“For he did not put the world to come, about which we are speaking, under the control of angels. Instead someone testified somewhere: “What is man that you think of him or the son of man that you care for him? You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor. You put all things under his control.” For when he put all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control, but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.” Hebrews 2:5-9 NET
From the profound perspective of the author of Hebrews, “the world to come” refers to the anticipated “inhabited earth,” illustrating the realm of human beings and their societies. While God is frequently depicted in the present tense, this unique reference in Hebrews signifies the envisioned future of our world. The author asserts that God’s ultimate intention was never to abandon governance of the earth to celestial beings. In a crucial moment of judgment at the Tower of Babel, however, God intervened decisively, assigning members of His Divine Council to oversee humanity. The rise of human wickedness called for such an intervention, highlighting the necessity of divine restraint. In this divine arrangement, God appointed celestial beings to manage the seventy nations of the time, while uniquely reserving one nation for Himself, destined to fulfill the role of His priests. This nation would arise through Abraham's lineage, establishing a vital purpose within the framework of God’s grand design.
The writer of Hebrews draws on the rich insights of Psalm 8, posing the compelling question, “What is man that you should think of him?” This poignant inquiry invites profound contemplation. God created humanity to inhabit the earth, yet the psalmist intriguingly speaks in the third person, reflecting, “Why should you remember him? What significance does humanity hold that justifies your attention?” He emphasizes this notion with the statement, “You made him lower than the angels for a little while,” linking back to the Tower of Babel—a critical moment when God’s judgment led to a temporary suspension of humanity’s status as His imagers due to their disloyalty. This serves as a stark reminder of our fragile position within the divine order and the vital importance of our believing loyalty to God.
“You crowned him with glory and honor; you put everything under his control.” Initially referring to Adam, this declaration remarkably applies to the second Adam, Jesus. While Jesus embodies the second Adam, He also stands as the firstborn of all humanity. Through Him, our identity as God’s imagers has been splendidly restored. Because of Jesus, we are crowned with glory and honor, gifted with the role of co-heirs alongside Him. God has entrusted all creation to our stewardship, as everything ultimately falls under Jesus’s authority. This truth does not elevate us above Christ; rather, it underscores the depth of our dependence upon Him. What an extraordinary partnership God has generously granted us through Jesus!
“When he placed all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control.” This profound reality unveils the remarkable gift God has granted humanity through Jesus Christ—all things truly mean everything. God invites us to fully engage with Jesus in every facet of creation—this is our divine inheritance in Christ. Embracing this truth is a journey unique to each of us. I recall my grandmother often declaring that Jesus was her all in all. Although I didn’t grasp the depth of her statement back then, I am beginning to understand now. Recognizing Jesus as my everything transcends a mere concept; it transforms my faith and life.
“At present, we may not see all things under His control, but we see Jesus.” This compelling assertion captures the “already, but not yet” understanding, indicating we are traversing a dispensational era. As I’ve explored in previous discussions, Jesus exists beyond earthly constraints and His kingdom is an ever-present reality, even if we have yet to fully perceive it. Nevertheless, one undeniable truth remains: we can clearly see Jesus now. We can turn to Him for solace and assurance in our struggles and uncertainties. His work is complete, and His burden is light. When we fail to rest in His presence, we risk becoming overwhelmed, attempting to navigate problems independently without the peaceful solutions He offers. Let’s always prioritize fixing our gaze on Jesus and finding our sanctuary in Him.
“Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.” Just as humanity has suffered from being made temporarily lower than the angels, Jesus—divine in nature—humbly became man, embracing our human experience. Isaiah 53 beautifully underscores this profound reality:
“Who would have believed what we just heard? When was the Lord’s power revealed through him? He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him. He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.
But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished,attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.
All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the Lord caused the sin of all of us to attack him. He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth. He was led away after an unjust trial—but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.
Though the Lord desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished through him. Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins. So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”” Isaiah 53:1-12 NET
This prophecy is astonishing, considering it was composed an incredible 600 years before the birth of Jesus.
Stephen Barnett
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