Christmas 1 December 27, 2020
Hebrews 2:10-18
“The Reason for the Season”
v.17 “For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
Dear friends in Christ, this morning I want to take you back in history to the time when the Muslims were waging war in Spain. “For a long time, the Muslims had been laying siege to the capital of Spain. Courageously and skilfully King Alphonso led the defense, but by some twist of fate the attackers captured the king’s son. The besiegers made the most of their hostage. The sultan ordered a gallows built in full view of the capital. The young prince was forced to stand under the words: ‘Alphonso, either the city or your son!’
“What a decision for a father to make! Anxiously his advisors and officers watched the face of their king. Will he give up the city and allow the enemy to slay or enslave his people? Or will he give up his own, dear son? They had not long to wait, for King Alphonso decided quickly. Back to the sultan went this message: ‘Let my son die, that my people may live! Live!’”[1]
During this time of year a popular phrase among Christians is, “Keep Christ in Christmas—for He is the reason for the season.” And rightly so. Much of the world does not know what Christmas is really all about. The true reason for Christmas has been greatly overshadowed by the excitement of presents and visits with family and friends. We have the glorious opportunity at this time of year to share the true meaning of Christmas with those around us who may not know what it is really all about.
So...what is Christmas really all about, then? Well, we know that it is a joyous celebration of our Lord and Saviour’s birth. Buy why? Why did Christ come as He did? Why did He who is the Word, through whom the entire universe was created, take on frail human flesh? What was the point? What was His reason? Why did the mystery of the incarnation have to take place at all? After all, He is Almighty God, right? Surely He could have simply saved the world from sin with a wave of His hand, as it were.
We find the reason in our text for this morning. “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15) In order for Jesus to turn aside the wrath of God against us (guilty sinners), He had to become one with us and die as a substitute for us. God chose to send His Son to die for the sins of the world—for you and for me. Just as King Alphonso chose his son to die to save his people from slavery and death, so too have we been released from the captivity of sin, death, and the devil—by Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.
But why did Jesus have to take on human flesh? Well, remember that “it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants.” (Hebrews 2:16) He did not come to atone for the sins of spiritual beings (angels), but to pay for the sins of flesh and blood beings (you and me) with His own precious body and blood. He suffered the torments of pain and death in His own flesh—the punishment that was ours He took upon Himself. For as the writer to the Hebrews states later on in his letter (9:22b), “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
So, “For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17) Because we are all sinful beings deserving of death, it was necessary that Jesus become a substitute for us—take our place—in order to pay the penalty for sin, which is necessary to God. In order to fully rescue us from our sinful, wretched and terrible state, Jesus had to remove our sins from us and leave nothing out in paying for them before God. Therefore He took on flesh and blood with the sole purpose/reason of giving up His body to death and shedding His blood so that we might be forgiven.
This is biggest difference between Jesus our Great High Priest and all the other priests that ever came before Him, since the institution of the priesthood with Aaron, Moses’ brother. In the old sacrificial system the priests were the instruments who killed the animal sacrifice. But this whole system merely prefigured the great and final sacrifice of Christ. He suffered and died. He became the sacrifice for our sin—and it is for this reason that we who have faith in Him and in His atoning work have been freed from all fear of sin, death and the devil. For the word atonement means that our sins have been paid—and paid in full—by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Through His incredible substitution on the cross, in which He took the place that we deserved, we have been brought back into a restored relationship with our loving God. We have “at-one-ment” with God once more. By His sacrificial death—we have been given life.
“In the battle of Sempach, fought between the Austrians and the Swiss before the use of firearms, a brave Swiss soldier who name was Arnold Winkelried, nobly sacrificed his life for the sake of his country. The Swiss army was very small, and that of the Austrians very large, presenting such an unbroken ridge of spears that the Swiss soldiers could not get at their enemies. Arnold told his comrades to follow him, and he would open for them a way to victory. Rushing up to the Austrian front, he grasped as many spears as he could reach with his outstretched arms. Pierced through by spears, he sank down to the earth; the Swiss soldiers pressed into the opening thus made, and gained the victory.”[2]
This is the reason that Christ came to earth. In order to present Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God our Father. He too stretched out His arms as wide as He could to be pierced by all of our sin. The punishment for our sin—death—was given to Him—pierced and tormented His flesh—so that we might live and gain the victory. And, as our text says, “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18) Because He has suffered every trial and temptation that we have—He knows our pain and suffering—He knows our sorrows and despair. He knows and He gives us strength. Through the healing power of His Word and the Washing of rebirth in Baptism, and through the feasting of His own flesh and blood—we are made new. Through His almighty atonement we are made “at-one” with God.
And so the reason for the season is so much more than just the babe born in Bethlehem—but about the Babe born to die; so much more than just material gifts and presents—but about the gift of forgiveness for our sins and the life everlasting which He came to bring; so much more than just personal relationships between family and friends—but about our personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour that He has established and continues to strengthen through His other gifts of Word and Sacrament. Through Christ’s incarnation—His life, suffering, death, and resurrection—we have a great exchange. The exchange of our unholiness, unrighteousness, sinfulness and death for His holiness, righteousness, purity, and life. That is our greatest gift during this Christmas season and throughout our entire lives.
This is the reason that Jesus became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made man. This is the reason why He chose to suffer, die and be buried—so that we too might die to sin. This is the reason that He rose victorious once more—so that we too might be raised to new and everlasting life through faith in Him and in His unblemished sacrifice for us. This is the true reason for this season—that we too might have the victory that He earned for us over sin, death, and the power of the devil. For all eternity. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1] Paul Lee Tan, ed., “10786—City Or Son,” Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, 2430.
[2] Richard Newton, “10792—He Grasped Enemies’ Spears,” in Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, edited by Paul Lee Tan, 2431.
Hebrews 2:10-18
“The Reason for the Season”
v.17 “For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
Dear friends in Christ, this morning I want to take you back in history to the time when the Muslims were waging war in Spain. “For a long time, the Muslims had been laying siege to the capital of Spain. Courageously and skilfully King Alphonso led the defense, but by some twist of fate the attackers captured the king’s son. The besiegers made the most of their hostage. The sultan ordered a gallows built in full view of the capital. The young prince was forced to stand under the words: ‘Alphonso, either the city or your son!’
“What a decision for a father to make! Anxiously his advisors and officers watched the face of their king. Will he give up the city and allow the enemy to slay or enslave his people? Or will he give up his own, dear son? They had not long to wait, for King Alphonso decided quickly. Back to the sultan went this message: ‘Let my son die, that my people may live! Live!’”[1]
During this time of year a popular phrase among Christians is, “Keep Christ in Christmas—for He is the reason for the season.” And rightly so. Much of the world does not know what Christmas is really all about. The true reason for Christmas has been greatly overshadowed by the excitement of presents and visits with family and friends. We have the glorious opportunity at this time of year to share the true meaning of Christmas with those around us who may not know what it is really all about.
So...what is Christmas really all about, then? Well, we know that it is a joyous celebration of our Lord and Saviour’s birth. Buy why? Why did Christ come as He did? Why did He who is the Word, through whom the entire universe was created, take on frail human flesh? What was the point? What was His reason? Why did the mystery of the incarnation have to take place at all? After all, He is Almighty God, right? Surely He could have simply saved the world from sin with a wave of His hand, as it were.
We find the reason in our text for this morning. “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15) In order for Jesus to turn aside the wrath of God against us (guilty sinners), He had to become one with us and die as a substitute for us. God chose to send His Son to die for the sins of the world—for you and for me. Just as King Alphonso chose his son to die to save his people from slavery and death, so too have we been released from the captivity of sin, death, and the devil—by Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.
But why did Jesus have to take on human flesh? Well, remember that “it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants.” (Hebrews 2:16) He did not come to atone for the sins of spiritual beings (angels), but to pay for the sins of flesh and blood beings (you and me) with His own precious body and blood. He suffered the torments of pain and death in His own flesh—the punishment that was ours He took upon Himself. For as the writer to the Hebrews states later on in his letter (9:22b), “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
So, “For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17) Because we are all sinful beings deserving of death, it was necessary that Jesus become a substitute for us—take our place—in order to pay the penalty for sin, which is necessary to God. In order to fully rescue us from our sinful, wretched and terrible state, Jesus had to remove our sins from us and leave nothing out in paying for them before God. Therefore He took on flesh and blood with the sole purpose/reason of giving up His body to death and shedding His blood so that we might be forgiven.
This is biggest difference between Jesus our Great High Priest and all the other priests that ever came before Him, since the institution of the priesthood with Aaron, Moses’ brother. In the old sacrificial system the priests were the instruments who killed the animal sacrifice. But this whole system merely prefigured the great and final sacrifice of Christ. He suffered and died. He became the sacrifice for our sin—and it is for this reason that we who have faith in Him and in His atoning work have been freed from all fear of sin, death and the devil. For the word atonement means that our sins have been paid—and paid in full—by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Through His incredible substitution on the cross, in which He took the place that we deserved, we have been brought back into a restored relationship with our loving God. We have “at-one-ment” with God once more. By His sacrificial death—we have been given life.
“In the battle of Sempach, fought between the Austrians and the Swiss before the use of firearms, a brave Swiss soldier who name was Arnold Winkelried, nobly sacrificed his life for the sake of his country. The Swiss army was very small, and that of the Austrians very large, presenting such an unbroken ridge of spears that the Swiss soldiers could not get at their enemies. Arnold told his comrades to follow him, and he would open for them a way to victory. Rushing up to the Austrian front, he grasped as many spears as he could reach with his outstretched arms. Pierced through by spears, he sank down to the earth; the Swiss soldiers pressed into the opening thus made, and gained the victory.”[2]
This is the reason that Christ came to earth. In order to present Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God our Father. He too stretched out His arms as wide as He could to be pierced by all of our sin. The punishment for our sin—death—was given to Him—pierced and tormented His flesh—so that we might live and gain the victory. And, as our text says, “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18) Because He has suffered every trial and temptation that we have—He knows our pain and suffering—He knows our sorrows and despair. He knows and He gives us strength. Through the healing power of His Word and the Washing of rebirth in Baptism, and through the feasting of His own flesh and blood—we are made new. Through His almighty atonement we are made “at-one” with God.
And so the reason for the season is so much more than just the babe born in Bethlehem—but about the Babe born to die; so much more than just material gifts and presents—but about the gift of forgiveness for our sins and the life everlasting which He came to bring; so much more than just personal relationships between family and friends—but about our personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour that He has established and continues to strengthen through His other gifts of Word and Sacrament. Through Christ’s incarnation—His life, suffering, death, and resurrection—we have a great exchange. The exchange of our unholiness, unrighteousness, sinfulness and death for His holiness, righteousness, purity, and life. That is our greatest gift during this Christmas season and throughout our entire lives.
This is the reason that Jesus became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made man. This is the reason why He chose to suffer, die and be buried—so that we too might die to sin. This is the reason that He rose victorious once more—so that we too might be raised to new and everlasting life through faith in Him and in His unblemished sacrifice for us. This is the true reason for this season—that we too might have the victory that He earned for us over sin, death, and the power of the devil. For all eternity. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1] Paul Lee Tan, ed., “10786—City Or Son,” Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, 2430.
[2] Richard Newton, “10792—He Grasped Enemies’ Spears,” in Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, edited by Paul Lee Tan, 2431.