Perfect Through Suffering

Hebrews 2:5-18

Lower than the Angels

In this final portion of the Chapter 2, the author of Hebrews continues to establish his over-arching theme of the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus as the Christ. In our first passage (2:5-8a) he supports this idea with a quote from Psalm 8, which has its obvious application to the state of mankind and the mystery that the Creator of the Universe should not only be aware of us but treat us with favor. The author reapplies the psalm to show us that this favor includes the gift of the Son of Man, who for our advantage was made lower than the angels, though at the at the same time remained crowned with honor and glory.

Another reading of the phrase translated “a little lower than the angels” would be, “for a little while, lower than the angels.” This translation would be consistent with the author’s idea that Jesus began in majesty, became subject to humanity, and returned victoriously to glory. This concept of the path of Jesus from heaven to earth and back again, referred to by Thomas G. Long as “the parabola of salvation” seems to have been a common theme of first century homileticians. Paul, possibly quoting a first-century hymn, used it to great effect (Philippians 2:5-11) to tell the story of Christ being God but emptying himself to become human in order to be Lord. This powerful and mysterious mechanism of salvation is a motif of the book of Hebrews.

But We See Jesus

In our next passage (2:8b-9) addresses a very real first-century concern. It was all very well for the author to speak of Christ crowned with glory and honor, but his audience knew the Christ who was scorned, abandoned and crucified. Though he had conquered death he had not conquered the Roman Empire. They had expected his triumphant return, but it had not occurred.

Such concerns are not limited to the first century. It is easy to see our current era as completely godless, or worse, a time when good has been utterly defeated by evil We look for the God who will rain fire and brimstone on our enemies, but he does not come.

The temptation to make God in our image is insidious. I am certain that if I had been among the disciples when Jesus began to speak of his suffering and death, I would have been with Peter, if I did not brush him aside in my rush to say “Never, Lord!” (Matthew 16:21-24). But God will be God, and where we seek victory, He asks us for sacrifice.

But how does this mysterious paradox of the Christ that is both sacrificed and victorious help us with our daily lives? The author tells us that we do not see the victory, but we “see” Jesus. Paul uses different language when we says we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Paul does not place faith below sight, as a weaker alternative, but presents faith as the assurance of things not seen (11:1). Our faith is not inferior to proof, it is our proof.

Perfect through Suffering

The author continues his discussion of the “parabola of salvation” (2:10-13) with the statement that the descent of Christ effected our elevation to the family of God. In the words of Jesus, he became our servant so that we might become his friends (John 15:15). In the middle of this glorious proclamation is the curious idea that Jesus was made perfect through suffering.

Despite being discussed in Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Job, and in the writings of Paul, the role of suffering is still not understood, and is perhaps beyond understanding. The author offers us a glimpse of this understanding when he uses the word “perfect.” The Greek word is teleioō, which means “complete.” It is the same word Jesus uses when he says he has brought glory to God because hes has finished the work he has been given (John 17:4). This word is also related to the word teleō, which Jesus used on the cross to proclaim “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Though we may not understand suffering, we are not given license to avoid it, but are called to make ourselves vulnerable to it. We are called to be made perfect by the perfect will of God (Matthew 5:43-48).

He Is Able

In our final passage (2:14-18) the author continues to investigate the benefit afforded humanity by the descent of Christ to human form. He tells us that Jesus has power over death, repeats his statement that Jesus was made like us, and introduces the idea that these things all work together to confirm Jesus as our great high priest, an idea that will be addressed at length later in the book. All these things work together, the author says, so that Jesus is able to help us. This is the aim, the perfection of the love of God, that through that love we might be saved.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

(John 3:16-17 KJV)