John N N Ng’ang’a Meditation Of 16th September 2024 …Hebrews 2 Christ is superior to angels. Pay attention
Day 1
Hebrews 2
1.We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away
The main message of Hebrews 2 is that Jesus became man and suffered greatly for us. It is important to appreciate that while salvation is free for us, it was costly for the one who suffered on our behalf.
This is a message we must all pay close attention to. Compare this with the Old Testament message, which was delivered not by God directly, but by angels. Should we not pay even more attention to Jesus’ message?
The writer urges us to listen and not drift away. It is a warning that even after accepting Christ, if we do not read and meditate on God’s Word, there is a possibility of drifting away. Drifting does not mean turning back; it means losing direction by a small margin, but over time, it can lead to a completely different destination.
Day 2
Hebrews 2
3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him
Someone says that the ancient Greek phrase for "drift away" comes from the idea of "slipping" (Dodds). It was used for an arrow slipping from the quiver, snow slipping off a landscape, or food slipping down the windpipe to cause choking. Can you then explain why careful attention is necessary? It happens easily.
One does not have to do much to drift away. Departure from the faith usually comes from slow drifting, not a sudden departure. Follow the way marked out for you without drifting. This will only be possible if you are careful with your quiet time. Do not argue that you are busy then neglect Bible reading and prayer.
Without serious meditation on God’s Word, you could end up with wrong applications and drift away. We do not need to just read or simply pay attention to the Word but give it careful attention.
In what way have you lost the art of careful attention to God’s Word? Then come back to this careful attention.
And so, why should we have careful attention? Because of whom He has given the message to and how He has given the message, and also because of the consequences of not paying attention.
Because of the superiority of Jesus to the angels, we must pay attention to Jesus.
Day 3
4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
So, why do we need to be told to pay attention?
Some might be inclined to disregard what was spoken by someone as humble in appearance as the Lord Jesus. After all, He was very human. Surely, the Old Testament had been given through angels and was therefore seen as more worthy of attention, since angels are superior to humans.
However, we need to remember that Jesus was the God-man, and He became human for our sakes. Consider what was accomplished by His becoming a man! Even as a man, power and dignity were conferred upon Him, making Him superior to the angels.
He uses the following argument:
- If what was spoken by the angels under the old covenant required attention, then how much more should we regard what was spoken by the Son of God (Hebrews 2:1-4).
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
Day 4
Hebrews 2
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking
We must pay attention because the consequences for those who disobeyed the Old Testament were drastic. What about ignoring what God’s Son Himself has said? What will be the consequence?
This message was not only delivered by Christ but also repeated by eyewitnesses (the Gospels) and confirmed by God through the miracles the Apostles continued to perform.
How can we doubt it, then? If we do, shouldn’t we expect serious consequences?
How dare anyone who hears this message ignore it? Is it because we perhaps do not consider it great?
But according to this chapter, as explained in the Enduring Word commentary, our salvation is great because:
- We are saved by a great Savior.
- We are saved at a great cost.
- We are saved from a great penalty.
Day 5
Hebrews 2
6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?
Secondly, he attributes that even in His human form, Jesus was honoured to show that He had the right to be heard, and that what He said should receive the profound attention of people.
Hebrews 2:5-9: 5 It is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
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 8 and put everything under their feet. In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present, we do not see everything subject to them. 9 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.
The world to come had not been put under the angels but under Christ. These Scriptures confirm that all things were put under Christ, who was made a little lower than the angels temporarily. Christ’s appearance as a man was in no way inconsistent with what had been said of Him as God.
Day 6
Hebrews 2
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.
Thirdly, the chapter shows why He became a man, and why, though He was so exalted, He was subjected to such severe sufferings as a man. So, do not think He is not God.
Hebrews 2:10-18: 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly, I will sing your praises.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in Him.” And again, He says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” 14 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.
Suffering was necessary for our salvation. He needed to become like us in order to save us, but that did not make Him any less God. He was not going to save angels, so He needed to become like us, sharing our troubles. It was necessary for Him to become like us in order to redeem us. In doing so, He set an example of how God wants us to live to please Him. His humiliation, by taking on the limitations of man, and the fact that He was a sufferer like us, far from being a reason why He should not be “heard,” was rather an additional reason why we should pay attention to what He said.
Day 7
Hebrews 2
14 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.
That way, Christ has the right to be heard not only because of His original dignity as God, but also because of His friendship with sinful man in taking upon Himself our nature and suffering on our behalf. When you see how great the One who gave us the gospel is, it compels you to pay attention.
The Enduring Word commentary adds that Jesus is surely great and suggests that you look unto Jesus with the eye of faith – as imperfect as your vision of faith may be:
- See Him as the One who loves sinners and died for them.
- See Him as your Savior.
- See Him as your Master.
- See Him as your Friend.
- See Him as your Forerunner.
- See Him as your Healer.
- See Him at home, at work, out and about – not only here during worship times.
How then could you fail to pay attention? Would a president call you to his state house, and you not pay attention to what he tells you?
Let us take God’s word seriously and prove our seriousness by the time we invest in studying it for ourselves.
Audio Preachings
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for Audio Preachings
Get access to my books on Amazon:
Marketplace Leadership - The Nehemiah Style
Christianity and Culture
Discover your Life's Purpose
A Leader's Work Ethics
The Secret of Contentment
A Leader's Source of Influence
Christian Professionals - Leading in the Marketplace
The Character of an Influential Leader
Leadership King David's Style
Integrity - The Litmus Test of Good Leadership
The Leader as a Steward
Finding a Life Partner
Friendship
Check out previous devotions on www.johnnganga.org
