Yes, it's time for a new post, I know. But about what? I've been coming up blank every time I sit down to write, but now, I'm going to see if I can get past that void.
To those of you reading Underground, I'm sorry that I don't post more often. The chapters just come, well, slowly. I'm in a difficult part of the book to write because I don't have some reasons for things.
Hm. I've been reading some interesting stuff in Hebrews lately....let's see what I can get for a post there....How about the humanity of Christ? :) Now I can give this post a title!
There are some who don't see Christ as being fully human during his three decades on earth, but the humanity of Christ is not only proven, but critically important.
Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angles. But someone has testified somewhere,
"What are human beings that you are
mindful of them,
or mortals, that you care for them?
You have made them for a little while
lower than the angels;
you have crowned them with glory and
honor,
subjecting all things under their feet."
Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Heb. 2:5-9
Of course, we recognize the quote given as being from the Psalms, Psalm 8, to be exact. I find the interpretation being given by the writer here quite fascinating. Psalm 8 is, he says, speaking of humans. According to the psalm, the writer notes, all things should be under our subjection, but they're not. However, we see Jesus, who also fits the description of the psalm, with everything under His feet. So the psalm becomes both an ode to human's seeming insignificance and God-given dignity, and a prophecy concerning the coming and mission of Christ.
It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,
"I will proclaim your name to my
my brothers and sisters,
in the midst of the congregation I will
praise you."
And again,
"I will put my trust in him."
And again,
"Here am I and the children whom God
has given me."
Since the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same thing, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of th death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those are being tested. Heb 2:10-18
The 'one who sanctifies' is Christ, and 'those who are sanctified' are mankind. We both come from one Father, God.
...then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. Gen. 2:7
....son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God. Luke 3:38
And
And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. Mark 1:11
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him!" Luke 9:35
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood (they have one Father, that is, God) Christ shared the same things, (flesh and blood - humanity) so that through death, he could destroy the one who wields death, Satan and free those living in fear of death. Christ didn't come to help the angels, but those descended from Abraham.
Because he was helping us, he had to become like us so that, when he became our mediator, he would understand our difficulties and be merciful. He has been through it all, now he can turn and help us.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Heb. 4:15
Christ walked a lifetime in our shoes, God of the Universe, yet still fully human. If he were not fully human, he could not have become our mediator.
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16