JESUS, THOUGH CROWNED WITH GLORY AND HONOR, STILL BECAME OUR SAVIOR THROUGH HUMILITY

• Chapter 1 shows Christ the Glory of God; that glory can awe us, but not save us
• In humility He tasted temptation, suffering, and even death in order to minister to us
• Now He still is humbled - "not yet all things put under Him" -v.8 for us

I. "MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS" v.9a

A. TWICE IN THIS SECTION IT SAYS THAT HE WAS MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS* v.7 & 9

• An angel is a spiritual being, not limited to the restrictions of the flesh, servant of God
• Jesus took a form lower than the angels, limited Himself to the body of a man, of flesh
• Thus He humbled Himself, becoming lower than His own ministering servants, for us

B. FORASMUCH AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE ALSO LIKEWISE TOOK PART v.14

• The agonies of the virgin birth are but the first of the sinless infirmities of the flesh
• He limited Himself to the power of a man in human body, under bondage to accumulative sin
• He was God, but veiled in human flesh, subject to the laws of the earth & its bondage

C. BUT HE TOOK ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, NOT THE NATURE OF ANGELS v.16

• He was born of the line of the Promise, special grace- but special troubles, too- Adam, Abram,
• He was born into a nation of a captive people- slaves for almost 800 years, now Rome-ruled
• He was born of a race of despised people, every other nation hated them, troublesome

II. "MAKING PERFECT OUR SALVATION THROUGH SUFFERING" v. 10c

A. JESUS FOR OUR SAKES WAS TEMPTED MORE THAN ANY MAN- Let's study the temptations we know about

• Matt 4:3 He was tempted to doubt the care of God the Father, for personal needs - 40 day fast
• Matt 4:6 He was tempted to presumption to get people to look up to Him, & then never did
• Matt 4:9 He was tempted to treason, to worship Satan, and the world would have been His

B. JESUS FOR OUR SAKES WAS CAUSED TO SUFFER MORE THAN ANY MAN - Have you ever thought of his suffering?

• He had no home to call His own Matt 8:20  He wandered from birth to death without property
• He had no friend He could really depend on Matt 26:40  Could not watch with Him one hour
• He had no food but what was given to Him- so He took the borrowed lunch and fed all- John 6

C. JESUS FOR OUR SAKES WAS CAUSED TO DIE WITH GREATER SUFFERING THAN ANY MAN - JUST FOR THE UNJUST

• Suffering the moral agony in the Garden of Gethsemane- Matt 26:38 - Soul sorrowful unto death
• Suffering the spiritual agony on being deserted by God the Father - Matt 27:46 -  Forsaken! 
• Suffering the physical agony of torture death, for those who hated Him - Luke 23:34 - Forgive them

And He bore up under His sufferings enough to inspire the Centurion- Mark 15:39 - Son of God

III. "BRINGING MANY SONS INTO GLORY" v.10

A. IN HUMILITY HE BECAME THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION - v.10

• He knows man, as only a man can know him
• He knows God, as only God can know Himself
• He alone can truly be the captain of our salvation, and reconcile the two- perfecting salvation

B. IN HUMILITY HE BECAME THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE UNJUST v.11

• He knows our sin, He lived with us for some 30 years, and  bore our sins on Calvary
• He knows God's righteousness, He lived it on earth without sin, the perfect Lamb of God
• He alone can sanctify sinful mankind and "He is not ashamed to call them brethren" 11b

C. IN HUMILITY HE BECAME THE SUCCOR OF THE TEMPTED v.18

• He knows the pain of temptation, 4:15 "He was in all points tempted like as we are"
• You don't find Him condemning the sinner for his weakness; He provides the way out of sin
• He alone can give us grace and strength to face the sufferings we must face, yet for Him.

JESUS WAS MADE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS SO THAT HE COULD WALK IN OUR SHOES, TO SAVE US

• Follow Him in His humility, and He will give you eternal salvation, bringing you to Glory
• He, Himself, is our Guide in the Christian life, for He tasted every affliction we have
• Let Him be your Personal  Saviour and Guide, not a set of laws and rules.

Will you put your hand in His, just as you are?