Monday: Not Ashamed to Call Them Brothers
Hebrews says that Jesus was not ashamed to call us His brethren (Hebrews 2:11). Despite being one with God, Jesus embraced us as part of His family. This solidarity contrasts with the public shaming that the readers of Hebrews suffered in their communities (Hebrews 10:33).
Read Hebrews 11:24-26. In what way do Moses’ decisions exemplify what Jesus did for us?
Image © Damon Bowie at Goodsalt.com
Have you imagined what it meant for Moses to be called “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”? He was a powerful figure in the most powerful empire of the time. He received the highest civil and military training and became a remarkable character. Stephen says that Moses was “mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:22). Ellen G. White also says that he was “a favorite with the armies of Egypt” and that Pharaoh “determined to make his adopted grandson his successor on the throne” (see Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 245). Yet, Moses abandoned all of this privilege when he chose to identify himself with the Israelites, a slave nation without education and power.
Read Matthew 10:32-33; 2 Timothy 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 13:12-15. What does God ask from us?
This was part of the problem for the readers of Hebrews. After suffering persecution and rejection, many of them began to feel ashamed of Jesus. By their actions some were in danger of putting Jesus “to an open shame” instead of honoring Him (Hebrews 6:6). Thus, Paul constantly calls the readers to “hold fast” the “confession” of their faith (Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 10:23, NKJV).
God wants us to recognize Jesus as our God and our brother. As our Redeemer, Jesus has paid our debt; as our brother, Jesus has shown us the way that we should live in order that we will “be conformed to the image of his Son, [so] that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).
| Think for a moment on the decision that Jesus had to make in order to embrace us as “siblings.” Why was what Jesus did so much more condescending to Himself than what Moses did, and what does this teach us about God’s love for us? |
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One of the best things that I did during my academic life was to become a student. I had an unusual transition from high school teaching into tertiary academic work. I will spare you all the details, but soon after I became a lecturer I had to start studying. I endured lectures, studied for assignments, and sat examinations. It was an interesting exercise to sit an examination at Newcastle University and then come home and mark the examination that I had set for my own students at Avondale College. During all those years of further study, while I was also a full-time lecturer I knew what it was like to be a student. I understood deadlines, knew the fear of not understanding a concept, and felt the pressure of time constraints. I could relate to my students as a fellow learner, not just as a teacher. It was both a rewarding and humbling experience.
And is a small way, my experience has given me an appreciation for Jesus as our brother, and dare I say it, fellow learner.
Jesus' identification with us was not just play-acting. He was/is our brother (fellow student) tempted in all points like us.
Thank you, Brother Maurice, for the insight that experience gives us an understanding of something, and typically empathy.
I see Jesus, in my mind's eye, in Gethsemane, weighed by the burden of the sins of all mankind and facing Calvary, asking that the cup pass from Him, and later on the cross, asking why His Father had forsaken Him. This same Jesus, the Almighty God of Creation, Who, knowing the plan of redemption, asked that the cup be removed.
It's comforting to know that Jesus was fully human. While being fully divine. That he had a fully human experience and felt a gambit of human emotions. What a consolation this is when we feel troubled or overwhelmed by a situation. Some hold their heads up and declare their faith and are able to walk on, encouraged. But for those who can't, or during moments that challenge our faith to our core, it helps to know that the Majesty of heaven felt this way, too. Because He was as human as we are, He understands what agony feels like. And how discouraging it may seem.
I'm encouraged to know that God can shoulder my tears when life hurts. And through Jesus, heaven understands what it's like to feel forsaken. I'm now assured in the depth of my bowels that Jesus and all of heaven is compassionate to our trembling souls. Hence, I'm learning to run to Him, cry to Him, lean on Him in my distress, rather than turn away from Him.
Even more importantly, we can know that God actually hadn't forsaken His son. But, in that momentary depth of anguish, He was just working out this unspeakable, incomprehensibly loving plan of redemption. Likewise, Our father adores us. He has no desire to harm us (Jer. 29:11). So, we aren't forsaken, even if circumstances seem like we are.
Experience offers us understanding and empathy.
Hm. The Eternal, Who exists beyond space and time, chose to make Himself in our form - in the form of the same clay He molded and breathed His own breath into. This same Majesty of heaven understands us. And what it's like to be human. And all of heaven is compassionate.
How great that all the believers are put in the same family of Jesus! This can definitely get us closer together! Although here, the hierarchy is counted to the One Who love the most! Besides also being credited to the oldest and richest! The thing is that Jesus offers us eternity (as He is eternal, where age does not really matter) and the wealth He shares with His Father, at His own home! We need to embrace all these advantages with boldness, at the same time to be humble and thankful for His Grace!
Peter at the transfiguration wants to stay on the mountain not wanting to go down.
Peter at the garden of gethsemane ready to battle for Christ to establish his kingdom on earth.
Then at the trial of seeing Christ will be crucified seeing the plan of restoration of Israel would not happen the way Peter had envisioned he began to disassociate with Christ. He denied Him with cursing.
However, the savior was not ashamed to call him my disciple
Mark 16:7
"Tell his disciples and Peter"
What an amazing savior. Even when I disown him, He never disowns me. (I am not missing the point of Peter's repentance of turning back to Christ)
Jesus did not come to save those who are perfect but He has came to save people like me who falter when it counts the most to witness for Christ. He continues to refine me to become the shining armor not to battle but rather to suffer and die for Him.
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
― Deitrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
If I ask each of you to post the cost of faith in your life we would not have room enough to receive the postings. I know every one of us have sacrificed will continue to sacrifice for Christ.
But if you falter in your journey do not be afraid to turn back to Him. He loves us with an everlasting love.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. (It was this determination of Paul that made him a more successful preacher.) For it is the power of God to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16. Yes, also he learned early on in His ministry to rely on God, listening to the Holy Spirit, a good example to us. Yes, also Moses was not ashamed to take a stand for the Lord even though he had heathen adopted parents. And let us not for get Joseph who took a stand early on to remain faithful to the Lord. Not ashamed in a foreign land, he relied on the Lord. The Lord did mighty things through those three because they remained faithful to the Lord. All three are barriers of a great testimony to us.
As an Elder brother, besides torturing my younger siblings, I actually out for them, protected them from bullies, showed them things, stood up for them, and spoke on their behalf for things they didn't understand. I went through things that I did not want them to experience or pay for in trouble. My love was always there.
Ellen White discusses in Steps to Christ pp 93 about Jesus as "Elder Brother" and states, "In Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things.
Since I am the oldest of my siblings, I still have an Elder Brother who is Jesus.
Hebrews 2:11 and Jesus as our brother can be understood in a physical relationship, similar to Jesus explaining to Nicodemus that he must be born again (John 3:3). He used this physical term because we all understand birth. When two babies have shared the same womb or the same father, they are of the same family. They carry similar DNA, inherited traits, and rights to claim parentage. When a human being is born into the family of God, through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God becomes our Father (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4–6). This happens through an act of the Holy Spirit who moves into our spirits and begins to change us (2 Corinthians 5:17). God is also the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we share in that relationship as adopted children. Jesus, our brother, purchased with His blood the right for us to call His Father our Father. He is not ashamed to call us brothers because His righteousness is imputed to us, making us blameless as He is blameless (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Please chime in. Thanks.
As I was doing this lesson, my 23 year old daughter was communicating with me about a documentary she was watching about Dr. ML King Jr. She facetimed me and showed me some video footage that I'd never seen before: his father was wailing loudly at the casket of his son. (They were renamed after the father of protestant Christianity.) Several people were holding him up to keep him from falling to the floor. I looked down at this lesson and thought: he didn't have to sacrifice his life like that. He was only 39 years old when he died. He could've peacefully enjoyed his life with his beautiful family. Moses could've enjoyed his good life in Egypt. Jesus could've simply enjoyed his human experience. Neither of these men chose the easy route.
I think that becoming a member of God’s spiritual family is the most special ‘affiliation’ man could ever hope to become part of. To me, being called a believer in Christ is the most precious affiliation I ever want to be identified by. I am one with my Savior in Spirit; no separation by status between all who are one with Him in His spirit – we are all equally His faith-brothers and sisters. The Creator is very happy about every new addition to His Family, and we need to make sure to express our heartfelt happiness when welcoming new brothers or sisters to the Faith-family of our Lord and Savior.
The Son of God is our Creator, Lord, and Savior. Why would He be ashamed of calling us ‘brothers’ - we are His beloved creatures made in His image, finding our life by His spirit? Why would He not want to show us the way back to our spiritual home? The Son of God in the form of man – Jesus - embodied all the qualities of the Father to demonstrate to us how to walk by Faith in Truth and Light the path of Life!
Again, to be able to call us back to join the spiritual Family of God was His expressed purpose for becoming man; He could do no other because He loves His creation!