God Becomes Man

Hebrews 2:14-16

December 17, 2000

 

Why did God become a man? This question has perplexed men through the ages. The Graeco-Roman mind found the whole idea incredulous. Docetists, early Greek-thinking professors of Christianity, claimed that Jesus Christ only "seemed" to be a real man. Their view of matter being evil led them to explain away any notion of God becoming man, considering it to be a "spectral appearance." The Jewish mind found it blasphemous. An early group of Jews who professed to be Christians denied that Jesus was truly God. This group, known as the Ebionites, claimed that Jesus was a mere man who by his scrupulous adherence to the Law was qualified to be just and capable of being the Messiah [Bruce Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, 50].

 

The centuries since those early days have brought on a revival of early heresies denying some aspect of the Incarnation as well as distant cousins that skew it one way or the other. The modern liberal mind attempts to explain it away. The so-called "Jesus Seminar" eviscerated the four Gospels of any mention of the miraculous or divine concerning Christ. They were satisfied to have him as a mere man without the nature of God. The postmodern mind simply ignores the Incarnation or at best, reinterprets it to suit a cultural meaning far-removed from biblical revelation. Even though the Scripture speaks clearly time after time of this foundational truth, postmodernists have the capacity to act as though it is does not mean what it says.

 

Regardless of the duplicitous views of many on the Incarnation, it remains a foundation stone of the gospel. If God did not become man, then there would be no "good news." We would remain in our sins and under the judgment of God. "This is the heart of the Gospel," wrote C.H. Spurgeon, "the incomparable fact of the Incarnation of the Son of God, His dwelling upon the earth, and His presentation of Himself as a sacrifice unto God" [Christ's Incarnation, 88-89].

 

We are reminded that the angelic announcement to shepherds in the dark of night telling them of the birth of Christ was a declaration of "good news." This announcement stirred the angelic host to join the testimony of the prophets in pealing forth praise to the Almighty God, who stooped in the Incarnation to partake of humanity and become our Redeemer.

 

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is no secondary matter. It remains as the bedrock of the Christian gospel. God became a man. Why did he do this?

 

I.  Due to man's predicament

 

Let us keep in mind the two purposes that run throughout this epistle: first, to point to the sufficiency of Christ for those who were teetering on the brink of turning back to Judaism; second, to encourage those who were facing persecution to keep pressing on in the faith. The writer's aim is to set Christ before these believers in all of his fullness and sufficiency. The more their eyes were filled with a clear view of him who took on humanity and bore the judgment of God against them, the more they would be strengthened to continue on in the faith. Applying good doctrine meant a healthy walk for them...and us.

 

It is difficult to understand the solution if you do not grasp something of the problem. So our writer exposes the predicament that every person faces. There are no exceptions to the rule by virtue of particularly good upbringing or superior culture or level of morality. All of us, apart from Jesus Christ, live in the predicament set forth in this text.

 

1. A slanderous adversary

 

The ancient world maintained the idea of a cosmic dualism, similar to that espoused by the "Star Wars" series and New Age thinkers of our day. This dualism promotes the idea that good and evil exist equally in the world. Forces of darkness and forces of light carry on a tug of war, with supremacy swapping back and forth. Unfortunately this idea has crept into Christian circles. Many have the idea that the devil is on par with the Triune God; that a spiritual tug of war exists for control over the universe and particularly, authority over the souls of men. Sometimes God wins out; other times the devil wins out. Often it is expressed that men hold the key to determine who wins this battle for the soul.

 

Let there be no misunderstanding at this point! Our God has never been subject to the devil. There has never been one moment when the devil had the upper hand. Our God has not felt threatened by what the devil might do nor worried that somehow he might not have power to overcome the evil one. The devil's domain is limited. He is not sovereign nor is he infinite in his scope or power. Yet our writer refers to him as "him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." In what way does the devil have the power of death?

 

Did the devil create death? Death was the divine sentence against sinners pronounced in the Garden (Gen. 2:17). "Death is the awful reality of divine judgment, not satanic victory," wrote Philip Hughes. In this sense the devil uses the reality of death to intensify the condemnation of man due to sin. Death is the realm in which Satan works due to sin that he successfully proposed to the first man and woman. He waves the flag of death to sinners in order to intimidate and hold under his evil sway. But "the power of death is held by the devil only in a secondary and not in an ultimate sense. Death is indeed the dark reality of his tyranny. But God is still supreme in his sovereignty; unfailingly, it is for him and by him that all things exist, as we have been reminded (v. 10). Death is not a sphere that has broken loose from God's command" [P. Hughes, The Epistle to the Hebrews, 112].

 

There are many names for the devil in Scripture: Satan, our Adversary, the prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the evil one, the accuser of the brethren. Here the name "devil" means slanderer. For the devil makes it his business to slander the truth of the gospel, to deny its power, to confuse its simplicity, and to attempt to turn you away from the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. If you have heard the truth of the gospel yet thought that its saving power could not transform you, then you have fallen prey to the Slanderer's attacks. But understand this, Jesus Christ became a man so "that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, the devil."

 

2. A fearful enemy

 

Death is probably the most unpopular subject known to man. Some people avoid using the word for fear that to do so might jinx them in some way. Our writer points out that mankind lives under the "fear of death," a fear that holds them "subject to slavery all their lives." Ancients were known for their loud wailing and bitter cries because of death. We may be more sophisticated in our day, but no less fearful of death. Kent Hughes tells of the novelist Somerset Maugham, who at the age of ninety treated death smugly.

There are moments when I have so palpitating an eagerness for death that I could fly to it as to the arms of a lover...I am drunk with the thought of it. It seems to me to offer me the final and absolute freedom...I neither believe in immortality nor desire it. I should like to die quietly and painlessly, and I am content to be assured that with my last breath my soul, with its aspirations and its weaknesses, will dissolve into nothingness.

 

Maugham seemed to almost brag about having no fear of death. But a year later the novelist hovered at the brink of death and his tone changed. Maughan's Mediterranean villa and the accompanying servants were the envy of the wealthy on the Riviera. But as he approached death, none of this seemed important. His visiting nephew records what took place.

 

The following afternoon, I found Willie reclining on a sofa, peering through his spectacles at a Bible which had very large print. He looked horribly wizened, and his face was grim. "I've been reading the Bible you gave me...and I've come across the quotation: 'What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?' I must tell you, my dear Robin, that the text used to hang opposite my bed when I was a child.... Of course, it's all a lot of bunk. But the thought is quite interesting all the same." That evening in the drawing room after dinner, Willie flung himself down onto the sofa. "Oh, Robin, I'm so tired...." He gave a gulp and buried his head in his hands.... Willie looked up and his grip tightened on my hands. He was staring towards the floor. His face was contorted with fear, and he was trembling violently. Willie's face was ashen as he stared in horror ahead of him. Suddenly, he began to shriek. "Go away!" he cried. "I'm not ready.... I'm not dead yet....I'm not dead yet, I tell you...." His high-pitched terror-struck voice seemed to echo from wall to wall. I looked round, but the room was empty as before [Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, 76-77].

It was not the physical pain of death that wrenched the soul of this man; it was the stark reality of entering into the realm of darkness, unprepared for what he faced. Why do people fear death? It could be the fear of pain, though many die rather painless deaths. It is more consciously the fear of separation and fear of the unknown that churns within the mind. For the skeptic and atheist, it is the fear of "non-being," while many others are conscious of the fear of eternal judgment. Whatever the fear, Jesus Christ became a man so that he might remove it.

 

3. A conscious helplessness

 

Keeping in mind that the audience of this epistle had been enamored with angels, the writer reminds them, "For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendent of Abraham." The helplessness of man to face death and eternity leaps from this text. Job asked the searching question, "If a man dies, will he live again?" Is there anything that man can do to preserve himself for eternity? He is helpless. Look at the painstaking efforts of those who do not understand grace. They labor tirelessly, trying to find something that will in their minds appease God enough to overlook their sins and take them to heaven. They live in fear of death; they cling to their legalism in hope that it will suffice for divine justice. Yet the creeping sense of helplessness shrouds their thoughts and actions. They prefer to avoid the clear preaching of the gospel because it only reminds them of the helplessness they are trying to shake.

 

Do you feel a sense of helplessness as you look at eternity? When death stares you face-to-face, is there the confidence of the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding or the gnawing sense of helplessness and hopelessness?

 

II. To provide the necessary solution

 

Jesus Christ did not become a human being in order to survey the situation and report back to the Father. He who knows all things and who purposes all things for his glory sent his own son into the world to provide the necessary solution for the fear of death and grip of the devil on helpless sinners.

 

1. Divine pursuit

 

When the angels fell, did God pursue them? He judged them immediately (Jude 6). "For assuredly he does not give help to angels": the Lord does not give help to angels, but he does to those who will know him through faith in his Son; "but He gives help to the descendent of Abraham." The word "help" conveys more than simply "lending a helping hand." It is the idea of pursuing or going after someone in need in order to give assistance. It is the helpless that are pursued by God so that he might heap his grace upon them. Jesus pictured this with the story of the lost sheep and the shepherd pursuing the wandering, helpless animal to return him to the fold. We see this same pursuit in the life of Saul of Tarsus, as the Lord pursued him as he walked angrily on the Damascus road, transforming this enemy of the gospel into a beloved messenger of the gospel. The pursuit of God is evident among us this day. The Lord has pursued all who know the pardon of their sins and the saving grace of God.

 

Yes, man is in quite a predicament. But the Lord of mercy pursues him with his gracious saving work through Christ.

 

2. Real humanity

 

"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." It is apparent by the use of "therefore" that the writer is now drawing a conclusive point. He has spoken of the seriousness of not neglecting salvation and the solidarity that believers can have with Christ. Now he sets forth the substance of it; that it came about due to the real humanity of Jesus Christ. "Flesh and blood" (in the Greek it is 'blood and flesh' in this case) refers to humanity. The language of the text goes to great lengths to make sure that we understand that he is talking about real humanity. He equates our common humanity as "flesh and blood." It is something we "share in"; quite literally, we have it in common. The use of the perfect tense of the verb implies that humanity is our constant condition. It is the same humanity that Jesus Christ partakes of.

 

Some have the mistaken idea that Jesus was somehow insulated from humanity, as we know it. But the writer has already emphasized the suffering of Christ, a suffering that is comparable to all that we might suffer (2:9-10). The weight of our collective temptations assaulted him. The emotional and mental pain of loss, separation, and grief were his. He knew what it meant to be ridiculed, made fun of, criticized, talked about, and totally misunderstood. He understood what it was to live under false accusations even to the point of being treated as a common criminal.

 

Our writer doubles the emphasis on the humanity of Christ by declaring, "Since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same." He-Himself-likewise-also invites us to see the real humanity of Jesus Christ. It means that he became a man "in identical fashion" [P. Hughes 110] as each of us. The richness of this is seen against the backdrop of the foundation he has already laid: God has spoken to us in His Son who is also the Creator and heir of all things, who also is the visible radiance of the glory of God in all of the fullness of his divine attributes and who keeps the whole universe held together by the simple word of his power. This is the One who entered humanity in the most humble means, with peasant parents, a feed trough for a crib, and a stable for a shelter.

 

In our recent trip to London, we were walking in the rain to find a place for lunch when we noticed a helicopter hovering directly above us. A police escort with sirens blaring startled us. I looked up and saw a Jaguar limousine. It was Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip venturing outside the walls of Buckingham Palace and riding through the streets of London. They might tour the city and see the people, but I seriously doubt if royalty would exchange places with the commoners and live as they lived.

 

But Jesus Christ did just that-to the greatest extent. He left the glories of heaven and through the overshadowing work of the Holy Spirit was conceived in Mary's womb. Born in humility not royalty, Jesus Christ continued to know the infirmities and suffering of humanity. In identical fashion to us, Jesus Christ became a man. But he did not do so for inspiration. His purpose was a redemptive death.

 

3. Redemptive death

 

Notice where the writer is going with the instruction on the Incarnation: the death of Christ. "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." Christ was born in the humble surroundings of the Bethlehem stable so that he might die a redemptive death. There is no sentimentality here, no "precious moments" scenario. Jesus Christ entered the realm of humanity for the solitary purpose of accomplishing through his death what was necessary for us to be in a right relationship to God.

 

Why did God become a man? It was man who sinned against God. It was man who stood condemned before God. It was man who must satisfy divine justice that was due for sin and rebellion. So God became a man, so that as man he might satisfy divine justice on our behalf.

 

The devil had prevailed over the sons of Adam due to their corrupt nature. So Christ partook of this same humanity but without sin. Though Satan tried his best to tempt our Lord to sin, in every instance Jesus Christ triumphed-and ultimately broke our adversary's stronghold at the cross.

 

The law stood against us as lawbreakers and therefore under its curse. Its cruel condemnation brought on fear of death, for death meant facing the Judge before whom all will stand. So Jesus Christ, as a man, obeyed the law on our behalf, imputed his righteousness to us, and then bore the law's curse at the cross (Gal. 3:13). All of the condemnation that had been heaped upon us, Christ bore. All of the agony of the darkness of death, Christ bore at the cross so that he might strip death of its sting.

 

III. To secure the effective remedy

 

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ was the entry point of the Redeemer who came to set us free by his death and resurrection. What Jesus did on the cross secured the effective remedy necessary for sinners to know the pardon of sin and to be delivered from condemnation and fear.

 

1. Nullify the devil's power

 

Jesus' death sacked the power of the devil! "That through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil," the author exclaims. As we have noted, the devil's power of death is secondary. The sovereign Lord delivered the sentence of death as judgment upon sinners. But since the devil operates in the realm of sin and rebellion against God, he holds death over our heads. His power is not an absolute one. But those who rebel against God join allegiance with the devil. To do so is to fall under his power that ultimately manifests itself as death-separation from God.

 

The work of our Lord in his death ironically is the very solution needed to strip the devil of his power. The word used for "render powerless," means to nullify or render impotent as though no longer existing [Reinecker]. Richard Mayo declared, "Christ hath not destroyed him as to his being and substance, but as to his power and authority over the children and chosen of God" [Puritan Sermons, IV, 254]. The devil still exists, but his power has been stripped. Just like a vicious dog that has been secured by a chain, he might bark and stretch the chain to its full length, but he is held at bay by something stronger and more powerful. Jesus Christ, through his death, chained the power of the devil so that while he roars and seeks to intimidate, we must remember that at the cross his power was nullified.

 

2. Remove death's sting

 

Death is common to all of us; we have a destiny with it. But through Christ, we need not fear its threat: "He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He...might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." As those who have faith in Christ, when we face death, we do not enter the realm of the unknown, but the reality of that which is known before God. We must realize that death is not darkness for us but the promise of eternity with the Lord. Martin Luther saw this so strongly that he boldly wrote, "He who fears death or is not willing to die is not sufficiently Christian. As yet such people lack faith in the resurrection, and love this life more than the life to come" [P. Hughes, 114].

 

We admit that death is common to us all; and there are certainly questions we have about how it might feel to die. Yet as Christians we must look at death with different eyes than those of the world. Paul declared that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, "Death is swallowed up in victory." He then goes on to taunt death. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15:54-57). Death's sting is sin, but Jesus Christ has borne our sins before the judgment of God at the cross. Sin's power to condemn us is found in the law, but Christ bore the condemnation of the law for us, having become a curse for us at the cross. On top of this, we have Christ having gone on before us, facing death and being raised again. He is the resurrection and the life! No wonder John Calvin wrote, "Although we must meet death, let us nevertheless be calm and serene in living and dying, when we have Christ going before us" [P. Hughes 114].

 

3. Win believer's freedom

 

If you can picture for a moment a prison house holding its captives securely, then try to imagine their sense of hopelessness and fear. We have heard in the news this week of an American that has been held in a Russian prison for weeks over an alleged espionage case. The conditions were pathetic and there were times that he wondered if he would ever be free. But deliverance came! He said it was wonderful to be delivered from prison and set free. With even more elation we ought to glory in Jesus Christ who has set us free from the slavery to Satan and death: "and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives."

 

The only free people in the world are those who have been freed from the slavery of sin through Jesus Christ. A person might live in the most oppressive political regime yet still be free through Christ. Freedom leads to an inward peace and joy that knows no boundaries. Jesus Christ became a man, journeyed to the cross, and set us free.

 

Conclusion

 

Are you free? Do you know the liberty of a relationship to Jesus Christ? As one old preacher put it, "The Son of God became the son of man, so that sons of men might become sons of God." God became a man. Do you believe this? Then let your faith travel to the cross and the empty tomb and to a Redeemer seated at the right hand of God who is able to set you free.     

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