Hebrews 2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
"He took part of the same." I go back to our beginning in the
book of John. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and
we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth." (John 1:14) Jesus made Himself a little lower
than the angels for the suffering of death. He made Himself of no reputation
and took upon Himself the form of a servant. One of His names is Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, "God with us." We shall see in a few
chapters, Jesus is touched by those things which concern us. He "was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." He endured such
contradiction of sinners against Himself in order to perform the work for which
He came to accomplish. "He shall save His people from their sins."
(Matthew 1:21) In order to do that, He had to be made flesh. He had to
take part of the same life that you and I experience. He was made "flesh
and blood."
He did this to "destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil." What weapon did Jesus use in order to defeat, or bruise the
head, of Satan? "Through death He might destroy him that had the power of
death." Jesus used the very weapon used by Satan to strike fear into
the hearts and minds of people. Everytime I read this verse, I think of
the day the Shepherd boy David went out against the giant, Goliath.
Picture in your mind, day after day Goliath would come before the army of
Israel and wave his weapon in the air. He would come with his sword in hand and
taunt the people. "Send me a man." Day after day, the army of Israel
hid behind the hill as they watched and listened. One day, David was sent by
his father to see how his brothers and the army were faring. You remember
the account. Ultimately, David sank a stone into the forehead of Goliath, but
do you remember what he did afterward? "Therefore David ran, and
stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof,
and slew him, and cut off his head therewith." (1 Samuel 17:51) The
very weapon that had been used to strike fear into the hearts of Israel was
used to defeat the one who brandished it.
Can you imagine the glee in the mind of Satan when they took the lifeless body
of Jesus off the cross? Surely he thought he had won another victory. He
must have felt himself to be outside the realm of defeat. They laid the body of
Jesus in the tomb. The first day, nothing happened. The second day, nothing
happened. Surely by this point, Satan was celebrating and rejoicing. But thank
God, there was a third day!! On the third day, our Lord and Saviour came
out of the grave alive! Death could not hold Him. The tomb could
not hold Him. The stone could not keep Him inside that tomb. He came out alive!
Through His resurrection, Jesus has delivered His people. He
accomplished that which He came to do. Jesus has indeed saved His people
from our sins. Praise His holy name!