The Superior Messenger - Part 6

READ: Hebrews 2:5-9
For not to the angels did he subject the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But somewhere, someone protested, saying, "What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you should pay attention to him? You made him lower, for a short time, than angels; you crowned him with glory and we honour. You put all things in subjection under his feet."

For a while subjecting all things to him, he left nothing that was not made subject to him. Even now, not yet, do we see all things subjected to him. But we see Jesus who, for a short time, was made lower than angels, because of the suffering of death having been crowned with glory and with honour, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for all.

REFLECT
Someone might protest, "If Jesus is greater than the angels, why was he a human being?" The Hebrew writer here reminds us that it was always God's plan to have everything subject to humanity's dominion. In the creation God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground" (Genesis 1:26). Yet, mankind messed up so that we do not now see "all things subjected to him." The reality is that people not only do not have dominion over the rest of creation, they don't even have dominion over themselves, but rather are slaves to sin and to fear!

However, God would not be thwarted. He had a plan and that plan was to send his Son into this world as a human being (i.e., for a short time make lower than angels). And as a human being he suffered death for all and has been crowned with glory and honour. Jesus became a human being (lower than angels) so that he could restore humanity's glory and honour by paying the price for our sins!

Bottom line: God had a plan but mankind messed it up. God then sent his Son into this world to enable mankind to experience his original plan! And that plan involved Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for a short time, but who is now crowned with glory and honour, having experienced death for us all. His is still far superior to angels and so are those who put their trust in him and live in obedience to his will.

PRAY
Father, I am so grateful (wow, I say that a lot!), that you did not allow our failure to stop you from realizing your plan for humanity. You want us to rule over your creation and to be crowned with glory and honour, the glory and honour that we each lost in our sin, but the glory and honour that can be restored through Jesus and his death on the cross! The world to come will be subject to us as we will be allowed to share in Jesus' glory as we rest in your eternal presence. Father, such thoughts put my struggles in this world into perspective. Such truths elevate my spirit and revive my soul. This world wears me out. I have felt frustrated and hurt and purposeless these last few days, all because I lost my focus on the goal of being with you in eternity. When that happens, Father. When Jesus comes back and I hear those words that I long to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant. Come in and share in your master's happiness," then all the pain and the problems of this life will vanish and I will celebrate in joyful worship of my God and Creator!

OBEY
Do you understand who God intended you to be and where God intended you to be? Do you accept the fact that you, like all the rest of us, messed up God's plan through your sin? Do you see how Jesus' death has allowed God to fulfill his original plan for you? He wants you to be with him forever in eternity and rule over his creation. Are you ready? Are you excited? Are you grateful?