I have been really thinking about God’s decision to send Jesus to the earth. I mean, it’s not like He was surprised at what Jesus was going to have to go through. All of the things that kids go through. All of the things that young men go through. I have really been trying to process the whole “grafted in” concept… That we as Gentile believers share in the faith are brought in (idea of adoption) to under the covering of Christ.
“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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.” Hebrews 2:17
Well, I received the passage above yesterday on an email verse of the day thing. So. Jesus, stepped out of Heaven. Was born and was “to be made like his brothers in every way.” Why? So he would face the same things that we face. Hmmm… That was a crucial part of God’s design. God didn’t keep Jesus from the world. He immersed Jesus into it. Jewish culture, traditions, King Herod killing the infants up through 2 years old, family on the run to Egypt, and finally to Nazareth. His earthly father was Joseph, a carpenter or wood worker. The wood crafts of those days were not like the ones that are made today. This was solid wood…Extremely heavy wood. When I imagine what Jesus looked like, I picture a medium build Jewish guy with quite a build on him. He had to be in good shape if he withstood so many lashes with the Cat Of 9 Tails. I’m not saying that Jesus looked like a mega-body builder, just a really strong guy with rough hands…lots of splinters, calluses, and scars.
So he walked a lot and prayed more than that. He was born to the world to serve it. He lived a life free from sin. He was invited into peoples’ homes (and invited himself into some also). Just as the Passover lamb was brought into the house a few days before Passover.
Now, the high priest was responsible for maintain the temple and keeping with the Law to the highest level. His meals pretty much came from the Temple. So he realistically wouldn’t have to leave a whole lot. But Jesus came as a lowly servant (don’t forget the food trough he was laid in) and over time became not only the high priest who entered into the Holy of Holies, but the bearer of all of the sin of all of the world.
There is a lot more symbolism that I would like to get into, but for now, just think about what it was like to be God that lived among humans. Also, the opposite of that. To be the brother of Jesus… The blood brother. What was that like? Sure we are, as followers of Christ, adopted into the Kingdom of God and called sons and daughters of God. But to be the actual blood brother of the Son of God. To walk with him and know Him. Amazing!
I want to know my Jesus like that. Just as if we went to hang at the coffee house or whatever.
How about you? What are your thoughts? What questions do you have? Comment away.
Until next time…
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Prodigal Thinker 