Scripture of the day: Day, 15 instalment 16

Hebrews 2:9 Good News Translation

But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace he should die for everyone. We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered.

Hebrews 2:14 Good News Translation

Since the children, as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature. He did this so that through his death he might destroy the Devil, who has the power over death,

Hebrews 2:17 Good News Translation

This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven.

These Passages teach us about Jesus's incarnation as a human. 

They say that Jesus is the means through which God himself experience suffering - fear and pain. So that no-one can say to God "it's OK for you - you have never suffered!" - because he did suffer. For the benefit of humankind. He clearly experienced it and still remembers it.

They say that becoming humans was necessary for him to be our saviour: it meant that he could be killed - and he had to be killed so that he could rise and redeem humankind

I believe these verses indicate that without suffering as a human Jesus would never have become co-equal to God. That before he became a part of The Trinity he was a lesser (albeit divine) being

So, according to this scripture, the incarnation happened to:

• Give Jesus humanity - to make The Word a man
• To enable Jesus to experience death and suffering
• To enable Jesus to exhibit a triumph over death
• To qualify him as a part of The Godhead

And of course, the whole point of his suffering was to pay the price for the sins of humankind. When he went up on that cross he took one for the team. And what team might that be? I'd say humankind. Jesus is both a member of The Godhead and of humankind!

He died and suffered as a man, but did so in his capacity as a divine entity

Because of him, God knows suffering. And through him God showed us that life is eternal. That we will be resurrected just as he was.