Sermon: The Humility of Christ

Let's pray before we open God's word this morning.

Father we pray that you would open your word to us this morning. We would find that you're impressing its Eternal truths Upon Our Hearts. We would know that we have heard from you. And that we have seen a great Lord and savior Christ. That can only happen by the power of your spirit. Would you send him to work Among Us in US? and For Your Glory in Christ's name amen Hebrews chapter 2 verses 5 through 9. This is the holy inherent sufficient.

word of God

for was not to angels that God subjected the world to come. Of which we are speaking. It's been testified somewhere. What is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man that you care for him? He made him for a little while lower than the angels. You've crowned him with Glory and Honor. putting everything in subjection under his feet Now I'm putting everything in subjection to him. He left nothing outside his control.

at President we do not yet see everything and subjection to him, but we see him. Before a little while was made lower than the Angels namely Jesus. crowned with Glory and Honor because of the suffering of death So that by the grace of God? He might taste death. for everyone but the grass withers Flower Fades word of God is forever. Thanks be to God. amen

As we discussed in previous weeks. They're With some Fascination even honor possibly even worshiped that was offered to Angels by the Jews here in the first century and the author wants to make it clear to his readers that though angels are glorious beings though. They are great. He wants them to understand. Do you not know that that you mankind you people or even greater than angels and especially in most importantly he wants

them to know that men and women in Christ. You are greater than angels. so many again this week in our world they are looking for. meaning looking for purpose some of you this room or still hunting for that even this morning as you sit here and in this place and I think once we understand what we were created to be and what we will be someday in Christ.

This present momentary Affliction as Paul will say in another place all of a sudden becomes something that's not only bearable. but something that we can actually find that there is rejoicing in in the midst of it I want us to see that this morning as we go through this text. We're going to do it over three points this morning. The first is the glory of mankind. Second is the troubling present and the third is the glory of Jesus. So the

glory of mankind the troubling president and the glory of Jesus our first point this morning the glory of mankind. The writer begins with a negation in the text. He says for it was not angels that God subjected the world to come and then he gives the positive the other side of that negation who this world is to be subjected to and he makes his point by quoting from soulmates in the Old Testament assalm that David wrote where David begins with

if you were to look back to soulmate he will say this at the very beginning of soulmate. Oh Lord our Lord How Majestic is your name and all the Earth you have set your glory above the heavens. That is God's glory. His weightiness is so great. It can't even be contained by the heaven. surpasses everything the interesting point an Old Testament history or remember the people of God and the Old Testament they for a long time for Generations upon Generations. They

had never built a permanent structure for God to come down and a dwell in the midst of his people so that they might worship him as he was in their midst and you remember that Solomon finally builds a temple and when Solomon builds the temple on that day that he is declaring the blessing of the temple before the people when he dedicates the temple, he says this he says behold. The Heaven and the highest Heaven cannot contain

you how much less this house that I have built. God's glory is so great psalmist say not this Temple can't contain it. And he's echoing his father David who will say in the very beginning of soulmate that's quoted in this text. He will say listen, not only can the temple continue the heavens can't even contain the majesty and the glory of this great God. That's where David's mind is at the beginning of soulmate. and then he has an experience like

I would guess most of you. If not, all of you have had at some point in your life. Is out at night. See speaks of there in verse 3 of soulmate. And as we see beginning to be quoted in verse 6 of our texts. There's no doubt out in the country down. This happened to you when you were out in the country away from city lights and the dark black knight and you look up at the sky and look up at that dark Blackness, and then

you see just Stars that seem to be without number in the sky.

seemingly countless I looked it up this week. You and I at the most when we go out on the dark night away from city lights when we look up at the stars. Estimated that we see anywhere between two and 10,000 stores. Most think we probably see about 6,000 stores.

Regardless of the number of God is placed every one of those stars in the sky. We're told in the scriptures that he knows every single one of them by name. And as you're looking at the stars, no doubt. This is your experience. This was David's experience and soulmate as he is looking at these Stars his mind then drifts Beyond those stories that he can see. You're a 21st century person. And so, you know that there are stars beyond the stars.

In fact, you know that there are not only Stars beyond the stars, you know that there are entire galaxies be beyond the 6,000 stars that you can see with your naked eye.

We thought we knew how many that was and it'll change. Hubble telescope in 2016 when it sent back images And scientists began going back to the drawing board and The estimates that they had had before of the number of galaxies Beyond. Our own they then decide. You know what we probably need to multiply that by 10. They now believe that there are well over two trillion galaxies. Maybe as many as 10 trillion galaxies in each Galaxy contains numerous Stars

our own galaxy The Milky Way is estimated to contain a hundred billion stars or what we might call Sons just this one Galaxy. And if we were to take that low number of two trillion galaxies, that means that there would be somewhere around 200 billion trillion stars in the universe another way of saying it is 200 sextillion. I didn't even know that was a number. That's a number of 200 with 21 zeros after it. It's equal to if you and I were to try to take a cup a

measuring cup two all the oceans in the entire world, and we were to measure out by cup all the water and all the oceans of the world. That's how many. Sons there are out there possibly

and God created them all.

He set each of them in their place and he knows each of them by name even that expanding expansive Heaven cannot contain him.

David It wouldn't have even known what we know today.

He looks up at that sky and as he looks at all of those stars, and he thinks about how many they are and how great they are and that expands his mind then drifts Beyond those stores and he thinks How Great and Mighty and magnificent and Glory must be this God.

And then he does. But I'm thinking most of you have experienced.

He thinks then upon himself.

He thinks how small am I?

just suspect even the mightiest the richest the most beautiful Among Us is just a speck of dust in the universe.

and then David has this thought it's in verse 6 of our text. That you are mindful. of man

you are mindful. of me

should astonish you.

It's Majestic God who not even the heavens can contain his mindful of ours. He's mindful of you.

Now you should immediately have the question why.

Why? Would he care for me and David gives the answer you made him meaning mankind you made him for a little while lower the Angels you have crowned him with Glory and Honor putting everything in subjection under his feet. Why is God mindful of us? Why is he mindful of me? Why is he mindful of you? Because he has put us at the very center of his creation. Out of everything that he has created. We you I have a more treasured and exalted place in all the creation more

than the Soaring Eagle more than the Great Oak Tree more than the great blue whale and the ocean more than even the angels and the archangels that are before him in heaven you and I have the most treasured place in all of creation. Why? Because you and I alone were created in His image. created in His image

crowned with it as David says because we were created in His image. You and me.

Calvin makes me laugh when he's commenting upon this thought and this fact he said whoever is not astonished and deeply affected at this miracle is more than ungrateful and stupid.

What is man? It's not so much a question as it is an exclamation. but a god what a God that he's mindful of me.

right of Hebrews says this he says now in putting creation and subjection to him. He left nothing outside his control that is we were created in His image to have dominion over all the rest of creation. But but here's the issue right? It doesn't feel like that. you don't have to live longed say it sure doesn't feel like everything is is under our dominion and that's leads to our second point the troubling present.

I don't know if you saw it this week, but a video was circulating with King Charles the Third. Which we now need to call them signing. condolence letters as one of his first acts as king to different people in the realm regarding His mother having passed away and he was using a fountain pen as he was. signing these letters and in as he was holding this fountain pen it began to leak in his hand and in frustration, he hands the the PIN to

his wife Camilla and he says this on video for everybody to hear. I wish I had a British accent. He said I hate this. Oh, I can't bear this bloody thing. They do this every stinking time. Even a king among us. Can't get a fountain pen to be subject to him. That's funny. There are things we've experienced this week that aren't so funny. the car refusing to run a child refusing to sleep legs that refuse to walk cancer that refuses to go in.

to remission

At a friend and Mentor called me this week on Wednesday.

And his wife were very importantly as my lives. when we were in seminary and he called on Wednesday to say Jason his young wife young wife 60 years old. Tada her cancer spread to her brain, and I just wanted you to know. I was Wednesday. She died Friday.

Doesn't feel like things are in submission.

the writer anticipates this feeling he remembers that he's writing to Christians. He's right into Christians that are facing persecution. He's seeking to comfort them. And so he he knows the question that's in their mind. He knows the questions that. in yours and my Minds he So he answers it. He says that present we do not yet see everything and subjection. Why because it isn't this creation isn't yet fully and subjection to us because we refuse

to remain in subjection to our creator. God created us as image bearers to be Vice region as it were on the earth to serve as Regents Kings and Queens on the sir subjecting everything in this world to our Dominion as we presented our bodies as a Living Sacrifice to him worshiping him. But that wasn't enough for Adam. He didn't want to simply be like God he wanted to be God. And that is the great Folly of mankind. This is the root of sin.

Everyone wants to be their own little God. You will not be the boss of me.

how to make from that fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil when he took that bite it was an act of cosmic Rebellion saying I want to sit upon the throne in every single one of us Phil with and in him in that first sin and we are born into this world with that same heart

part of the curse Is that this world does not submit itself to our Dominion? Because we did not submit to his.

Sin, is the great curse of this world.

If you listen to people around you whether it's reporters or Educators or politicians or Hollywood actors or actresses your next door neighbor Family your friends everyone knows everyone knows this world's messed up. live in it it constantly splashed with its mud and grime, you know, this world messed up. Everyone agrees on that. We just don't agree the reason why. What's the great problem?

Is that that people are ignorant if that's the problem then education is the answer. If it's income inequality, then redistribution is the answer. If the problem is racism then anti-racism are tolerances the answer if it is the destruction of the earth, then environmentalism or recycling is the answer if the problem is government than right political action is the answer. But the Bible says the great problem of this world is none of these.

They're about symptoms of the underlying sickness. The great disease that has contaminated the bloodstream of this world is sin. It is a cancer that kills. And all the problems that you and I and our children and our neighbors and the people in our community and our friends and our family are suffering through all of these problems find their Genesis in sin.

all full and human beings living in a fallen world Created to be image bearers of God. We are the crown jewel of his creation. We are to be worshiping him and stewarding this world for his glory. We've all fallen from it.

actually encourages me some of the things that people will grab ahold of and say oh that is wicked and that is evil and that needs to be rectified because they're recognizing

recognizing we're living in a full world.

So often sad to me. where they end up I've come across the car in East Lansing multiple times over the last few weeks Then it's maybe the saddest bumper sticker. I have ever read.

Brown bumper sticker and color has white lettering on it and it just has three simple words on it.

It says tree hugging dirt worshiper.

I think it's cute. It's not cute.

For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him. Paul says in Romans. But they became futile in their thinking and their foolish Hearts were darkened claiming to be wise they became fools the exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

Okay. I want you to care about the environment. I want you to. labor hard against Racist attitudes I want you to educating your children. Bible wants that.

a great Need Is Christ

if fallen from the height of God's creation. being formed from the dust as His Image bearers to worshiping the Dust It's not cute. That's just silly and foolish.

We'll laugh and we'll mock ancient civilizations. Oh, they worship the sun didn't they know? They worship the Nile River didn't they know?

Hard it is to see our own folly.

It's only by looking to God that things are made, right? The answer is not the motivate or educate or even eradicate man in and of himself is unable we can't fix this because we are part and parcel of the problem. I heard a comedian say recently humans make horrible people.

The only solution is Christ.

an answer outside of ourselves and Beyond ourselves

You see there is hope and this is the writer's point. He says at present. We do not yet see everything and subjection to him. But there's a but telling us experience has an expiration date, but we see him who for a little while was made lower than the Angels namely Jesus crown with Glory and Honor because of the suffering of death. So that by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone our third point the glory of

Jesus we fell from our intended purpose, but God sent a redeemer into this world to save us from our desperate state to save this world from our desperate state so that all things might be set, right He uses the name here very first time in the book of Hebrews that he uses the name Jesus. The Son of God descends from heaven and he adorns himself with human flesh and he takes upon himself the name of Jesus. You see here is the one in the image of God.

Who upholds the image of God and man as the second Adam and his name is Jesus. What did that angel say to Joseph? You shall call his name Jesus because he shall save his people from their sin.

I came to set us free from our sins.

He was made a little lower than the angels. It's the great first step in Christ humiliation. He became flesh. She subjects himself to being part of what he had created for his own Glory. He subjects himself. He subject himself as Paul was saying another Pastor to the point of death even death on a cross. That is the Apex of his humiliation.

And this is where the rider leads us here in Hebrews. He gives us the effect the cause and the purpose the effect that we see is that Jesus is crowned with glory and honor and what was the cause of this it was that he willingly suffered to the point of death even death on a crawls. This has been said throughout church history first the cross then the crown that was true of Jesus. And so it's true for his people first the

crows. then the crown how do you know that Jason? How do you know that to be true because he became flesh. Because he humbled himself. He subjected himself. He suffered he died why so that as the writer of Hebrews says you're so that by the grace of God. He might taste death for everyone. He tastes death. so that all of our enemies all of our crosses all of our burdens all of our problems are laid in subjection underneath our feet as

we dwell in him who conquered them.

This old and act of God's Amazing Grace.

He kills sin by his magnificent Grace. Did you catch that but we see him for a little while was made lower than the Angels namely Jesus crown with Glory and Honor because of the suffering of death so that by the grace of God It's crazy.

I know in the famous 17th century theologians said it this way. He said it was the gracious free Sovereign purpose of God's will suited to an arising from his natural Grace love goodness pity mercy and compassion working together. It was not of any anger displeasure on God's part against Christ that caused Christ death. It was out of love. And kindness towards others who would not otherwise have been brought to Glory that

Christ with us appointed to die. He tasted death. for everyone

final enemy

tasted as a it's a figure of speechier. That means that he experienced it in its full. Experience the full Wrath of his Heavenly Father upon him as he was on that cross this father whom the heavens cannot contain.

He who is life experienced death?

and a musician loses their hearing or a true genius loses their ability to remember when a world athlete world-class athlete loses their ability to The walk across the room. experience that loss like few others just because of the DraStic contrast of what they knew and what they are now experiencing.

He is life.

As a writer of Hebrews said at the very beginning of this book, he created all things. He is life.

And he dies.

He dies. restore all those who are his He says in John 8 if anyone keeps my word, he will never interestingly taste death.

He dies for us. So that death May no longer have dominion over us. all things in subjection all things

says that he tasted death for everyone here. Everyone here does not mean every single person Has ever existed the context here makes it clear if we were to go on to. Verse 10 we would see that everyone or those who are called many sons. The many sons. He brings to Glory. And to 11 we see that those who are the many sons or those who are Sanctified in 213. We see this every one or those who are the children of God given

to Christ Christ died for those who are his it is all in subjection to him. And all those that are in him everything is made in subjection made to be in subject to him. That's the kicker for the writer of Hebrews here. We those who experience this Fallen World as his brothers and sisters will see everything in subjection to us. Why because we rule with him? And His glory is our Glory because we are in him. What is man that you are mindful of

him? He he takes dust. and he crowns us with glory and honor and creation and and then even when that is moored and when that is scarred because of our sin he acts to redeem us making that Crown shine with all the more Splendor as we Reign within with him in heaven forever.

That's what he does. Making all his and our enemies of footstool. beneath our feet

Have one question for you. one thing to think about including

it's this do you know? Do you know how much you matter?

Do you know that?

So many people are seeking to find the reason in this world. This is it. You were created to be a worshiper of God. And to reign with Christ forever. to your created for The Christian that's what you redeemed to.

You feel small. or your

and him you are Brand great. all of eternity

just a little bit of well-formed dirt. Universe that is grander than our minds can comprehend and yet. He takes us. And he crowns us with Glory and Honor forever.

I should stagger your mind.

So I have trouble believing that.

well You're in good company. That's why he's writing to the Hebrews to remind them. That's why he's writing us to remind us. You're never inconsequential to God. You're never lost.

Amidst all the things going on this world to God.

trials and the troubles that you are in are never just one more thing to chalk up the Fate. Because there is no such thing. before the eyes of your God created in His image for his glory he cares for you. He is mindful of you.

Why? Why would we want to worship anything else?

Be Sultan light in the world be activist for all kinds of things in the world. But be a worshiper of God Alone. the worshiper of Christ Alone as he is more than Worthy. He's mindful of you. you

pray

father we do exalt you this morning.

Thankful that you are God our creator. Thankful for the great gift of our savior the Lord Jesus Christ Our Redeemer.

Confess that we are nothing apart from you. We want to believe more more that we are everything. As we are attached to you. You receive the glory and the praise from not just our lips, but from our hearts and our very lives. In Christ's name we pray. amen