Crowned with Glory and Honor (Hebrews 2:5-9)
Text:
In the passages leading up to this, the writer had been contrasting Jesus with angels. Jesus is far greater than angels. There’s no comparison. Angels were created, but Jesus is Creator. Angels were made to worship, but Jesus is to be worshiped. Angels serve us, but Jesus is our Lord, and we are all to serve Him. But here the writer begins to transition away from comparing Jesus to angels. After this, angels will only be mentioned three more times in Hebrews (2:16, 12:22, 13:2). And although angels are mentioned in this passage, Christ is clearly the focus (v. 5).
Jesus is the One whom God put in charge of all things. He’s in charge of the sunrise and the sunset. He’s ruler of those who humble themselves before Him, and He’s ruler over those who rebel against Him. He’s sovereign over all of history. He’s sovereign over our daily activities. He’s sovereign over the big picture, and the details of life. He’s sovereign over the future. He’s the Ruler now, and He’ll be the Ruler forever.
Yet it doesn’t always seem that way, does it? How can Jesus be in control when there’s so much suffering in the world? One of the most common objections against the existence of God is that if there were a God, then we wouldn’t see the kind of suffering we see in the world. So they reason that either God isn’t good, He isn’t powerful, or He doesn’t exist at all. So there’s this disconnect that many people experience between God’s authority and the world we see around us. The writer of Hebrews recognizes this issue, quotes a psalm which addresses the issue, and then explains what the reality of the situation is (v. 6-7a).
This is a quote from Psalm 8. Years before Jesus was born, it told the Jews about the coming Messiah, the son of man. When it says God “made” the son of man a little lower the angels, it’s not talking about when Jesus would come into existence. Jesus always existed. Before being born on the earth, Jesus eternally existed as the Son of God. The Bible is clear that God has eternally existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is three Persons, yet One God. It’s interesting that the word “made” in the original language refers to a demotion. Jesus got demoted. Think about it: Jesus is God and is Ruler of all. But for a little while, Jesus became one of us. For a little while, Jesus appeared to be inferior to angels. But that’s not how Jesus stayed forever (v. 7-8a).
What’s going on here? In the same breath that we read that Jesus was made lower than the angels, we read that He was crowned with glory and honor, and that everything is in subjection under His feet. But as we’ve already noted, we don’t seem to see that when we look at the world around us (v. 8b). So the writer of Hebrews recognizes this problem that we experience. But the solution is so simple, and it was right there in Psalm 8 all along, and the writer of Hebrews explains how (v. 9).
Jesus was made lower than the angels so that He would be crowned with all glory and honor. But doesn’t He deserve all glory and honor anyway? Of course He does. He’s God. But to come and die for our sins when He didn’t have to shows His grace, shows His greatness, shows His wonder, and even though He didn’t need to earn His crown, He earned it. He proved to us and to all that He is worthy. He didn’t have to prove it. Especially not in this way, but He did. And He did it to show His glory. You see, Christ does not ultimately receive all glory and honor when all things are put under His feet. Christ does not receive all glory and honor at some point in the future. Christ has received all glory and honor because of the suffering of His death.
How does that honor Him? How does He receive glory from that? How can death glorify God? It seems to be a point of defeat. It shows His glory because it was His plan all along. God created man knowing that man would rebel against God and would die for his sins. So God sent Jesus conquer death. And God sent Jesus to destroy evil so that He would be glorified. Satan thought that by killing Jesus, he won, but Satan didn’t know that the death of Jesus meant that God’s glory would be preached throughout the earth.
But He also did it to show His grace (v. 9b). Jesus died so that all people would have the opportunity to experience God’s grace. He didn’t die for a select few. He died so that everyone could know God’s grace. That’s what God desires. God desires that all would be saved from their sin. God desires that all would trust in Jesus and be saved.
All things will be subject to Jesus. When the end comes, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. But some of those confessions will come not out of faith, but even in their rebellion. So, now, Jesus is waiting for everyone who will trust Him to trust Him. And even though our world is a mess with sin and the effects of sin, so that there is so much suffering, God’s solution is Christ. And anyone who places their faith in Christ will be saved from eternal death, given abundant riches in Christ in eternity, having no more pain, no more suffering, and no more tears, and will have everlasting joy forever.
Trust in Christ, and crown Him as Lord over your life.
Pastor Chris Huff has been with us since July 2009. He and his wife, Abby, have four children. Chris is originally from St. Louis, MO and even though he was raised as a city boy, he has a small town heart. Chris is all over the internet, so you can find him on Facebook, Twitter,… (read more)
