(photo courtesy of Samantha Campbell)
“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” – Hebrews 2:16-18
Sometimes when I am studying a specific passage in the Bible, the Spirit of God opens my eyes to new meaning, and it totally amazes me. Today, as I focused on Hebrews 2, I was drawn to the last 3 verses.
Jesus chose to leave heaven and become flesh (John 1:14) to experience everything that humanity would face, things that He would not experience as God. For example, the temptation to sin is not in God’s nature. God is sinless; He is perfect; He is holy. He makes no mistakes. It is not a hard decision for Him to do what is right, but He wanted to understand everything that we would go through so He could be empathetic with us as He interceded for us to God the Father.
Often, we focus only on the sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary. He suffered horrific agony and an unimaginable death as He took our sin upon Himself, and that truly was the greatest sacrifice He made, but it was not the first sacrifice He made for us. Jesus’ sacrifices began before He ever went to the cross.
When Jesus willingly left heaven, He sacrificed perfection for imperfection. He sacrificed a sinless, temptation-free environment of peace and harmony and adoration for God to come to one that was sinful and temptation-laden, filled with evil and wickedness, unrest and violence, and a hatred for God and all things holy. Why did He make this sacrifice? To provide redemption for us and to intercede for us. According to Hebrews 2:17, He did this “… that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Jesus did this to become our Saviour.
There is nothing Jesus would not have done to reconcile us to Him. He sacrificed everything – His home, His riches, His glory, His life. Everything!
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room for Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word ghat should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.
(from “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” by E. S. Elliot)
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38
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Jesus truly sacrificed everything for you and me. What are we willing to sacrifice for Him?