Partaking Of Flesh And Blood

“For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.” Again he says, “I will be confident in him,” and again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me.” Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil)” Hebrews 2:10-14 NET

What resonates deeply with me is the phrase: "for it was fitting for him..." It captures a profound truth: God established the rules (laws) to open a pathway for humanity to attain salvation. Achieving this through the Torah law was nearly impossible, as perfection could never be fulfilled by human effort alone. Only God Himself could flawlessly adhere to His own law. This underscores the original intent of the law—it was never meant to be an end in itself, but rather a definition of perfection, illustrating the divine in a way that humanity can understand.

“For whom and through whom all things exist.” The writer of Hebrews powerfully emphasizes that God not only established the Torah laws but also created everything that interacts with those laws—everything we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. The natural world is the handiwork of a divine being; it did not merely arise by chance from nothingness, as some scientific perspectives suggest. Creation reflects an astonishing balance that resonates with divine order. Yet, we must recognize that creation is fundamentally imperfect. It was never designed to endure eternally, as only God embodies eternity. All forms of creation are subject to decay through entropy; what begins in order is destined to eventually descend into disorder. Understanding this helps us appreciate both the beauty and the transitory nature of the world around us.

You might say that the purpose of entropy or decay is ultimately “to bring many sons to glory.” The book of Revelation reveals that both the earth and the heavens will face decay and pass away, making way for a new heaven and a new earth designed for those whom God has redeemed through His son, Jesus. This incredible transformation will result in an eternal kingdom—not one crafted by human hands, but one whose architect is God Himself. The everlasting God, whose profound wisdom far exceeds our understanding, is creating this new heaven and earth for us to experience life with Him and His son, Jesus. The implications of this divine promise are nothing short of astounding.

How did all of this come to be? Why would God allow such chaos to surround us? The answer lies in God’s deep desire for a family—not just any family, but one composed of imagers capable of reflecting divine traits, much like Himself. Although He created various cosmic sons of God—divine beings in their own right—none could mirror Him as a true son reflects his father. This is where a profound divine experiment began, conducted with the full understanding of God’s council. God recognized that this choice could stir rebellion among celestial ranks, yet He deemed the potential benefits of having true reflections of His nature worth the risk.

Jesus stands as the ultimate pioneer of humanity’s salvation. The Greek term "archegos" signifies not just a leader, but also a prince, chief, ruler, founder, or originator. He is the perfect example of the faithful Son, made complete through His incredible sufferings. The law, by itself, could not achieve perfection unless there were consequences for its violation. A sacrifice was essential to fulfill the law’s true purpose. Jesus willingly bore the penalties—not because He failed to uphold the law, but because we, in our humanity, could not. It can be said that the law was established to be perfectly fulfilled by Jesus for all time. The immense suffering He endured at the hands of the Romans was a profound act of love, serving as our payment for the sins we could not atone for on our own.

Jesus is God in human form, and we share fundamental origins as human beings born of mothers. What makes Jesus truly extraordinary is that He was conceived without natural procreation. Unlike us, He did not inherit chromosomes from Joseph, His earthly father; rather, He received them solely from Mary, His mother. We all share a bond with Jesus through natural childbirth, as we are born of water and blood.

The significant distinction is that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, empowered by El Elyon (the Most High God), who enveloped Mary and miraculously fertilized her egg. Typically, when an angel of the Lord appears, it is the Lord Himself manifested in that angel. Consequently, Jesus’s genetic makeup consisted of half-human heritage from Mary and half-divine essence from God.

Jesus's divine nature uniquely sets Him apart from us; He was born without any genetic material from a human father. His essence provided the spiritual foundation essential for His life. In contrast, our identity is rooted in the heritage passed down from our parents, which significantly differentiates us. However, when we embrace Jesus as our Savior, we undergo a profound transformation as our spiritual code is renewed or rewritten. This powerful experience reconnects us with our true spiritual selves, awakening the awareness that existed within us long before we entered this world.

Because Jesus was born a human and lived a human life, he has no compunction in calling us His brothers and sisters. “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.” This verse draws directly from Psalm 22, an important reference for the Jewish Christian audience the writer of Hebrews addresses. By utilizing various Old Testament passages, the author effectively substantiates his arguments. The selection of Psalm 22 is particularly powerful, as it highlights the theme of undeserved suffering. Although David wrote this Psalm, it does not recount specific events from his life, allowing it to serve as a broader commentary on suffering and prophetic insight into the Messiah. Jesus likely quoted Psalm 22:1 while on the cross, and Hebrews cites Psalm 22:22, where the psalmist vows to praise God despite not yet being rescued.

From the Messiah’s perspective, Jesus boldly proclaims His Father’s name to His brothers. In the assembly, He invokes His heavenly divine council, promising to honor and praise His brothers among those who recognized and embraced Jesus’ mission on Earth as their salvation. Psalm 22 encapsulates a profound duality; it speaks both about David, its author, and prophetically to the Messiah yet to come, highlighting the significance of His mission and the fulfillment of the divine promise.

“I will place my confidence in Him,” and once more, “Here I am with the children God has given me.” The author of Hebrews skillfully intertwines two powerful Old Testament passages to reinforce his message: “When I am afraid, I trust in you. In God—I boast in His promise. In God, I trust; I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4 NET) and “Look, I and the sons whom the Lord has given me are reminders and object lessons in Israel, sent from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who resides on Mount Zion” (Isaiah 8:18 NET).

While these passages address different historical contexts within Israel, they resonate with prophetic significance, conveying a profound message of believing loyalty and devotion to the Lord’s promises and protection. Jesus did bring many sons to glory and is still doing so today; it was the reason that He came to earth.

This passage culminates with a crucial truth: because the 'children' are made of flesh and blood, Jesus embraced their humanity and became just like us. It is truly astonishing to contemplate a divine being experiencing the human condition. Furthermore, He confronted the enemy of our souls so that, through His death, He could triumph over and obliterate the power of death itself. In doing so, He permanently stripped the rebellious adversary, whom we refer to as Satan or the devil, of his authority over the dead, ensuring our victory and freedom for life in Him forevermore.

Stephen Barnett