Gospel Day 12 Believes In Him: Digging Deeper
Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Believes In Him!
The Questions
1) What are some examples of how Jesus was like his brothers and sisters “in every way”?
2) What was the role of the high priest in Jewish culture?
3) How does this verse help the readers of Hebrews “believe in Him”?
Hebrews 2:17
17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Original Intent
1) What are some examples of how Jesus was like his brothers and sisters “in every way”?
In his gospel, John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Here, the author of Hebrews emphasizes Jesus’ humanness; He was both equally fully man and fully God. When Jesus took on flesh, He didn’t “consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.” (Philippians 2:6-7) The gospels describe a range of human emotions and experiences Jesus endured. He grew tired, grieved for friends, fellowshipped with others, felt anger, and was tempted in every way. The most significant of which is that Jesus experienced temptation, but did not sin, which made Him the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people.
2) What was the role of the high priest in Jewish culture?
The thought of a high priest can be hard for us to identify with because it’s not something we encounter in our world today. When Adam and Eve sinned, the relationship between man and God was broken. God required a sacrifice to atone for the sins of man and God gave His people a system to fulfill that need (outlined in Leviticus and Numbers). Animal sacrifices were made by the priests, but once a year a special sacrifice was made by the high priest. This day was the Day of Atonement, when the high priest entered into the holy of holies to offer sacrifices and intercede to God for the people. The author of Hebrews wrote Jesus served as a high priest between humanity and God, making atonement for our sins. This would have been like a lightbulb for the readers of Hebrews; Jesus was not only the sacrifice, but He also served as the perfect High Priest, standing before God in their place.
3) How does this verse help the readers of Hebrews “believe in Him”?
The author of Hebrews is reminding and urging Christians to not simply believe Jesus, but to believe in Jesus; to believe in Him like they had believed in their high priest to serve faithfully on the Day of Atonement each year. This verse assures believers that Jesus was indeed the Messiah they were looking for: He was like them in every way so they could relate to Him in His humanity, He provided mercy they needed, He was more faithful than any human high priest could ever be, and He was the propitiation (appeasing God’s righteous need for justice) for their sins by sacrificing Himself.
Everyday Application
1) What are some examples of how Jesus was like his brothers and sisters “in every way”?
One of my favorite attributes of God is that He is immutable, meaning He is forever unchanging. The original readers of Hebrews could be comforted that Jesus was like them in every way, that He was tempted, but did not sin. This same truth applies to us! Even 2,000 years later, Jesus came to the earth we live on, He was fully human like us, and He was the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We can believe in Him and praise God for His sovereign plan to redeem the world through Jesus.
2) What was the role of the high priest in Jewish culture?
The original audience of John 3:16 and Hebrews 2:17 had a framework for the role of the high priest and the parallel to Jesus. A high priest is not a role necessary in Christianity today. We don’t offer sacrifices because we know Jesus made atonement for our sins once and for all. More so, Jesus acts as a perfect high priest who stands before God blameless for eternity. The writer of Hebrews goes on to say, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
3) How does this verse help the readers of Hebrews “believe in Him”?
We can read this verse and be encouraged to believe in Jesus as well. We don’t need a high priest, a pastor, or our good deeds to save us. God loved the world so much–including YOU! He sent Jesus to Earth to live as a man, live a perfect life, and make atonement for our sins. That is something we can still believe in and find our hope in, not only for our everyday life, but also for all eternity!
What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Believes In Him!
Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
Digging Deeper Community
Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!
Our Current Study Theme!
This is Gospel Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!
Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
Memorize It!
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.