Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 (NRSV)
Read Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, Verse 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. Verse 3He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Verse 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Verse 5Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. Verse 6But someone has testified somewhere, "What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? Verse 7You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, Verse 8subjecting all things under their feet." Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, Verse 9but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Verse 10It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Verse 11For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, Verse 12saying, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you."
Devotion
Hebrews revisits the cosmic question from both Psalm 8 and Job 7:17: what are we humans that God is mindful of us? God’s emphatic response to this question is Jesus Christ, an “exact imprint of God’s very being,” the one through whom God made all of creation, the one through whom all things are sustained.
We know God is mindful of humans, because through this one, Jesus Christ, God became human—not just a little human, but fully human. Jesus experienced not just some of the temptations that life has to offer, but the one thing every single human being on the planet will one day know: death.
Since Jesus “tasted death for everyone,” we are assured we do not walk the road to death alone, but with one who has gone down that road and emerged triumphant, crowned with glory and honor, proclaiming us his brothers and sisters.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, who are we that you are mindful of us? As your beloved children, brothers and sisters in Christ, renew in us our calling to do your will and follow in your ways. May we be ever-mindful of the promises you have given us through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.