Jesus Understands

Introduction

I went to Stratford High School in Nashville at the time it was a school for 10–12 grades. When I entered the school, my brother was a senior. I was a lowly sophomore. I decided during my sophomore year that I would engage in student government. In order to get into that role, I had to have 50 signatures from fellow students to get on the ballot. My brother took my petition to his friends and asked them to sign up and support his little brother. I’m not sure any of my friends signed the petition but even if they did, I do remember that most of the signatures were from seniors. I won that election and began a three year existence in high school politics.

My brother told me all kinds of horror stories about what I might experience in junior high and high school. Some of that was a reflection of his own experience but some of it was to make me cautious. There is something about having someone make your path easier that inspires. I never thought that I won that first election on my own. Without my brother’s help, I may not have won that first election. After all, a sophomore has little influence with juniors and seniors unless there is someone who can speak for you that does have influence.

In our text this morning, we are reminded that Jesus who is greater than the angels has also shared our humanity. The writer tells us that Jesus accomplished four things in sharing our humanity. As we share together today, let’s remember that our Savior knows and understands our experience. He has experienced what it means to be human in a broken world.

What Did Jesus Accomplish?

The writer of this sermon is trying to convince Jewish believers to remain faithful in their commitment to Jesus. Their suffering has resulted in them thinking that maybe following Jesus isn’t worth it. As any good writer, the author is using thought, experiences, and symbols from Jewish background to make his point. At times we may not understand his point but his readers would have understood. Frank pointed out that his discussion about the angels was in reference to the concept of the importance of angels in Jewish faith. Thus, Jesus is greater than the angels because he has been given greater promises and position.

This is where our text starts. Jesus has received the promise that the world will be completely under him. This was not promised to the angels but only to Jesus. But Jesus did not remain in the superior position. In order for the promise to be fulfilled, Jesus entered the human experience. No angel could accomplish what Jesus accomplished. No angel could by entering the human experience demonstrate the authority to have all things placed under him.

The writer says that Jesus was already exalted but he chose to enter the human experience in order to bring about God’s plan that all things would be placed under him. It is a future reality. The writer says in verse 8 that we don’t see it yet; but, do not skim over the next phrase — “But we see Jesus.” The point — the future reality isn’t present; it is future. But we already see the future when we see Jesus. The reality is secure. We are waiting for the passing of time and the fullness of God’s plan will be revealed. The author writes that Jesus accomplished four things in sharing the human experience:

First, Jesus experienced death for us all. God uses Jesus’ death to reveal to us what he always wanted for us — exaltation. Jesus is crowned with glory and honor as a result of his death. His death and resulting crowning of glory demonstrates that death no longer has the final word. As the beginning of verse 10 says, we are being brought to glory just as Jesus was brought to glory.

ii. Second, in verses 10–11, by sharing our humanity Jesus makes us holy so that we can be family with him. Through his suffering (death) Jesus has revealed that he perfectly lived according to God’s plan. His death and implied resurrection has resulted in Jesus accomplishing what no angel could ever accomplish — harmony with God. Such harmony that we are family. Jesus is the one who makes us holy and we are the ones made holy — we are family because of Jesus.

(1) We have no claim to holiness unless Jesus had suffered. His suffering confirmed his perfect holiness. Since we have accepted this perfect holiness, Jesus in that suffering allows us to be holy as well.

(2) To call Jesus brother and to have him call us his spiritual siblings is to suggest nothing about us. It points, rather, to him. We had no family until Jesus came to earth.

iii. Third, verses 14–15, Jesus in his humanity died and in that perfect holiness destroyed Satan and his power over death; thus, freeing us from the fear of death. Let’s break this down.

(1) To destroy Satan doesn’t mean that Satan is no longer active. It is a future reality seen in the present. Just as all things are not under Jesus yet, the future reality is assured. Satan is not dead but the ending of his power is a future reality.

(2) Death is the enemy. Satan’s last tool to separate us from God. But with Satan having been defeated, then all of his tools have also lost their power. Death is an enemy but it does not have the final word. Jesus came out of the tomb. His resurrection means that death doesn’t win. There is no final separation from God.

(3) No longer do we fear death. Being afraid to die is a natural part of the human experience. That isn’t the author’s point. His point is that we no longer live not knowing. Will we be with God immediately after death or will there be a waiting time? Wrong question. The answer is that death cannot separate us from God.

iv. Fourth, verses 16–18, Jesus understands us and compassionately forgives our sin. If you have been through cancer, you are more compassionate. If you have been through relational problems, you are more compassionate. If you have been through raising children, you are more compassionate. Jesus has been through the human experience. He knows what it is to be under the pressure of temptation. He knows what it is like to feel the pressure and not sin. Thus, he is merciful and faithful.

So what?

Jesus shared our human experience. He died just as we will die. He suffered just as we will suffer. He demonstrated his complete holiness so that we could by his holiness be made holy as well. He was tempted just as we are tempted. But as the faithful son, he always said yes to God. And in that perfection, a perfection that we will not achieve, Jesus makes atonement for our sin.

What does that mean? It means that he has broken down the wall that separates us from God. There are things that can separate us from God. Our sin, death, our unholiness — in all of these things, Jesus has destroyed them all. In his death, he took our place. In our unholiness, he has made us holy. In our sin, he has taken our shame and God’s wrath and dealt with both of them.

Jesus knows our human experience; he understands our human experience; he has lived our human experience; he has died; he has said no to all temptation; he knows the pressure; he knows the fear; he knows the shame — and all of that has been dealt with in his earthly life with the future spiritual reality that we, too, will one day be brought to glory.

3:1 — Therefore, holy people of God, who already share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Our confession is not a once for all confession. It is a daily confession. I choose Jesus. I do not choose my fear. I do not choose the pressure. I do not choose the distraction. I choose Jesus. I confess that he is my Savior; my Redeemer; my Rescuer; my Brother; the one is not ashamed of me and I am not ashamed of him.

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