Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Hebrews 2:5—3:6 (NKJV)
 
2:5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:
 
“What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him?
 
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands.
 
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
 
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
 
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:
 
“I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
 
13 And again:
 
“I will put My trust in Him.”
 
And again:
 
“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”
 
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
 
3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
 
Devotion
 
The unbelieving mind cannot comprehend the might and power of God. Moreover, it cannot accept that this God would humble Himself, being born of a virgin, to die for unworthy sinners. Faithless reason says that is not the way earthly power is gained and it certainly seems foolish to think that Jesus would be willing to die, and by that death conquer sin itself. Defeating death by dying is “unreasonable.”
 
The unbelieving crowds who witnessed the crucifixion could have echoed the words of Isaiah, saying, “We saw Jesus despised and rejected!” And yet, this was the Lord’s plan all along. The second person of the Triune God came in flesh to redeem fallen humanity. He gives His great sacrifice for sin because He loves sinners and builds His kingdom by bringing many sons to glory.
 
The author of the book of Hebrews emphasizes this point by mentioning the angels as he did in chapter one. Jesus, who is over the angels, chose to be made lower than the angels for a time to take on the suffering of death. By this the victory is won, and all of Jesus’ enemies lie defeated. The unbelieving world scoffs at this kind of power, but those who believe rejoice!
 
Prayer: O Lord, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without Thy help, preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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