Sermon: When You are Afraid, Look to Jesus, Hebrews 2:9-18

I have the privilege of preaching occasionally at Forest Community Church in Forest, VA. Almost two years ago I started a series on Hebrews entitled "Keep Your Eyes on Jesus." I decided to post the links to the videos for any who would like to watch these sermons. This sermon covers Hebrews 2:9-18 and is entitled "When Your are Afraid, Look to Jesus." I'll post the notes below (be aware that the video may not exactly follow these notes!), but here is the link for the video: Hebrews 2:9-18. The sermon starts around the 2:30 mark. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus Series

 When You are Afraid, Look to Jesus:  Hebrews 2:9-18

 

Intro: God uses hard times to develop godly character. Think of Daniel in the Lion Den or the three young men in the fiery furnace. As one of my pastor friends said, “Things may get awkward before they get awesome.” Suffering and pain can be a part of God’s shaping you into the character of Jesus. 

The letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians facing a crisis (both a crisis of faith and perhaps a physical challenge). Since coming to Christ, life had not gotten better for many in the audience hearing this letter. It actually seemed to get more challenging. They may have even faced some sort of persecution from Rome. These Christians, like many of us, were facing frightening circumstances. They felt hopeless, frightened, abandoned. The author of Hebrews writes to encourage them to focus on Jesus who is superior to all others. The problem faced by Hebrews’ author is how does one reassure others in a time of trial when God seems absent? 

The author’s response is to give a word of encouragement by noting that God is not silent, he has spoken in Jesus. God is not absent, he is present with his people even in times of suffering. He has not abandoned his people. Jesus and his crucifixion are God’s expression of love and a reminder of his continued presence even in our worst situations. 

We sometimes face some frightening possibilities, don’t we? Life goes wrong, that diagnosis doesn't go as we wish, or a relationship falls apart, or jobs don’t come thru. Life plans often simply fall apart. We often find ourselves in frightening circumstances. What do we do when we are afraid?  When we are afraid, we need to see Jesus.  

Read Hebrews 2:9-18. Hebrews 2 gives us four points to remember when things get scary; 1) Jesus is our Pioneer; 2) Jesus is not ashamed of us; 3) Jesus shares our situation; 4) Jesus is our Provision. We need to Look to Jesus!

 

2:9-10—Look to Jesus: Jesus is Our Pioneer. The word "pioneer" here can mean “Leader” or “Champion” or “Source.” Glory Lost and Regained: The Bible tells a story of image bearers and glory lost, and in the story of Christ glory is regained. God’s intention for the human family was for the world to be subject to the one who has God’s image. Human rebellion in Eden caused a problem for that intention. Jesus comes to fulfill it, however, and in Christ humanity can realize its vocation and God’s intention (Col. 1:27—Christ in you the hope of glory; Psalm 8—crowned with glory and honor; Rom 5:1-2; Rom 8:18-21). Jesus tasted death for everyone so that he could restore to us the Life that was lost. Jesus’ death is not just for heaven, but it is to help us regain what was lost to Satan. 

Lower than angels, yet Lord over all; Jesus shared the human condition to die for us all. He suffered, and by doing so he is our source to persevere through suffering. Exalted to a position of authority; Able to bring us through suffering to glory; Jesus was “made perfect” through his suffering. The language speaks of being made fit as a high priest. Jesus was already perfect, so this refers to Jesus’ suffering on our behalf as our Mediator and Priest. Jesus matured through suffering, so also should we!

It was fitting—this was God’s plan, not an accident! Things that may bring fear are not necessarily accidents. God uses them to bring us to glory. Things will get awkward before they get awesome. Bill Lane says—”The exalted Son of God made the human condition, and especially its liability to death, his own in order to achieve for them the glorious destiny designed by God.” 

When you are afraid, look to Jesus; He has gone before you, and he will bring you through your trial. Look to Jesus!

 

2:11-13—Look to Jesus: He is not Ashamed of You. Jesus is our older brother—He is Family. In the movie, A River Runs Through It, the older brother couldn’t save the younger, but our story has a different ending. Jesus (our older brother) came into our situation. He became one of us, so that he could rescue us! He is family, and family stands together in adversity and trouble. Jesus accepts us as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us there. Yes, God will expose our sin, but he will not leave it graceless. He uses our circumstances to bring us to glory. Trials are often the means he uses to produce Jesus’ glorious character in us. The goal is to bring people to an experience of holiness (2:11) and to a reflection of Jesus’ character, and in pursuing that goal Jesus stands in solidarity with humanity who, in turn, stand under the call of God to be holy in Christ. 

When you are afraid, look to Jesus. He knows your situation, and he is not ashamed to be your brother. He is not ashamed to stand with you and for you. Look to Jesus!

 

2:14-16—Look to Jesus: Jesus Shared our Situation/He is one of us. He shared our fragile humanity. He came as a baby, he lived through teenage years, he experienced rejection, suffering, even death. He has been where you are/have been. He is not a stranger to your problems and trials. By his death, he destroyed the devil and the fear of death. Jesus’ death was not the result of human rebellion, but of his consecration to do God’s will. As a result, his death (and resurrection) rendered the devil’s power of death ineffective. 

When you are afraid, look to Jesus. He identifies with you. He shares our situation. As our champion Jesus comes to our aid (God is depicted in the OT as a warrior defending Israel: Isaiah 42:13; 49:24-26; 59:15-20). His death provides a means to freedom. Jesus is our champion who comes to our aid against our oppressor. Jesus became human to overcome death and give freedom to humans who are enslaved to death. Jesus shared our situation so that by his death he might destroy our adversary, Satan, who held the power of death; the reason for Jesus’ incarnation then is to overcome death and give freedom to humans who are enslaved to death. Jesus’ death destroyed the power of death, so we have nothing to fear (1 Cor 15:54-58 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. "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. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.) Look to Jesus!

 

2:17-18—Look to Jesus: Jesus is our Provision/He is our Priest. Jesus is our high priest. As priest, he shares the following with the image of Jesus as a champion: 1) Representation—He represents us (Champion—battle; Priest—before God); 2) He is one of us—both the champion and the high priest are chosen from among the people. He is like us in every respect, except for sin. In fact, it was necessary for him to be like us. The necessity of the Incarnation required for Jesus to be like the rest of us “in every respect.” Only by standing with us in human solidarity could the exalted Son of God be qualified to participate in the life of the people as a merciful and faithful high priest. Only by standing with us in human solidarity could the exalted Son of God provide atonement for his people. Jesus’ Incarnation was the appropriate and necessary means of delivering God’s people from the devil’s tyranny and the fear of death. In doing so, he is our Salvation/Rescue. Jesus is our encouragement because he suffers with and for us—he shares our situation and gives us what we need in the midst of it (Road to Damascus—”Paul, why do you persecute me?”).

Jesus is our encouragement; he shares our situation and gives us what we need in it. When you are afraid, look to Jesus! He shares our situation; He is the source of Rescue/Salvation. Look to Jesus!

 

Conclusion:  Remember: “We must trust to be rescued, but at the same time trust doesn’t guarantee rescue.” 

The mountain of vision is won by no other road than the one covered by thorns. If Jesus suffered, we will no doubt face situations that bring fear. When we face situations that make us afraid, we need to remember that God has provided a pioneer, a brother, a champion, and a rescue in Jesus.

We do not Face these things Alone. Through Jesus we can face any circumstance with the promise that God will work his glory in us. The Goal is Christ like Character (“Christ in you, the Hope of Glory”). Will we trust him?  What does that look like?

 

Application: Hebrews 3:1—Fix your eyes on Jesus

C. S. Lewis memorably portrayed the growing Christian’s experience of an ever-enlarging Christ in his Chronicles of Narnia. Lucy, caught up in her spiritual quest, saw the lion Aslan—Christ—shining white and huge in the moonlight. In a burst of emotion Lucy rushed to him, burying her face in the rich silkiness of his mane, whereupon the great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half-sitting and half-lying between his front paws. He bent forward and touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath was all around her. She gazed up into the large, wise face. “Welcome, child,” he said.  “Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”  “That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.  “Not because you are?”  “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”  His largeness overcomes your trouble; in His suffering and death He secured your victory.

 

This week: 1) Take a hard look at your situation—where are you “suffering”? What are your trials? When the scary situations come along, focus on what Christ has done and is doing. Instead of trusting your circumstances, trust God and his Word.  Rely on him. 

2) Pay attention to God’s Word—it is a mirror to reflect who we are; are we reflecting Jesus? If not, where can we repent? How can we change our focus? (read 2 Kings 2; Psalm 16; Matthew 10; Galatians 5). 

3) Rely on family.  The body of Christ is an extension of our Lord. When in crisis, do not forsake their embrace. Be open, transparent, and ask for help. Do not hide. 

 

Have we caught the excitement and grandeur of this provision for our lives?  Are we living “inglorious” lives in spite of our glorious calling? How enthralled are we at the depth of God’s love and caring for us in providing this “glory”? 

 

Where are we being exposed to testing or trial? When we experience these, how can we remain quiet in Christ’s provision?  How does Jesus as our champion provide encouragement and peace?

 

How can we appropriate the reality of the Incarnation to deal with this fear? Do we really believe that Jesus destroyed the devil’s ability to enslave us to the fear of death? Can anyone tell by looking at how we live?

 

How can you respond to those times in light of this passage? How do you respond when you feel that “no one understands my situation”? How can you allow the reality of Jesus’ flesh and blood experience to explode your consciousness with the confidence created by your Champion and High Priest?