The Accuser & The Advocate

While you’re turning there, I’d like to take a minute to look back over our shoulder and make sure we remember the flow of the book of Hebrews so far, the place in the argument we are stepping into.

The author would have us see the supremacy of Jesus over all of his competitors and rivals, as well as over all of his servants. To that end, we have seen that when you’re looking at Jesus, you’re seeing God incarnate.

He is greater than angels, the creator of all things and the one for whom all things are created. He is not only supreme over creation as Creator, but as Redeemer, the one who died and behold, who is alive forevermore, seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

And so, the first four verses of chapter two concluded, it would be sheer insanity to neglect his salvation, to count anything as greater or higher or more worthy of our worship or allegiance than this glorious Jesus.

Then as the flow of the argument for Jesus’ supremacy continued in that second chapter, we see that his glory is the glory of the God-Man, that God intends to reconstitute a New Humanity in Christ, to put all of creation under the feet of this New Humanity as his proxy-kings, manifesting his glorious image through his people on earth. So the supremacy of Jesus is partly that through him, God intends to do nothing less than to redeem, restore, and bring all things to glory.

Now what is astonishing, and we began to see this last week and now will see in greater detail in our section today, is the means through which Jesus accomplishes this restoration, redemption, and rule of all things.

He is a King subduing his enemies, yet he will do so not through steel and sword. He is a Conqueror, yet he will not conquer through visible might.

He wins the world and the cosmic throne by dying. He conquers, redeems, restores, and rules, astonishingly, through suffering. Look with me at verse 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. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

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.

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 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 2:10-18