For most homes, churches, and
businesses, the Christmas decorations have been taken down, put away, not to
come out for another 10 months. No more
Christmas hymns, songs, or decorations to remind us of God entering our world
for our benefit. This is what we may
feel, but if we are alert, we will read on almost every page of scripture the
Christmas message - God reveals His
great love for us in becoming flesh in Jesus.
We have FULL DISCLOSURE in the person of Jesus which for the next four
months you will investigate carefully what this means.
In 1998, the movie Saving Private Ryan was released. Captain John Miller, played by Tom Hanks
takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three
brothers have been killed in combat.
Surrounded by the brutal realities of war while searching for Ryan, each
man embarked on a personal journey and search for their own strength to triumph
over an uncertain future with honor, decency, and courage. Each man conducted this search on their own
terms as they lived that experience together.
If you saw the movie you may remember the men told jokes, offered
memories of loved ones and better times at home, and pictured what being home
would be like. At other times they grew
angry with each other because of signs of selfishness, individualism, even
dislike for each other. Against
significant and overwhelming odds their common experience bonded them together,
and they became “brothers.” Our main scripture in Hebrews tells us Jesus
was not ashamed to call us “brothers.” What does it mean for us that the Son of God
who became flesh so we might know Him, and who surrendered his life for us
would be called “our brother?” How does
this happen, what does it mean, and perhaps the more important question may be
“so what?”
As you read Hebrews 2:5-18 think
on these questions in your preparation for this Sunday, and answering the
question “so what?”:
- Verses 6-8 are quotations from Psalm 8, What do these three verses tell us about the role, and effectiveness of men and women in God’s created order?
- Verses 9-11 describes the restoration of the created order which has fallen. How does this happen, and why does it happen?
- What do we see as God’s goal for men and women he created in His image?
- What are the things we are told in verses 14-17 which describe the purpose of Christ’s death for you and me?
- What does it mean in verse 10 and referred to in verse 18 that Jesus was made “perfect through suffering.”
- Does the story of David and Goliath in I Samuel 17:3-11 give us any help in understanding why we can call Jesus our brother?
I look forward to seeing you this
Sunday, trusting we will see more of what Jesus has done for us, and what He continues
to do each day.
