Hebrew 2:8b-9

But now we do not yet see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus having been made a little less than the angels because of his suffering of death, having been crowned to glory and honor, that by the grace of God he might taste death in behalf of all men.

Ok I did not get back to this blog as quickly as I would have liked. I apologize.

In the previous verses we see that Psalms 8 claims that God has placed creation (animals and nature) under man's control and supervision. However in this verse we see the counter argument. Even though everything has been placed under man's supervision, it seems to all be in rebellion. When we read about the Garden of Eden, it seems like a very different place than we experience now. In fact it is paradise compared to the situation we find ourselves in now. In Eden, man worked with animal in the land and ate from the land. However part of the curse of man's sin in the garden was that the land (and animals) would be almost like in a state of rebellion towards man. The earth would have thorns. Man would toil and not produce as much as he could in the garden. On top of that man now experiences death. Death in creation and death in his life.

So Paul gives us here the curse situation. God gave us responsibility, we blew it, and now things are not going well for us.

But we do see Jesus, who having been made a little lower than the angels, because of his suffering of death is crowned with glory and honor that by the grace of God he might taste death for every man.

The amazing part of Jesus is that he was above all spiritual forces, the leader of God's army of angels. But he lowered himself to our state, a little less than angels, that he might die. The people back then struggle with the idea that God's son (his perfect representation and God himself) might become human. However he had his reasons. He became less that he might suffer. He suffered to die. And he died that he might begin to reverse this curse that is upon man. He took on death for us. And this is God's grace, his free gift. The final words of this phrase "every man" can actually also be translated "everything." Jesus took on death for us and for creation. This world is under the curse and Jesus is reversing it.

It is interesting to follow the idea of suffering in Hebrews, because Paul here is writing to a people who are suffering persecution from their family, neighbors, and friends. Jesus came to suffer death by the hands of his people and really by the hands of the entire world. After his suffering though, he was seated on the throne over the entire universe. However, in God's plan, he could not get there without the suffering. We also must suffer and toil in this life. We might experience rejection. We might experience violence. But our suffering leads us closer to Jesus and closer to God's glory. Jesus tasted the final death for us all. When we turn to him, we don't have to worry about that outcome, because we can know that we will be in a better place when we have faith in him.

Joshua 1:6-9 sums it up nicely for us;
"BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."