How Jesus Identified with Man

Text: Hebrews 2:10-18

One of the major themes of the book of Hebrews is the priesthood of Christ. But Jesus needed to identify with man in order to be our high priest (Hebrews 2:17). This lesson examines several ways in which Jesus identified with man.

He Partook of Flesh and Blood (v. 14)

  • All people have a flesh & blood body – Jesus “partook of the same
  • This body was prepared by God (Hebrews 10:5) – but it was not unique in such a way that people would notice that He was special by His physical appearance (Isaiah 53:2)
  • Flesh & blood were what Jesus lacked to be able to complete His mission – He was already Spirit (John 1:1; 4:24); He just needed a body to house His Spirit

He Called Men Brethren (v. 11-12)

  • He had the appearance of equality with man (Hebrews 2:9) – of course, He was still God in the flesh (Colossians 2:9)
  • But He appeared to be a man like all of us (Philippians 2:8) – He made Himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:6-7)

He Trusted in the Father (v. 13)

  • We are to put our complete faith & trust in God (Proverbs 3:5-7) – Jesus showed us an example of this
  • Jesus’ prayer in the Garden (Matthew 26:39-44) – prayed that all would be done according to the Father’s will; not His own
  • Does this mean Jesus desired to escape the cross? … no, otherwise He would have (Matthew 26:52-53) – He laid down His life willingly (John 10:17-18)
  • Jesus was not praying to be delivered from the cross (John 12:27), but through the cross – this would be accomplished according to His Father’s will; His prayer was answered (Luke 22:42-43)

He Was Tempted (v. 18)

  • This context specifically mentions being tempted through sufferings [more on this in the next point] – Jesus was also “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)
  • What sort of temptation was this? … not internal (the desire to sin), but external (the testing of one under trial); Jesus was tested; He did not desire to commit every sin known to man
  • He shows us an example of how to overcome temptation (1 Peter 2:21-22; Matthew 4:1-11)

He Suffered (v. 10)

  • Human life involves suffering (Job 14:1)
  • Jesus experienced pain & agony – hunger (Matthew 4:2); thirst (John 19:28); fatigue (Matthew 8:24); rejection (Matthew 23:37); abandonment (Matthew 26:56); and all the events at the cross (Philippians 2:8)
  • He did not miraculously spare Himself from these things – He endured them

He Faced Death (v. 14-15)

  • It is appointed to man to die once (Hebrews 9:27)
  • Jesus tasted death for all (Hebrews 2:9) – not in our place, but for our benefit
  • Facing death not only allowed Jesus to identify with us, but also made salvation possible (Hebrews 2:14-15; 9:14; 10:10; Romans 5:10) – this salvation is for all those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9)