The Suffering King
Hebrews 2:9-17
Main Idea: In his crucifixion, Jesus defeats the devil, destroys death, and delivers us from fear.
I. Defeats the Devil
Though Satan does not have ultimate power over life and death, he does have influence over the things that cause death. In the Scriptures, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn. 5:19); he is the “ruler of this world” (Jn. 12:31), the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), and the “accuser” of God’s people (Rev. 12:10), whose deception led to death’s entrance into the world (Gen. 3:4).
Genesis 3:15: I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.
Though Satan surely thought he had defeated Christ in his crucifixion, Jesus’ death is actually his victory as he crushes the head of the serpent. Christ has defanged the ancient dragon and his weapons of accusation and the judgment of death, and he now rages on as a defeated foe, “knowing that his time is short” (Rev. 12:3, 12).
Colossians 2:13b–15: … God made [us] alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
II. Destroys Death
Death is an unwelcome intruder into this world because of sin, and it is the “last enemy to be destroyed” (1 Cor. 15: 26). Because of the close connection between sin and death, the only way to destroy death is to defeat sin.
Jesus’ crucifixion is:
1. Substitutionary: “Since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself partook of the very same things… he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so he might become a merciful and faithful high priest…” (2:14, 17a)
“The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin & salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man.”
~ John Stott, The Cross of Christ
2. Sacrificial: “... to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (2:17)
“[The witch’s] knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. The witch would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack, and Death itself would start working backwards.”
~ C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe
III. Delivers us from Fear
Facing death without the hope of Christ inevitably brings about a “lifelong slavery” of the fear of death (2:15). The thought of death confronts us with feelings of finality, uncertainty, and guilt. But for all who are in Christ, we no longer have to fear death because Jesus is the “founder” (‘champion’ or ‘pioneer’) of our salvation (2:10), who has “tasted death for everyone” (2:9).
“All religions talk about death and the afterlife, but in general they proclaim that you must lead a good life in order to be ready for eternity. Yet as death approaches, we all know we have not even come close to doing our best; we have not lived as we ought. So we stay, with warrant, enslaved by the fear of death until the end. But Christianity is different. It doesn’t leave you to face death on your own, by holding up your life record & hoping it will suffice. Instead, it gives you a champion who has defeated death, who pardons you and covers you with his life. You face death “in him” and with his perfect record. To the degree we believe, know, and embrace that, we are released from the power of death”
~ Tim Keller, On Death
