Hebrews 2:10-18 Study Guide: Seven Reasons Jesus Became Human

Community Group Study Guide — Seven Reasons Jesus Became Human
Hebrews 2:10-18

Study Information:
We have a special guest preacher this Sunday focusing on the importance of the humanity of Jesus for us and our salvation. 

If you were to ask people on the street today if they thought Jesus was a real human being, the vast majority of them would say “yes!” If you were to ask them if they thought Jesus was God or a spiritual being like an angel, the majority of them would likely say “no way!” The surprise is that in the ancient world it was reversed. Our world today struggles with things that seem miraculous or spiritual, but the ancient world thought the idea of Jesus taking on a human nature was a sort of demotion at best or evil at worst. Much of this came from a negative view of the created/physical world (we are starting a Sunday morning class on what it means to be fully embodied people and how that relates to our worship of God in August if you’re interested in exploring this more). Many of the New Testament letters are concerned with teaching correct theology that Jesus was fully God AND fully human and that this was needed for our salvation. One such place is Hebrews 2, let’s explore seven reasons why Jesus became human and how that is good news! 

Jesus is the forerunner
Hebrews 2:10
Jesus took on a fully human nature to be the author of our salvation. In this Jesus went before us as the “founder.” This word “founder” in the English Standard Version can be translated as champion or forerunner, which gets highlighted when the writer turns his attention to discussing how Jesus defeated Satan and death. What this means is that God the son has gone before us and paved the way. This speaks to our inability to save ourselves and our need for God’s help and grace. 

Jesus connects us to the Father
Hebrews 2:11-13
By taking on a human nature, Jesus opened up familial relationship for us with God. The writer of Hebrews called Jesus our brother and stated that through Christ we became children to God. Moreover, Jesus is not ashamed of our family identity. He is not the older brother who pretends not to know you around their friends. Christ gladly owns us as his own.

Jesus destroyed death
Hebrews 2:14
Since we’re flesh and blood, Jesus had to take on flesh and blood and experience death to destroy death. Jesus’s death was not purposeless or senseless, he took on what many of us have as our greatest fear and suffered for us and for our salvation. Being God the Son, death could not hold him and the power of death needed to be defeated once for all. 

Jesus set the captives free
Hebrews 2:15
For many of us, death can be our greatest fear. The writer of Hebrews tells us that this is a tool of the devil to keep us in slavery. Death entered God’s good creation with Adam and Eve’s rebellion and this death included physical and spiritual death. Our physical lives end and spiritually we were separated from God because of sin. Jesus took on a human nature to free us from this slavery to the devil and fear of death and since Jesus died and rose from the dead, death is not the end for God’s children. 

Jesus fulfilled God’s promises
Hebrews 2:16
God made a promise to Abraham to bless him and to use his offspring to bless the nations. That promise was fulfilled in Christ. The writer of Hebrews wrote here that there was no salvation plan for the angels who rebelled against God, rather God made a way for his image bearers to be reconciled to him fulfilling the covenant he made in Genesis 12. Through Jesus all the nations of the earth would be blessed just as God promised Abraham. 

Jesus atoned for our sins
Hebrews 2:17
Jesus had to become human to function fully as the priest we needed. The writer of Hebrews will elaborate on the limits and failings of the priesthood in Israel in future chapters. However the contrast here is that Jesus came as the merciful and faithful priest we needed. In himself he offered up his life as the propitiation for our sins; propitiation being a sacrifice that removes wrath. In this case the priest did not just offer sacrifice, he became the sacrifice for us in his flesh. 

Jesus helps the helpless
Hebrews 2:18
Finally, Jesus actually knows and cares about your suffering and temptation. In his human nature, Jesus experienced temptation and suffering and is able to help those who are experiencing the same. Jesus understands fully what it is like to be abandoned by friends, physically harmed, to be in anguish, to be tested and tempted and he know what is like to die. This knowledge is not theoretical, it is from experience. This is part of what it means for Jesus to be merciful and faithful to us. 

At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.

How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week? 

Discussion Questions:
Read Hebrews 2:10-18

Do you think modern people struggle more with Jesus’s humanity or his divinity? What are some reasons for that?

This passage emphasized the theological side of Jesus’s humanity in that God fulfilled his promise to Abraham, that our sin was atoned for and salvation includes reconciliation into God’s family. List out 3-4 theological truths you learn from this passage about why Jesus had to have a human nature for our salvation?

This passage also emphasized the tender care and love of God in sending his son. Things like how he is merciful and faithful and how he helps us. What does it mean for you that Jesus actually understands the suffering and temptation you experience. How does this help your prayer life?

In what area of your life do you need help right now? How does Jesus meet that need and what can you do to receive his help today?