SOAP Notes

A continuation of the semi-regular Tuesday SOAP Notes line:

December 11, 2007
Philemon; Hebrews 1-4

S: Hebrews 2: 5-10
It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:
"What is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor
and put everything under his feet."

In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

O: The discussion is about our salvation and how it should not be ignored. What is key to this part of the discussion, though, is the dialogue about our mode of salvation, and the way that God changed roles to bring it about.

A: How interesting to consider the hierarchy of the Christian realm. It appears in these verses that we see a shift in things, and that shift is brought about through the act of our salvation, and by the expression of God’s love for us and our value to him.

As we see in the quote from Psalms, in the Old Testament man was understood and accepted to be fairly low on the totem pole. At the top was God, next were the angels, and then man was “a little lower,” with the rest of God’s creation subject to man.

Paul goes on to look at what happened when Jesus came. Jesus, being the incarnation of God, is understood to have been a dualistic hybrid, 100% man and 100% God at the same time. His personhood and identity were never changed from God, but He was subject to the base desires and cravings and temptations that the flesh foists upon our spirits, and by virtue of His Godhood was enabled to avoid sin.

While He was all-God, though, He was, in the spiritual order, below the angels, like man. It was in taking on this role, and in living a life without defect, that God was able to accomplish our salvation.

But, in identifying Himself as one of us, and in taking on our form, God elevated us in the process. As I read this passage, and ponder its meaning, I’m lead to believe that man was raised in the hierarchy by God. We are no longer simply creations, but we are sons and heirs. We, like our “brother” Jesus, are given authority, subject to God’s will, and because of God’s will, over His creation.

It’s hard to wrap my mind around, and hard to understand. So often, I see myself as “just a man.” I never get past the “who is man, that You are mindful of him?” Because, really, who am I? I’m nothing, I’m insignificant. I’m a vapor, a fleeting moment, a blink of an eye in an eternity. From that perspective, I am nothing. God needn’t even acknowledge me. But my value to God isn’t derived by this perspective; it’s defined by His love for me, and by what He’s given so that I might be more than just a speck, but instead can be His friend forever. So, while I still don’t understand exactly what makes me worth all of this effort, aside from the fact that God clearly values people, I’m thankful for it, and will embrace and accept His love.

P: God, I don’t know why you’ve done so much for me. Your love baffles me, and the fact that You are even aware of me is astounding to me. That You would place such value in humanity that You would wrap Yourself in it in order to redeem it is beyond my comprehension. Although my mind doesn’t understand, help me to step away from worrying on the concept and instead allow me, by faith, to simply accept the love, and to grow in it. Thank You for saving me.