Hebrews 2:5-12
The Superior Son

The Superior Son

But, Jesus Christ did exactly the opposite!
The Superior Son

 The Hebrew Christians seem to have had some problems
grasping the Incarnation.
The Superior Son

 The Hebrew Christians seem to have had some problems
grasping the Incarnation.
 Some seem to have wanted to give up on Christianity because
God became a man.
The Superior Son

 The Hebrew Christians seem to have had some problems
grasping the Incarnation.
 Some seem to have wanted to give up on Christianity because
God became a man.
 A fundamental tenet of Christianity is that God—in the form
of Jesus Christ—became a man.
The Superior Son

 The Hebrew Christians seem to have had some problems
grasping the Incarnation.
 Some seem to have wanted to give up on Christianity because
God became a man.
 A fundamental tenet of Christianity is that God—in the form
of Jesus Christ—became a man.
 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from
the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:1, 14, ESV).
The Superior Son

 The Hebrew Christians seem to have had some problems
grasping the Incarnation.
 Some seem to have wanted to give up on Christianity because
God became a man.
 A fundamental tenet of Christianity is that God—in the form
of Jesus Christ—became a man.
 Jn 1:1, 14.
 Jesus “made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being
born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he
humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross” (Phil 2:7-8, ESV).
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
 In the first two chapters, he shows that Jesus’ Incarnation
does not lessen his deity.
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
 In the first two chapters, he shows that Jesus’ Incarnation
does not lessen his deity.
 It is Jesus who is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact
imprint of his nature” (1:3, ESV).
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
 In the first two chapters, he shows that Jesus’ Incarnation
does not lessen his deity.
 1:3.
 Jesus became “as much superior to angels as the name he has
inherited is more excellent than theirs” (1:4, ESV).
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
 In the first two chapters, he shows that Jesus’ Incarnation
does not lessen his deity.
 1:3.
 Jesus became “as much superior to angels as the name he has
inherited is more excellent than theirs” (1:4, ESV).
 Angels are a higher class of created beings than man.
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
 In the first two chapters, he shows that Jesus’ Incarnation
does not lessen his deity.
 1:3.
 Jesus became “as much superior to angels as the name he has
inherited is more excellent than theirs” (1:4, ESV).
 Angels are a higher class of created beings than man.
 “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that
you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the
heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Ps 8:4-5,
ESV).
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
 In the first two chapters, he shows that Jesus’ Incarnation
does not lessen his deity.
 1:3.
 Jesus became “as much superior to angels as the name he has
inherited is more excellent than theirs” (1:4, ESV).
 Angels are a higher class of created beings than man.
 “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that
you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the
heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Ps 8:4-5,
ESV).
 The psalmist says that man has been made a “little lower than the
heavenly beings.”
The Superior Son

 The author of Hebrews taught his readers about why Jesus
became a man.
 In the first two chapters, he shows that Jesus’ Incarnation
does not lessen his deity.
 1:3.
 Jesus became “as much superior to angels as the name he has
inherited is more excellent than theirs” (1:4, ESV).
 Angels are a higher class of created beings than man.
 If angels are above man & Jesus is above the angels, that must mean
that his Incarnation did not remove his deity.
The Superior Son

 It is quite possible that some of the Hebrews were involved
in worshiping angels.
The Superior Son

 It is quite possible that some of the Hebrews were involved
in worshiping angels.
 “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and
worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up
without reason by his sensuous mind” (Col 2:18, ESV).
The Superior Son

 It is quite possible that some of the Hebrews were involved
in worshiping angels.
 “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and
worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up
without reason by his sensuous mind” (Col 2:18, ESV).
 The author might be saying, “You have this all backwards.
You’re worshiping angels when you ought to be worshiping
the Son.”
The Superior Son

 The author discusses Jesus’ Incarnation by demonstrating
that Jesus is superior to the angels & by showing the reasons
for the Incarnation.
The Superior Son

 The author discusses Jesus’ Incarnation by demonstrating
that Jesus is superior to the angels & by showing the reasons
for the Incarnation.
 This morning we wish to see the great superiority of Jesus.
The Superior Son

 The author discusses Jesus’ Incarnation by demonstrating
that Jesus is superior to the angels & by showing the reasons
for the Incarnation.
 This morning we wish to see the great superiority of Jesus.
 THE SUPERIOR SON is—
 A SUBDUING SON.
 A SUFFERING SON.
 A SHARING SON.
The Superior Son

vv 5-8
The Superior Son

 “Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to
come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified
somewhere, ‘What is man, that you are mindful of him, or
the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a
little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him
with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection
under his feet.’ Now in putting everything in subjection to
him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do
not yet see everything in subjection to him” (vv 5-8, ESV).
The Superior Son

 The Father has not subjected the coming world to angels.
The Superior Son

 The Father has not subjected the coming world to angels.
 That coming age must refer to eternity.
The Superior Son

 The Father has not subjected the coming world to angels.
 That coming age must refer to eternity.
 “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be
forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not
be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Mt 12:32,
ESV).
The Superior Son

 The Father has not subjected the coming world to angels.
 That coming age must refer to eternity.
 “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be
forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not
be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Mt 12:32,
ESV).
 “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or
brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for
my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold
now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers
and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to
come eternal life” (Mk 10:29-30, ESV).
The Superior Son

The Superior Son

 After the Resurrection, Jesus will relinquish his throne.
The Superior Son

 After the Resurrection, Jesus will relinquish his throne.
 “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God
the Father after destroying every rule and every authority
and power” (1 Cor 15:24, ESV).
The Superior Son

 In that coming age, all will acknowledge Jesus’ rightful
place.
The Superior Son

 In that coming age, all will acknowledge Jesus’ rightful
place.
 “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11, ESV).
The Superior Son

 In that coming age, all will acknowledge Jesus’ rightful
place.
 “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11, ESV).
 In eternity, everyone will acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
The Superior Son

 In that coming age, all will acknowledge Jesus’ rightful
place.
 No one shall enter eternal life except through the Son.
The Superior Son

 In that coming age, all will acknowledge Jesus’ rightful
place.
 No one shall enter eternal life except through the Son.
 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me” (Jn 14:6, ESV).
The Superior Son

 In that coming age, all will acknowledge Jesus’ rightful
place.
 No one shall enter eternal life except through the Son.
 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me” (Jn 14:6, ESV).
 “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you
believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (Jn 8:24, ESV).
The Superior Son

 In that coming age, all will acknowledge Jesus’ rightful
place.
 No one shall enter eternal life except through the Son.
 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me” (Jn 14:6, ESV).
 “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you
believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (Jn 8:24, ESV).
 God “has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in
righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this
he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead”
(Acts 17:31, ESV).
The Superior Son

v9
The Superior Son

 “We see him who for a little while was made lower than the
angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor
because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of
God he might taste death for everyone” (v 9, ESV).
The Superior Son

 We don’t currently see everything subject to Jesus.
The Superior Son

 We don’t currently see everything subject to Jesus.
 But, we do see him “crowned with glory and honor.”
The Superior Son

 We don’t currently see everything subject to Jesus.
 But, we do see him “crowned with glory and honor.”
 It was Jesus—and no angel—who “sat down at the right hand
of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3, ESV).
The Superior Son

 We don’t currently see everything subject to Jesus.
 But, we do see him “crowned with glory and honor.”
 It was Jesus—and no angel—who “sat down at the right hand
of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3, ESV).
 Therefore, it is Jesus—and no angel—who is worthy of our
worship.
The Superior Son

 The reason Jesus currently has this “glory and honor” is
“because of the suffering of death.”
The Superior Son

 The reason Jesus currently has this “glory and honor” is
“because of the suffering of death.”
 Surely, that’s one reason Jesus became man, for God cannot
die.
The Superior Son

 The reason Jesus currently has this “glory and honor” is
“because of the suffering of death.”
 Surely, that’s one reason Jesus became man, for God cannot
die.
 We all know the intense suffering that often surrounds death.
The Superior Son

 The reason Jesus currently has this “glory and honor” is
“because of the suffering of death.”
 Surely, that’s one reason Jesus became man, for God cannot
die.
 We all know the intense suffering that often surrounds death.
 But, Jesus suffered much more than any other.
The Superior Son

 The reason Jesus currently has this “glory and honor” is
“because of the suffering of death.”
 Surely, that’s one reason Jesus became man, for God cannot
die.
 We all know the intense suffering that often surrounds death.
 But, Jesus suffered much more than any other.
 Jesus, “being in an agony . . . prayed more earnestly; and his sweat
became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Lk
22:44, ESV).
The Superior Son

 The reason Jesus currently has this “glory and honor” is
“because of the suffering of death.”
 Surely, that’s one reason Jesus became man, for God cannot
die.
 We all know the intense suffering that often surrounds death.
 But, Jesus suffered much more than any other.
 Jesus, “being in an agony . . . prayed more earnestly; and his sweat
became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Lk
22:44, ESV).
 “Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’
that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mt 27:46,
ESV).
The Superior Son

 Jesus suffered in death “so that by the grace of God he might
taste death for everyone.”
The Superior Son

 Jesus suffered in death “so that by the grace of God he might
taste death for everyone.”
 The idea that it’s by God’s grace that Jesus died sets
Christianity apart from every other world religion.
The Superior Son

 Jesus suffered in death “so that by the grace of God he might
taste death for everyone.”
 The idea that it’s by God’s grace that Jesus died sets
Christianity apart from every other world religion.
 In other religions, man needs to try to appease the gods.
The Superior Son

 Jesus suffered in death “so that by the grace of God he might
taste death for everyone.”
 The idea that it’s by God’s grace that Jesus died sets
Christianity apart from every other world religion.
 In other religions, man needs to try to appease the gods.
 But, God sent Jesus to be our sacrifice.
The Superior Son

 Jesus suffered in death “so that by the grace of God he might
taste death for everyone.”
 The idea that it’s by God’s grace that Jesus died sets
Christianity apart from every other world religion.
 In other religions, man needs to try to appease the gods.
 But, God sent Jesus to be our sacrifice.
 “It was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Is
53:10, ESV).
The Superior Son

 Jesus suffered in death “so that by the grace of God he might
taste death for everyone.”
 The idea that it’s by God’s grace that Jesus died sets
Christianity apart from every other world religion.
 In other religions, man needs to try to appease the gods.
 But, God sent Jesus to be our sacrifice.
 “It was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Is
53:10, ESV).
 “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16, ESV).
The Superior Son

 Jesus tasted “death for everyone.”
The Superior Son

 Jesus tasted “death for everyone.”
 Therefore, it is he who has power over death.
The Superior Son

 Jesus tasted “death for everyone.”
 Therefore, it is he who has power over death: I am “the living
one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the
keys of Death and Hades” (Rev 1:18, ESV).
The Superior Son

 Jesus tasted “death for everyone.”
 Therefore, it is he who has power over death: I am “the living
one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the
keys of Death and Hades” (Rev 1:18, ESV).
 Therefore, it is he who has the ability to bestow life.
The Superior Son

 Jesus tasted “death for everyone.”
 Therefore, it is he who has power over death: I am “the living
one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the
keys of Death and Hades” (Rev 1:18, ESV).
 Therefore, it is he who has the ability to bestow life: “I am the
resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he
die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in
me shall never die” (Jn 11:25-26, ESV).
The Superior Son

 Jesus tasted “death for everyone.”
 Therefore, we have no need to fear death.
The Superior Son

 Jesus tasted “death for everyone.”
 Therefore, we have no need to fear death. came to “deliver
all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong
slavery” (Heb 2:15, ESV).
The Superior Son

v 11
The Superior Son

 “He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one
source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them
brothers” (v 11, ESV).
The Superior Son

 Jesus & his disciples “all have one source.”
The Superior Son

 Jesus & his disciples “all have one source.”
 KJV reads as the literal Greek: “He that sanctifieth and they
who are sanctified are all of one.”
The Superior Son

 Jesus & his disciples “all have one source.”
 KJV reads as the literal Greek: “He that sanctifieth and they
who are sanctified are all of one.”
 The idea is that both Jesus & his people have the same Father.
The Superior Son

 The Lord is, therefore, not ashamed to call us brothers.
The Superior Son

 The Lord is, therefore, not ashamed to call us brothers.
 Jesus shared in our humanity.
The Superior Son

 The Lord is, therefore, not ashamed to call us brothers.
 Jesus shared in our humanity.
 “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” (v 14, ESV).
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Jesus is fully God & he continues to be.
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Jesus is fully God & he continues to be.
 But, before his conception Jesus was only God, now he is both man
& God.
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Jesus is fully God & he continues to be.
 But, before his conception Jesus was only God, now he is both man
& God.
 “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tm 2:5, ESV).
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Jesus is fully God & he continues to be.
 But, before his conception Jesus was only God, now he is both man
& God.
 “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tm 2:5, ESV).
 I’m convinced that Jesus laid aside some glory & honor that can never
be regained.
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Jesus is fully God & he continues to be.
 But, before his conception Jesus was only God, now he is both man
& God.
 “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tm 2:5, ESV).
 I’m convinced that Jesus laid aside some glory & honor that can never
be regained.
 Think of the implications of that!
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Second: Since Jesus is our brother, we are children of God.
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Second: Since Jesus is our brother, we are children of God.
 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be
called children of God; and so we are” (1 Jn 3:1, ESV).
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Second: Since Jesus is our brother, we are children of God.
 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be
called children of God; and so we are” (1 Jn 3:1, ESV).
 Parents bestow on children blessings they give no other.
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Second: Since Jesus is our brother, we are children of God.
 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be
called children of God; and so we are” (1 Jn 3:1, ESV).
 Parents bestow on children blessings they give no other.
 “Which of you, if his sons asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are
evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask
him!” (Mt 7:9-11, ESV).
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Second: Since Jesus is our brother, we are children of God.
 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be
called children of God; and so we are” (1 Jn 3:1, ESV).
 Parents bestow on children blessings they give no other.
 Mt 7:9-11.
 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains
forever” (Jn 8:35, ESV).
The Superior Son

 There are two very important implications in Jesus’ sharing
our humanity.
 First: Jesus lost something he can never fully regain.
 Second: Since Jesus is our brother, we are children of God.
 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be
called children of God; and so we are” (1 Jn 3:1, ESV).
 Parents bestow on children blessings they give no other.
 Mt 7:9-11.
 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains
forever” (Jn 8:35, ESV).
 Because Jesus made us sons of God, the Father can bestow his richest
blessings upon us.
The Superior Son

The Superior Son