Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
There is a chapter in the Bible where Jesus is revealed so clearly that even the children can know they are close to Him and He is close to them. Hebrews 2 was written by one who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to present Christ as truly a human being, while at the same time He was truly God. Hebrews 1 was written to present Him as having a wonderful name "by inheritance"--His name is God (vss. 4, 8). Then chapter 2 was written to show that He is man. The entire chapter explains how the angel said of Him, "They shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matt. 1:23). Note:
(1) "We see Jesus ... made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death ... that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2: 9). That means He voluntarily stepped down to become "lower than the angels" so He could save us.
(2) He became one of us so that He might die our death. You and I were born to live; He was born to die. It wasn't to die our "sleep," but the death He "tasted" for "every man" was the real thing--the last death described in Revelation 2:11 and 20:14.
(3) Jesus put Himself in the place of sinners, taking their burden of guilt upon Himself. When He cried on his cross, "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" He was suffering side by side with the crucified thieves. The repentant thief did not feel forsaken by God for Christ had assured him of forgiveness and salvation; his heart was buoyed up with joy in spite of his physical agony. But Christ suffered worse than the unrepentant thief. He died his death, also.
(4) The nature that Christ "took part of" is that of "the children," not that of the unfallen father of our race (Heb. 2:14). You have a Savior who meets you where you are at this moment: He "took part" of your DNA heredity, your weakness, your guilt, yes, He "took" your final, second death upon Himself. He knows the strength of your temptation.
(5) Why did He do all this? So He can "succor" you as you "are tempted." He set you free from "the curse of the law" which is disobedience to the law (Gal. 3:13). He set you free from the slavery of sin. Now, "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free" (Gal. 5:1). Your prison doors are opened; go free.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 27, 2003.
Copyright © 2014 by "Dial Daily Bread."
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/dailybread/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to:dailybread@1888message.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
