At Christmas - Bringing Many To Glory In Jesus

"Today's Devotion" For December 29, 2005

Read: Hebrews 2:10-18; Psalm 22:19-31

AT CHRISTMAS - BRINGING MANY TO GLORY IN JESUS

"In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for Whom and through Whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Heb. 2:10)

How do you feel about suffering? If we could avoid it, most of would do so, of that there can be no doubt. Suffering comes to us in all forms and sizes. People suffer when they get sick, break a bone, sprain a joint, pull a muscle, or bruise themselves. People also suffer when a loved one or trusted friend lies to them. People suffer deep pain when a loved one dies. Suffering can be long lasting and, seemingly, never ending. Soldiers wounded in combat, having debilitating injuries, perhaps even losing a limb or two, are often known to endure physical, mental, and emotional suffering often for the rest of their lives.

Wherever we may look in the world around us we will see suffering of all kinds and all levels. People's pain, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, is obvious and very real as it is brought into our homes by the news media on any given day. A year after the massive destruction caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami last Christmas, people are still picking up the pieces and relief work has barely touched the surface of the needs and suffering of those affected. In late August Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast States, particularly Louisiana and Mississippi with horrific force and consequences. Cities were nearly destroyed, lives were lost, and tens of thousands of people were left homeless. The suffering experienced by those victims, whether from the tsunami or from the hurricanes is intense, and, in many cases, can't be fully experienced by us.

Perhaps it's not necessary to say it, but all the suffering we see in the world around us and experience in our own lives is a direct result of humanity's disobedience - our sinfulness - before God. By nature we don't honor Him in our hearts or lives. Our desire is for ourselves first, not Him or other people. The consequences of disobedience to God are seen all around us - suffering is the sure sign of it this side of death. While it's true that all of us can relate to the suffering of others, none of us can truly experience of "feel" another's pain (no matter what a former President once said). No matter how much we might want to suffer along with a loved one or a friend, it's not possible for us to walk in their shoes and experience their pain exactly as they do.

While we are limited in our empathy toward others, there is One who suffers the same pain and truly understands the suffering each of us experiences as if He were us. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fully and completely became one with us, taking on our human form - God became a man. He took our suffering because of Sin's power upon Himself and experiencing in His own body and spirit the consequences of Sin's power over us. Certainly, we can understand that the wages of Sin, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually are certainly deserved by human beings. On the other hand, the Lord of Life, the Lamb of God, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and the Prince of Peace deserved nothing of the suffering He endured - He was, and is, the only-begotten Son of the Father. He was sinless, perfect and holy in every way. His was a life of obedience to the Father in our place, yet He suffered more intensely than any of us can imagine as He bore the power and devastation of the sins of the whole world on His head.

The writer to the Hebrews declares the wonder of God's grace to us and the world in Jesus Christ. We're reminded that Jesus, "who was made a little lower than the angels" (2:9) was also made "perfect through suffering" (2:10). He became as one of us, of the same family (2:10), so that He calls us "brothers" (2:11). As our brother, Who took on our pain and suffering because of our sins, He truly "feels our pain" and truly understands the suffering we experience in our lives. He became one with us in our humanity so that He might redeem us and bring us into the Father's glory forever. He overcame temptation for us so that we might live in the fullness of God's love for eternity - forgiven sinners, redeemed children, saints.

At Christmas we remember that God became flesh and lived among us. He was and is the perfect Son of the Father that we have failed to be. He is our living Lord and Savior, the firstborn from the dead , Whose birth gives us hope, His death, redemption and forgiveness, and His resurrection the God's assurance that the sacrifice and payment for our sins is once and for all times complete. At Christmas we remember that Jesus came into the world in order to take on all our pain and suffering because of Sin. We are reminded that the purpose of His live was to bear our sins on the Cross and be our Savior. His life, suffering, death, and resurrection is a model for godly, faithful living, but also for enduring the suffering Sin brings into our lives. Jesus also gives us a model for loving one another and sharing in the suffering of others, as He has suffered for us, so that we might be instruments of the Holy Spirit through whom others might come to have faith in Jesus and be saved. At Christmas we are pointed to the manger but also the Cross, for the sole purpose for God becoming flesh is to bring many "sons to glory" by His blood.

Prayer: Father, as life winds down from the Christmas rush and festivities, I also realize that many people are suffering depression and sorrow despite the joy of the season. Wherever I look, suffering can be found. Sin hasn't taken a "holiday" even though we've been celebrating Jesus' birthday this past week. Much as I would like to believe I can "feel" the pain of others, in truth I can only, really, experience my own. Yet, by Your grace and mercy, Jesus came into this world for one purpose, and for only one purpose - to truly experience the pain of Sin in the lives of human beings and, in perfect obedience to You, "take away the Sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). Father, I give You thanks and praise for sending Jesus to bear my sins and be my Savior. Help me to live in the sure hope that His suffering, death, and resurrection give me life and will lead me to see You in glory. Above all, as I continue to walk this earth as Your redeemed and forgiven child, give Your Spirit in abundant measure that I might always, in every circumstance, be a messenger of Your love for the world in Jesus so that others might be brought into the glory of Your presence forever as well. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
**********************

--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.