes 3 tells us, God has put eternity in the human heart. The true Savior is so great that every single human heart is made to long for him.
Hebrews 1 speaks to Jesus’ deity (He is God) and supremacy (He is above all things), saying:
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus is God. His power is so great that He upholds the entire universe by His very word. And this great power makes His heroic story even more remarkable. Because God himself, with not just some super powers but all power and authority, chose to suffer. He was made to be like us. As we read on in Hebrews 2, it says:
“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 thier salvation perfect through suffering...Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery....Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:9-18)
Do we think about what it means that Jesus Himself suffered? He stepped into our human frame. He took on flesh and blood because we are flesh and blood. He even died. He sacrificed himself to save us, and defeated death for us. Jesus suffered greatly, but not for nothing. There was great purpose in His suffering. As verse 9 tells us, “It was fitting that he should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Hebrews says that He was made perfect through His suffering. Through it He defeated death, is enthroned on high, and is bringing many sons and daughters to glory. Jesus’ great suffering led to the greatest glory.
God’s word tells us that just as there was great purpose in Jesus’ suffering, there is great purpose in our suffering. James 1 tells us to, “Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4). Do you hear the resemblance in this language to that in Hebrews 2:9? We are being conformed into the image of the Son. And as we walk in the example of our Savior, our faith is being perfected and completed through suffering.
Lastly, Hebrews tell us that we do not have to walk through suffering alone. As Hebrews 2 says, “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). And again in chapter 4, we read “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16). What are we to do in the face of trials, or when we feel weak and broken? Our response is to go to Jesus. We can ask our hero for help, and he continues to come to our rescue, giving us the mercy and grace we need to see us through. We can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world, and in Him our outcome is sure. Whatever the trial, let’s run to our hero, knowing that He is willing and able to save us.