ESOCS Devotional 11 March 2024 – The Son of Man Destroyed Death
MEMORY VERSE: “For as much then as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15
TEXT: HEBREWS 2:5-18
For it was not to angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future, of which we are speaking.
6 It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him?
7 For some little time You have ranked him lower than and inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands,
8 For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside [of man’s] control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man].
9 But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person.
10 For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.
11 For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren;
12 For He says, I will declare Your [the Father’s] name to My brethren; in the midst of the [worshiping] congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You.
13 And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me.
14 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death—that is, the devil—
15 And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives.
16 For, as we all know, He [Christ] did not take hold of angels [[a]the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of [[b]the fallen] descendants of Abraham [to reach out to them a helping and delivering hand].
17 So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins.
18 For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] [c]to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
The wages of sin is death and through the sin of Adam all mankind inherited death. By law all things are purged with blood and without blood there is no remission of sin. But neither the blood of bulls nor of fallen man could permanently assuage the wrath of God, remove the death penalty and restore man to his eternal state. Not even the blood of angels could, for we know that angels are not flesh and blood. Only the blood of the Son of man in His uncorrupted state could meet the standard for remission of sins and restoration to life.
But where could that man be found since the progenitor of mankind, Adam, fell and being all descended from his blood, having his DNA, we all became guilty. So, God sent His only begotten Son to atone for our sins, wipe away death and reconcile us to Him. This, Christ could not perform as the Son of God without flesh and blood but as the Son of Man, with man’s blood in its original state before the fall, hence the need for the virgin birth without corrupted Adam’s blood.
The Mighty Savior, therefore, left His glorious throne above, incarnated through the virgin’s womb and became real man to taste the temptations and trials, which man is subject to. Finally, He died without sin and by that means made a full sacrifice, which conquered death and the devil. So, the Son of Man went to hades to collect the key of death from the devil and became the first man to rise from the dead, and because He rose, we shall also rise, because death could not hold Him bound, it cannot hold us bound. Where then is fear? That which we feared most is death; but now death has been swallowed up in the Lord’s victory and we are delivered from the fear of death.
The fear of death cast many into snares and bondage to secret societies, occult groups and magicians. But now, knowing that we shall see the dead in Christ clad in immortality, knowing that this our corrupt tabernacle shall put on incorruption, knowing that the death of this mortal flesh is gain, all fear is cast off and we triumph over all elements, which held us in bondage, now to live all our lifetime in Christ‘s victory.
- What did you fear most about death?
- Almighty God, I thank thee for victory granted us over death. I pray thee, open mine eyes to constantly live for Christ all my lifetime, in Jesus’ name.
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
ESOCS Devotional 11 March 2024
