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JESUS MADE FULLY HUMAN (HEBREWS 2:5-11)

REFLECTION

“Jesus made fully human” is the theme for our reflection. Jesus made fully human means God became flesh and blood and shared our human characteristics through the person of Jesus Christ. The question, therefore, is why Jesus was made fully human? Jesus was fully human so that we might be saved.

Beloved in the Lord, Jesus became fully human in order for us to be saved. By law, God is just; therefore, a sinner ought to be punished for his or her sins. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family” (Hebrews 2:9-11) In other words, we deserved to be punished for disobeying God but Jesus was made fully human to replace us on the cross so that through repentance and faith we shall be saved. Friend in Christ, this is the meaning of grace. We do not deserve our new status and elevation as children or members of the family of God, but the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ has found us and clothed us with dignity. Through Jesus, we experience the love and the grace of God. It is for this reason that the writer of Hebrews expressed his gratitude and praise to God for the dignity He had bestowed on humanity through Christ, when he referred to Psalm 8:4-6,  “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour and put everything under their feet.” (Hebrews 2:6-8).

Beloved in the Lord, Jesus was made fully human because God wants us to be eternally saved. It is not God’s desire for us to eternally perish in hell. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. ” (Hebrews 2:14-18) Again, we are assured in John 3:16-17 that “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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17). Paul was a beneficiary of His salvation when he testified,  “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16) Again, in Galatians 2:20, Paul confessed, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Beloved in the Lord, Jesus was made fully human so that we may not have any excuse on the Judgment day, if there is any better time to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and be saved then that time is now. If there is any better time to follow the perfect examples of Jesus in pleasing God, then that time is now because He had said in Matthew 17:5, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Beloved in the Lord, with all that Jesus has done for us by becoming fully human to save us and crown us with dignity, what must be our response? Paul’s admonishment to the Romans is worth considering when he wrote, “…I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2). Our salvation and relationship with Jesus must affect our marriages positively, our stewardship to God in our various congregations, our integrity at work and our general attitude towards the world as disciples and children of God.

In summary, we have been reminded through this reflection that Jesus became fully human so that we shall be fully transformed and saved to live a dignified life and attain eternal life. May we continue to live in the dignity that has been bestowed on us through the humanity of Christ and be faithful to our calling as children and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

PRAYER

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we fully surrender our lives to You. Continue to be our light and Salvation. May we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a dignified life through Christ Jesus, even as we follow perfect examples in pleasing God always. Amen.