Hebrews says that Jesus adopted our human nature so that He could represent us and could die for us (Hebrews 2:9, Hebrews 2:14-16; Hebrews 10:5-10). Here is the foundation of the plan of salvation and our only hope for eternal life.

Read Matthew 16:17, Galatians 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:50, and Ephesians 6:12. To what deficiencies of human nature do these passages relate the expression “flesh and blood”?

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The expression “flesh and blood” emphasizes the frailty of the human condition, its weakness (Ephesians 6:12), lack of understanding (Matthew 16:17, Galatians 1:16), and subjection to death (1 Corinthians 15:50). Hebrews says that Jesus was made like His brothers “in all things” (Hebrews 2:17). This expression means that Jesus became fully human (NIV). Jesus did not simply “look like” or “seem to be” human; He truly was human, truly one of us.

Hebrews also says, however, that Jesus was different from us regarding sin. First, Jesus did not commit any sin (Hebrews 4:15). Secondly, Jesus had a human nature that was “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26, ESV). We all have sinned, and we all have evil tendencies. Our bondage to sin begins deep inside our own very nature. We are “carnal, sold under sin” (Romans 7:14; see also Romans 7:15-20). Pride and other sinful motivations often taint even our good actions. Jesus’ nature, however, was not marred by sin. It had to be this way. If Jesus had been “carnal, sold under sin,” like us, He would have also needed a Savior. Instead, Jesus came as a Savior and offered Himself as a sacrifice “without blemish” to God for us (Hebrews 7:26-28, Hebrews 9:14, ESV).

Then Jesus destroyed the power of the devil by dying as the sinless offering for our sins, thus making possible our forgiveness and reconciliation with God (Hebrews 2:14-17). Jesus also broke the power of sin by giving us the power to live a righteous life through His fulfillment of the new covenant promise to write the law in our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). Thus, Jesus has defeated the enemy and effectively liberated us so that we can now “serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). Satan’s final destruction, meanwhile, will come at the final judgment (Revelation 20:1-3, Revelation 20:10).

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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Hebrews says that Jesus was not ashamed to call us His brethren (Hebrews 2:11). Despite being one with God, Jesus embraced us as part of His family. This solidarity contrasts with the public shaming that the readers of Hebrews suffered in their communities (Hebrews 10:33).

Read Hebrews 11:24-26. In what way do Moses’ decisions exemplify what Jesus did for us?

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Have you imagined what it meant for Moses to be called “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”? He was a powerful figure in the most powerful empire of the time. He received the highest civil and military training and became a remarkable character. Stephen says that Moses was “mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:22). Ellen G. White also says that he was “a favorite with the armies of Egypt” and that Pharaoh “determined to make his adopted grandson his successor on the throne” (see  Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 245). Yet, Moses abandoned all of this privilege when he chose to identify himself with the Israelites, a slave nation without education and power.

Read Matthew 10:32-33; 2 Timothy 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 13:12-15. What does God ask from us?

This was part of the problem for the readers of Hebrews. After suffering persecution and rejection, many of them began to feel ashamed of Jesus. By their actions some were in danger of putting Jesus “to an open shame” instead of honoring Him (Hebrews 6:6). Thus, Paul constantly calls the readers to “hold fast” the “confession” of their faith (Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 10:23, NKJV).

God wants us to recognize Jesus as our God and our brother. As our Redeemer, Jesus has paid our debt; as our brother, Jesus has shown us the way that we should live in order that we will “be conformed to the image of his Son, [so] that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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The titles of the thirteen Sabbaths of study this quarter give us two hymns to use as the themes:
Hymn 593 – In Times Like These and 
Hymn 177 – Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness.

“Jesus, Our Faithful Brother”, the title for this weeks’ lesson immediately brings us our first 
Hymn 602 – O Brother, Be Faithful.

The Sunday title of “The Brother as a Redeemer” has at least four hymns for us:
Hymn 337/338 – Redeemed,
Hymn 492 – By Christ Redeemed,
Hymn 179 – The Wonders of Redeeming Love, and
Hymn 343 – I Will Sing of My Redeemer.

The “liberty” given us in the “Jubilee Year” can be sung in 
Hymn 114 – There’s a Wideness (verse 1), 
Hymn 117 – The Advent of Our God (verse 2) and 
Hymn 177 – Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness (verse 3) names just three hymns.

Monday we are encouraged to “hold fast” as does 
Hymn 600 – Hold Fast Til I Come.

“The foundation of the plan of salvation and our only hope of eternal life” is given on Tuesday:
Hymn 646 – To The Name That Brings Salvation and 
Hymn 339 – God Is My Strong Salvation. With Jesus having defeated the enemy… we can now say I Serve a Risen Savior in 
Hymn 251 – He Lives, or 
Hymn 526 – Because He lives.

Hebrews 2:13 on Thursday “I will put my trust in Him” is sung in 
Hymn 535 – I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, 
Hymn 279 – Only Trust Him, and 
Hymn 510 – If You But Trust In God To Guide You.

We are bound for The Promised Land! Hallelujah!! – 
Hymn 620 – On Jordan’s Stormy Banks. Come, Lord Jesus, come – very soon.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Read Leviticus 25:25-27, Leviticus 25:47-49. Who could redeem a person who had lost his property or his liberty because of poverty?

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The law of Moses stipulated that when a person was so poor that he had to sell his property — or even himself — in order to survive, he would receive that property or his liberty back every fifty years, on the jubilee year. The jubilee year was a “grand” Sabbath year in which debts were forgiven, properties reclaimed, and liberty proclaimed to the captives.

Fifty years was a long time to wait, however. That’s why the Law of Moses also stipulated that the nearest relative could pay the part that was still owed and, thus, ransom his relative much sooner.

The nearest relative was also the one who guaranteed that justice was done in the case of a murder. He was the avenger of the blood who would pursue the murderer of his close relative and punish him (Numbers 35:9-15).

Read Hebrews 2:14-16. How are Jesus and we described in this passage?

This passage describes us as slaves of the devil, but Jesus as our Redeemer. When Adam sinned, human beings fell under the power of Satan. As a result, we did not have the power to resist sin (Romans 7:14-24). Worse, there was a death penalty that our transgression required, which we could not pay (Romans 6:23). Thus, our situation was apparently hopeless.

Jesus, however, adopted our human nature and became flesh and blood like us. He became our nearest relative and redeemed us. He was not ashamed to call us “brothers” (Hebrews 2:11, ESV).

Paradoxically, by taking our nature and redeeming us, Jesus revealed His divine nature, as well. In the Old Testament, the true redeemer of Israel, their closest relative, is Yahweh (e.g., Psalm 19:14, Isaiah 41:14, Isaiah 43:14, Isaiah 44:22, Jeremiah 31:11, Hosea 13:14).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Sabbath Afternoon,

Read for This Week’s Study: Leviticus 25:25–27; Hebrews 2:14–16; Hebrews 11:24–26; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Hebrews 5:8-9, ; Hebrews 12:1–4.

Memory Text: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil” (Hebrews 2:14, NKJV).

Hebrews 1 talks of Jesus as the Son of God, the ruler over the angels, and “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3, NKJV). In Hebrews 2, Jesus is the Son of man, who was made lower than the angels and who adopted human nature with all its frailty, even to the point of death (Hebrews 2:7).

In Hebrews 1, God says about Jesus: “You are My Son” (Hebrews 1:5, NKJV). In Hebrews 2, Jesus refers to human children as His “brethren” (Hebrews 2:12).

In Hebrews 1, the Father declares the Son’s divine sovereignty (Hebrews 1:8-12). In Hebrews 2, the Son affirms His faithfulness to the Father (Hebrews 2:13).

In Hebrews 1, Jesus is the divine Lord, Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign. In Hebrews Chapter 2, Jesus is the human high priest, merciful and faithful.

In summary, the description of Jesus as a faithful and merciful brother is depicted in the description of the Son as the ultimate manifestation of the eternal, creator God (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 22.

Sunday–>

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