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Text: Hebrews 2:14-18

Looking at the incarnation through the lens of Hebrews 2:14-18

Prepare

Questions to Consider:

1. Spend some time reading the broader context of the passage, Hebrews 1-2. Consider Man's original God-given position and purpose according to Psalm 8, quoted in Hebrews 2:5-8. Consider how Christ, 'the Man,' the great Man, the second Adam, makes it possible for us to be restored to that original glory and honor, 2:9-running into our passage. It seems to me, then, that our verses address a return (at present, in part) to our former dominion under the truth and grace of God. Three things that looks like is what's revealed in our passage.
2. In 2:16, who is it that Jesus came to help? Why not angels? Why people? And what people, specifically? Who are 'the offspring of Abraham'? See Romans 4:11-12.
3. In 2:14-15, what did the Son have to 'share' in order to help His people? Can God die? If God puts on a human nature, can He, in that human nature, die? Though His enemies understood the cross to be Christ's defeat, what does the writer reveal for us in these verses? How was the death of Christ an instrument to destroy the one with the power of death? What might it look like for people to live their lives enslaved to Satan through 'fear of death'? Why is there fear? How might we, then, approach death? How might that approach govern our lives? Would that keep us from going to God? If so, why? How has Christ, through death, altered death and disarmed Satan for all who believe, i.e., how has He helped us in this? Do we have dominion over death in Christ? Do we apply that daily?
4. In 2:17, the writer repeats incarnation themes from 2:14-15. Here though, he further explains why the Son had to be made like us in every respect. What's that purpose? His high priestly service towards us on behalf of God is addressed two-fold in verses 17-18. What has He done for us according to verse 17? How does that work tie back into the help He's given in verses 14-15? Put another way, if our sins have been put away from God and His wrath against us satisfied so that all we know is the grace He's covenanted to give, why fear death? Satan plots to blind us to this grace, making death a frightful thing, which makes any consideration of going to God an equally frightful thing—but that's precisely where the sinner must go to find salvation! Pray for some lost friends this week, that God would open their eyes to this work of Christ.
5. In 2:18, the second service of Christ in His highly priestly role is addressed. What is it? Have you considered that you're not alone in facing temptation? Have you considered that Jesus lives to make intercession for you? Have you considered that He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin, so that He alone knows how to escape any and every temptation victorious? Are we daily getting to know Him, praying to Him, getting His Word in our hearts? Temptation often comes upon us quickly and, therefore, victory over it generally requires time in preparing ourselves to turn it away when it suddenly meets us? Sticking with Christ will guard our steps. Are you walking in this sense of our dominion restored? Ask God's help. From our text, He will give it!