Hebrews 2:9

He tasted death for us.

This sentence from Hebrews sweeps in one stroke across the epic life of the Lord Jesus, eternal Son of God who loves the people of His creation and who in the ultimate heroic fashion provides a stunning rescue. It’s deeply heartening to contemplate. In response, we love and worship Him.

Indeed we see Jesus whose endeavors are objectively written into the history of the universe. The Lord Jesus Christ is undiminished deity and perfect humanity united in one person forever. While remaining the eternal Son of God, Jesus took to Himself a human nature and humbly engaged in a momentous endeavor.

He veiled His glory and lived as a man among us, looking and acting like the man he had become. Jesus remains that man even today. In this He assumed a station temporarily lower than angels, yet in identity remaining the Lord of creation.

Jesus was crowned with glory and honor because of the success of His venture. He has glory eternally because of His identity, but putting that identity into practice by weaving His power and mercy and love into the events of Calvary adds to the objective public display of His identity. His suffering and triumph glorify Him by certifying to us who He is. We see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels.

He is crowned with honor irrespective of whether any of His creatures esteem Him worthy of such respect and praise. But I hasten to add that a believer’s response to this sight is to honor Him, to recognize His worth, and to applaud Him with energy and gratitude.

He is crowned with honor because of His suffering. The cost of the gift He has freely given lends credit to His wealth and majesty. Jesus and His gift are unique...staggering...amazing. The Savior arrests our attention and will not fade from view. For those of us who are aware of the desparate need that sin and guilt imposes upon us, the wonder of Calvary is a soothing balm and a wonderful reality.

Jesus was made a little lower than the angels for a purpose: to taste death for every man.

Each of us is in unavoidable mortal peril. We are sinners by nature and sinners by choice. Born as morally fallen creatures, we act out our nature from the very beginning. We cannot hide ourselves from death unless we hide ourselves in Jesus.

Jesus took upon Himself what was justly ours. As our substitute He died, and it is now possible for us to live. His lifeblood was poured out. It washes away our stains. We have gone astray, the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. If we will, we can return and be forgiven.

These things were done by the grace of God. This is not a transactional relationship in which you can buy the favor of God and go on your way in rebellion against Him. It’s an existential shift of worldview that admits you have no right to continue living independently of God and seeks His forgiveness. God offers this pardon freely to those who will trust Him to provide it. Such people pass permanently out of death and into life.

Faced with this epic reality, the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, what is our response?

Repentance, if that’s the need. Don’t abandon Jesus in search of something better. Every other thing is merely part of His creation. Those glittery things promise life but deliver an inadequate imitation that will leave you with nothing. Instead, spend your life considering the Lord’s amazing majesty and worship Him.

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