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On the surface, Psalm 8, which the author of He-brews cites in this passage, is expressing wonder that God should appoint human beings to such a prominent and responsible position in his creation. But building on the Greek translation of this psalm, and using the term "son of man" as Jesus did—appropriating it as a personal title—the writer takes a different tack.

Hebrews 2:6-15

1. What (v. 10) is God's chosen outcome for the "many children" he created?
   
   
2. What obstacles to this outcome are implied here (vv. 11, 14-15)?
   
   
3. How (vv. 9-10) did God overcome these obstacles?
   
   
4. Why (vv. 14-15) did the Son have to become human to achieve our salvation?
   
   
5. When (v. 8) did the Father give the Son of Man authority over all things?
   
   
6. Why does this authority sometimes appear to be successfully defied? When will it be fully realized?
   
   
7. In what sense does being adopted into God's family (v. 11) make Jesus your brother?
   
   
8. Verse 11 notwithstanding, do you think this family tie is sometimes a cause for embarrassment to our Savior?
   
   

Thank the Son for "tasting death" for us, breaking its power, erasing its fear, and making us his adopted brothers.

Hebrews 2:6-15

6 For in one place the Scriptures say,

"What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
or a son of man that you should care for him?
7 Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
8 You gave them authority over all things."

Now when it says "all things," it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position "a little lower than the angels"; and because he suffered death for us, he is now "crowned with glory and honor." Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. 10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 For he said to God,

"I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people."

13 He also said,

"I will put my trust in him,"
that is, "I and the children God has given me."

14 Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

Adapted from Adapted from Relationships: A Mess Worth Making (New Growth Press, 2006) by permission. All rights reserved by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp and/or New Growth Press.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Thank you, Jesus, for glimpses of your divinity, with markers of your humanity retained, that preview life eternal for us.

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