DAVID, SHEPHERD BOY MADE KING and a man after God’s own heart, was also a warrior, a poet, and, significantly, a prophet. The writer of Hebrews quotes him often as he describes the attributes of the Son of God. In chapter one he begins a comparison of the angels to Jesus, and asks, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father?’ Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.’” (Heb. 1:5) The attributes of the Son are great. “His throne will last forever.” (Heb. 1:8) “O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” (Heb. 1:10)
The Hebrews author then asks, as warning, “For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Heb. 2:2-3) He goes on, quoting David, to tell of the great authority that will be given Jesus in the age to come: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” (Heb. 2:6-8; Psa. 8:4-6) At present this is not fully true. But it will become so, as we already perceive. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Heb. 2:9)
In offering this exalted view of Jesus, so far above the angels that everything else is seen as being ‘under his feet,’ the writer is moving us to ever-deeper thoughts about our views of mortality and eternity—and about our own value and significance. If Jesus is so incomparably above and beyond the value of angels, these very powerful celestial beings who are God’s messengers, who “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” (Heb. 1:7), then who are we by contrast? If we were to answer that question from our own perspective from below, then we are not much. Jesus stands high and lifted up across all human history; the best of us rest under a stone with our name carved above two inclusive dates on it, with a fading epitaph that may last a few generations.
But God has a different idea about us. He ascribes great value to us—and his truth is in this transaction: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The author of Hebrews affirms this view. “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.” (Heb. 2:10-11)
And, it is not the Father alone who has this view. The Son also values us, and will speak for us when it counts the most. “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.’” (Heb. 2:11-12) And if the Father and the Son speak of us in this fashion, how should we then speak of ourselves? The question is rhetorical, but nevertheless deserves an answer. Perhaps one word would suffice: “Cautiously.” Paul advises, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12) In Hebrews we are also given caution. “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (Heb. 2:1-3)
To ignore is either to disregard intentionally, or to fail to consider something significant. Either of those responses is possible in regard to the person of Jesus. The latter is the habitual pathway of fools, the former the chosen route of the self-indulgent or the wicked. In either case, “broad is the road that leads to destruction.” (Matt. 7:13)
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’” (Jer. 6:16)
Q. Can I conceive of the truth that God calls me worthy?
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