May 02, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus Shared in Our Humanity
Scripture: Hebrews 2:10-18(NIV)
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.
Devotional
A few months ago, the Department of Medicine at my University met to vote for a new chairperson. I was so motivated to run, thinking my experience and years of work for the University would equip me to lead the department and serve our community. The other candidate had less experience and less influence on the team. While thinking about it, I realized if my goal is to serve the community better, why don't I endorse my opponent and help him to be a better leader so we have two people serving our community? With two leaders working together, we bring more ideas, team engagement, and better service to our community.
Jesus was made the perfect leader, or pioneer, of our salvation through his suffering as the complete sacrifice for us. Jesus did not need to suffer for his own salvation because he was God in human form. He perfectly obeyed God through his own painful crucifixion to finalize our salvation. When we suffer, we carry on Jesus' work. Our suffering can make us, as servants of God, more sensitive to the needs of others. People who have dealt with pain can reach out with compassion to others who are hurting. Ask God to use your experience to help others if you have suffered.
We sometimes get consumed by titles or positions when serving God. We should learn from Jesus's example and his servant attitude. In this passage, Jesus teaches us to sacrifice to bring our fellow parishioners to eternal glory.
A Call to action: Can you think of a way to exemplify the servant attitude in your everyday actions?
Poem
Christ's Portion
Isaiah 53
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:11-12
To think that I’m Christ’s portion
Is more that I can bear
Such love beyond conceiving
Such grace beyond compare
That Christ, to me inherit,
Gave everything He had
Considered me His treasure
His pearl, in skull field clad
This Prince, through thorn fields ravaged,
Whipped, scourged by Dragon’s tail
He shielded me from fire
Where demoned hell’s mouth railed
Across the vast, deep chasm
Which separated us
He rides victorious, champion
To waken me from dust
To think that I’m Christ’s portion
Is more than I can bear
Such love beyond conceiving
Such grace beyond compare
