All Thy deepest joys to share!
[A Glorious Vision.]
THE Epistle to the Hebrews, this profound and blessed portion of the Holy Scriptures, unfolds a most wonderful vision of the Person, the Glory and the great Redemption work of our adorable Lord. The portion of the Epistle which is the richest in this respect is the Second Chapter. Here is a vista for the eyes of faith which is sublime. Our Lord in His Person, in His humiliation and exaltation, in His suffering and glory, stands out in a way which makes the believing heart rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory. What He has accomplished for us, His present place in Glory and intercessory work, His future and dominion over the earth, all are mentioned by the Holy Spirit in this brief chapter. His humiliation by incarnation is mentioned in these words “Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels.” “Forasmuch, then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same.” And He is the One “by whom are all things” (verse 10).
His suffering and death and its blessed results are given in this chapter. “By the grace of God He should taste death for every man.” “That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” He made “reconciliation for sins of the people.”
We read of the gracious relations into which all believing sinners are brought in virtue of His work on the cross. “For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” It is that blessed, deep, eternal relationship of being One with Him and One with God. Then we find here His presence as Man in Glory. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor.”
In that attitude He is now “the merciful and faithful high Priest.” “For in that He Himself hath suffered, being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.”
The ultimate result of His work is also stated. He is “bringing many sons unto glory.” And that glory will be His own glory. Not only now but in that future day of glory He will declare “Behold I and the children, which God hath given me.”
Furthermore we have the fact of His earthly dominion, that He is to have possession of the earth. “The world to come,” that is the habitable earth, not heaven, is to be put in subjection under Him. “Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet.” All these blessed truths are stated in this chapter of Hebrews.
In regard to a subdued earth we read: “But now we see not yet all things put under Him.” That was true when the Holy Spirit penned these words. This is still true and it will be true until the Father bringeth in the First begotten into the world, when not alone all the angels of God will worship Him (Heb. i:6), but when God will make His enemies the footstool of His blessed feet (Psalm cx:1).
However this coming triumph for Him who was made a little lower than the angels is not the glorious vision of this chapter. It is time by faith we may behold the glorious consummation as revealed in the prophetic Word, but here another vision for our present rejoicing and present help is put before us. While we see not yet all things put under His feet “we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor.”