THE SON EXALTED ABOVE ANGELS YET MADE LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS

In Hebrews chapter one the writer points that Jesus has "so much better than the angels" verse 4, no angel has ever called "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You", "I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to Me a Son" except to Jesus alone.

The Hebrew writer then points that on contrary the angels are commanded to worship Jesus in verse six.

In verse eight the Father recognize Jesus as God by stating "Your throne , O God is forever and ever, a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom." until in verse thirteen the supremacy of Jesus over the angels are pointed.

But why then in the same Book, the Hebrew writer in chapter two verse nine it says "But we see Jesus who was made a littler lower than the angels"?

How then Jesus be supreme to the angels then on the other hand made little lower than the angels?

The answer is in verse three chapter one, Jesus is the brightness of the Father and the express image of His person; Jesus is Deity as the Father is Deity. From the beginning the preeminence of Jesus is already there.

In John chapter one verse one to five, the Word is Eternal, the Word with God and the Word was God. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

But  How Then Jesus Made A Little Lower Than The Angels?

The writer of the Book of Hebrew said in in chapter two verse six to eight what was written in the Book of Psalms the eight chapter verses four to six:

"What is man, that You are mindful of him? or the son of man that You take care of him?

You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor; And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet"

 God is mindful of man and He made man a little lower than the angels.

When in due time according to Apostle Paul in Galatians chapter four verse four God sent forth His Son, born of a woman. Clearly the Son who is Jesus was born as a man, had flesh and bones.

This nature of Jesus as a man not as an angel is the reason He was made a little lower than the angels.

The earthly vessel, the body that the Son took made Him a little lower than the angels.

But in terms of Divine Nature, Jesus "being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God" in these reason Jesus is exalted above angels. (Phil. 2:6)

Why Then Jesus Came As A Man Not As Angel?

Jesus did not come as a man who is like Herod but He take the form of a bond-servant as Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians saints. What a humility that Jesus has shown to us.

Why did He not come as an angel? The answer is "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death..." Jesus sacrificially and humbly submit to death, the Holy Scriptures says "even the death of the cross" Heb. 2:8. The death as a criminal.

Why then Jesus made a little lower than the angels? To Him to suffer death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God, might taste death for every one as the Book of Hebrews says in chapter two verse nine.

Jesus was humbly put to death because "without shedding of blood there is no remission" Heb. 9:22. There is no forgiveness of sins, no basis for salvation without the death of Jesus.

In chapter ten from verse five down to verse eighteen the death of Jesus fulfills God's will and a Perfect Sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:5-18 English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Consequently, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

    but a body have you prepared for me;

6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings

    you have taken no pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,

    as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them

    after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws on their hearts,

    and write them on their minds,”

17 then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Jesus was a Perfect Sacrifice because as a Man, there was shedding of blood, then as Deity He overcome the death through His Resurrection by the Father.

Conclusion:

1. Why not submit to Jesus today through baptism to have contact in his blood? Romans 6:1-3

2. What are you waiting for? Repent, confessed Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, then be immersed in water for the forgiveness of  your sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9)

-Men Mark A. Tumandan-