He Had To Be Made Like His Brothers In Every Respect

“And (Jesus) set(s) free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted”. Hebrews 2:15-18 NET

A profound question often lingers in my mind: it's the elephant in the room. If Jesus, as a divine being, created angels and the sons of God, along with all of creation, to attend to Him and possess limitless power, then what motivated Him to create humanity? What purpose was served by the intricate process of bringing forth the earth and mankind? Many scholars suggest that God yearned for a family reflective of Himself—beings endowed with autonomy and free will. He sought companions like Himself who could embody His likeness and image. It wasn't about God lacking anything; rather, He aspired to have a progeny—a people entrusted with the noble task of stewardship and care for His creation.

Most people possess a fundamental desire to procreate and pass on their genes, ensuring that their family lineage continues into the future. This longing can be seen as a divine gift, a deep desire to create and nurture future generations. It reflects God's heart for humanity, as we are designed to be part of His family. Our lineage is filled with traits that make us bearers of His image. Despite the many ways some might deny this truth, love remains at the core of our nature. This love is the highest reflection of God's character, showcasing His essence in the fullest way. Embracing this truth can profoundly impact how we understand ourselves and our purpose in the world. We are God’s imagers.

The Satan, our adversary, the rebellious son, thrives on accusations and deception. His primary aim has always been to steer us away from truly embracing the love and essence of God. By planting seeds of doubt and distraction, he attempts to obscure the beautiful truth that we are cherished sons and daughters of God. Each of us reflects God’s character in myriad ways, with love shining brightly as the most apparent. The enemy often utilizes fear and lies to convince us that we have wandered too far from God's grace, leading us to believe that there's no way back to His warm embrace. But here’s the incredible news: Jesus is here to save us! Through His sacrifice, He carries the weight of our sins, rendering the enemy powerless. Thanks to Jesus, we can boldly step into the freedom and salvation He provides, leaving behind any feelings of guilt or shame. With His love illuminating our path, we can fully receive our identity as treasured children of God and live with renewed hope and purpose!

Have you ever wondered why God seems less concerned about angels or rebellious sons of God and so focused on humanity? I have. I believe the answer lies in the unique investment He has made in us. God has infused His own nature and traits within us, empowering us to become like Him—not merely as servants, but as reflections of His person reflected in the life and person of Jesus. While all of creation serves Him in various capacities, humanity stands apart with the incredible advantage of possessing God-like characteristics. We have the ability to mirror and share His nature as His progeny, a distinction that angels and other divine beings do not share. This profound connection underscores our significance in His divine plan.

The writer of Hebrews emphasizes a profound truth: although Jesus was divine, He chose to be fully human, sharing in our experiences in every way. He understood the trials of growing up and the deep sorrows that come with being human. It’s astonishing to think that Jesus faced the same struggles and emotions I dealt with during my formative years. Yet, the Bible affirms that He did.

Jesus lived a life rich with challenges, being both fully God and fully man. He endured the frustrations of adolescence while also exercising His authority over creation. He experienced the tumult of puberty and learned to balance His physical existence with the demands of His community. As He approached adulthood, knowing that His mission would provoke opposition and ultimately lead to His death must have caused Him profound frustration.

Realizing that Jesus navigated all aspects of human emotion offers me immense comfort. It reassures me that I am not alone in my struggles; He truly relates to our experiences and pain.

Every experience in Jesus’ life uniquely shaped Him into a merciful and faithful High Priest. He didn’t merely observe the human condition; He fully immersed Himself in it, unlike many Levites who distanced themselves from the people. This connection is crucial—every part of life links back to God, not just the ceremonial duties of the priesthood. Atonement for the people's sins was fully realized through His suffering, affirming that it wasn’t just His divine nature that accomplished this.

Jesus faced relentless opposition and hostility, and for good reason. He wasn’t rebellious or antagonistic; rather, He courageously challenged the status quo, which threatened those in power. He understood the necessity of enduring temptation and suffering. His greatest trial was remaining non-retaliatory, even in the face of absolute innocence. With legions of angels at His disposal to defeat His adversaries, He chose silence, embodying humility, just as a sheep remains silent before its shearers.

As I mentioned earlier, Jesus can help those who face temptation because He experienced temptation in every way that can lead us astray, yet He remained faithful to God and to Himself. Instead of retaliating, He chose to demonstrate God’s mercy in the face of persecution. One important aspect that often gets overlooked is that Jesus was committed to Himself and saw His mission through despite opposition. He could not have accomplished what He did without promising Himself to fulfill the requirements for our redemption all the way to the end. Jesus had a vision of the bigger picture; He understood the joy set before Him in completing His task so that all men and women could once again become sons and daughters of God, removing the curse upon humanity. This understanding motivated Jesus and kept Him focused on achieving His ultimate aim which was the redemption of mankind.

Stephen Barnett