Slices
Prepare
‘Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep… We have offended against your holy laws… there is no health in us’ (Book of Common Prayer).
Bible passage
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,
‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.’
13 And again,
‘I will put my trust in him.’
And again he says,
‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Explore
When you sin, how do you picture God’s face? Is he frowning? Angry? Disappointed? More generally, is your tendency to see God as far from you, even as a hard taskmaster, who demands you keep up? Wonderfully, the gospel is so much better than we sometimes believe!
God is not like our dark hearts presume. He is for us – even desires that we be with him in glory (v 10). And despite our sin, which merits his judgement (v 17b), he sent his Son. But not in a smash-and-grab rescue; no, God’s eternal Son entered our world of blood, sweat and tears (v 14). He suffered (vs 9,10). He was tempted (v 18). He really became one of us (vs 14,17). His death pays for all our sin (v 14). And God has no more anger left for us (v 17b). Now we have nothing to fear even in death (v 15). Though we might often be ashamed of ourselves, he is not ashamed of us (v 11). He wants us in his family (vs 11,12)! He even has genuine sympathy for us when we are tempted, because he completely understands (v 18).
Respond
God’s face smiles on us with a mercy and grace we do not deserve. Give thanks and praise him today. He is with us, utterly with us!
Deeper Bible study
‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’1 As you prepare to read, meditate on the wonder of the incarnation.
In 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest. Since then almost five thousand people have reached the summit, many following the same route. Someone has to go first – the pioneer (v 10), the trailblazer (the word translated pioneer has a range of meanings – including leader, prince and originator – and will appear again in 12:2). Jesus has done more than mark out the route. He has made the journey of salvation possible, sharing our humanity, dying for us, breaking the power of the devil and thus releasing us from slavery and fear (v 15) and dealing with our sin (v 17). The result is that we become part of God’s family (v 11), with Jesus accepting us as brothers and sisters.
To pioneer our salvation, Jesus fully shared our humanity and suffered as one of us. Only in this way could he bring redemption. Verse 10 is puzzling: surely Jesus was always perfect? The point is that by his suffering he became perfectly qualified to be the Saviour. The glory of Jesus is seen not only in his pre-existence with the Father, but also in his humiliation and suffering, in his death and resurrection and in his ascension and reign. He invites us to share that glory (v 10). That being so, why look elsewhere for salvation?
Being a fellow sufferer means that in his high-priestly role Jesus has complete understanding of our situation. Because he struggled with temptation – especially in Gethsemane, to turn from the cross – he is able to come alongside us in every temptation with understanding and sensitivity, standing with us and providing strength. Whenever we face temptation, especially the temptation to give up, we can confidently know that he fully understands and we can draw on his strength (v 18).2
You can afford to be honest with Jesus about the temptations you are facing; he knows anyway and he knows how hard the struggle is. Draw strength from him.
1 John 1:14 2 See also Heb 4:14–16
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Leviticus 15,16; Matthew 9
Pray for Scripture Union
Local mission partner Christians 4 Education working in North Wales thanks God for good contacts with children and their families through their mentoring and parenting work. Please pray for new volunteers to help with the increasing requests from local schools.
