Sabbath School Class Week 4
Introduction: When Chris and I went on our trip to Ethiopia this past spring I was reminded of my childhood there. Everywhere I went the sounds and smells and faces brought back wonderful memories. One of the memories that struck me was how my father did his best to break down the separation from us and them. He made us live more simply than the rest of the missionaries did. He invited our Ethiopian neighbors into our home and when he would travel into the country he stayed in huts and graciously accepted any and all hospitality offered, even when it meant drinking tea after the chicken just ran through his cup, stepping right in his tea. My dad always said, "How can we minister to anyone unless we are willing to be one of them."
Yet while I was in Ethiopia I realized how we never really became one of them. We may have extended hospitality and accepted hospitality but we never really were Ethiopian. We can never understand the depth of their need, the depth of their pain, the depth of their loss. This chapter is reminding us of how Jesus didn't just send his angels to give us Salvation, He didn't just sit in heaven and give us what we needed but he became one of us first, and then he gave us the gift of Salvation. He knew our pain, knew our loss, our joys, he was and is part of us.
Yet while I was in Ethiopia I realized how we never really became one of them. We may have extended hospitality and accepted hospitality but we never really were Ethiopian. We can never understand the depth of their need, the depth of their pain, the depth of their loss. This chapter is reminding us of how Jesus didn't just send his angels to give us Salvation, He didn't just sit in heaven and give us what we needed but he became one of us first, and then he gave us the gift of Salvation. He knew our pain, knew our loss, our joys, he was and is part of us.
Read:
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death,so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
1. What was the importance of him becoming one of us?
2. What if any is the significance of these "steps" or levels?
3. What is our level? What is our responsibility? Or our charge?
Read:
2. What if any is the significance of these "steps" or levels?
3. What is our level? What is our responsibility? Or our charge?
Read:
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[g] 12 He says,
13 And again,
And again he says,
“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[j]
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help
those who are being tempted.
Here is no question this is one of those passages that leads us to deep theological discussions. I would like for us to avoid that. This is personal! Jesus made it personal! By becoming one of us He made it personal!
Your most difficult moments, he experienced, your deepest pain he has felt, your greatest joy, he has relished in knowing exactly how you feel!
1. How would it be different if he had just made some decree from his royal heavenly throne that gave us the gift?
2. Have you ever had a difficulty time when you felt like know one understands?
3. Contrast that with a difficult time where someone shared with you how they had had a similar experience.
4. Do we really believe that Jesus has felt our pain? Do we really believe that he has rejoiced in our joy?
In Ethiopia my father is dearly loved. He has a brotherhood with the people there that many other missionaries have not had. Very simply his willingness to sleep in their huts and eat their food connected him in a way that wouldn't have happened under other circumstances.
Perhaps the most important reason for Jesus to lower himself below the angels and to come and be one of us was so that he could really connect with us. After all we were created to be in fellowship with Jesus. To have a deep and beautiful relationship with him! He wants that still! He wants that now, not just someday when we all get to heaven. Oh that will be amazing but so is the opportunity to be with him and know him now!
those who are being tempted.
Here is no question this is one of those passages that leads us to deep theological discussions. I would like for us to avoid that. This is personal! Jesus made it personal! By becoming one of us He made it personal!
Your most difficult moments, he experienced, your deepest pain he has felt, your greatest joy, he has relished in knowing exactly how you feel!
1. How would it be different if he had just made some decree from his royal heavenly throne that gave us the gift?
2. Have you ever had a difficulty time when you felt like know one understands?
3. Contrast that with a difficult time where someone shared with you how they had had a similar experience.
4. Do we really believe that Jesus has felt our pain? Do we really believe that he has rejoiced in our joy?
In Ethiopia my father is dearly loved. He has a brotherhood with the people there that many other missionaries have not had. Very simply his willingness to sleep in their huts and eat their food connected him in a way that wouldn't have happened under other circumstances.
Perhaps the most important reason for Jesus to lower himself below the angels and to come and be one of us was so that he could really connect with us. After all we were created to be in fellowship with Jesus. To have a deep and beautiful relationship with him! He wants that still! He wants that now, not just someday when we all get to heaven. Oh that will be amazing but so is the opportunity to be with him and know him now!
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