Prepare for Christmas: The Sixth Day of Advent

And Who Is Melchizedek?

Friday, December 7, 2018

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that he by the grace of God might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

As we have seen and will see again, Jesus came to earth in human form and grew, just as we do. Remember yesterday when I mentioned Luke 2:52 where Jesus grew in several ways? In wisdom – as he learned; in stature – physically from a baby to a man; in favor with God – as he learned to be obedient to is Father; and in favor with man – as he learned to live with others who did not understand him? He did this so we would not perceive him as a distant, unknown God who could never understand our lot in life. Ben said recently in Bible study that we must never forget that Jesus was “100% man and 100% God.” What a huge difference seeing Jesus in this light makes to our faith!

But the Scripture also says, “He was made a little lower than the angels.” That does not mean he was created, for we have also seen that he had “no beginning and no end.” It means instead that it was necessary for him to have this earthly, created human, lower-than-the-angels form in order that he might by God’s grace shed his blood on a cross vicariously for us. Only another man – a perfect man – could atone for our sin. Only a perfect sacrifice could bear the punishment for our sin. Only a perfect, loving God through a perfect son could accept a perfect sacrifice for an imperfect human race.

I have a little new great granddaughter. I have watched her mother hold her, attend to her little baby needs. I’ve watched the expression on her face as she speaks loving words to this child who has much to learn and has no idea what her mother is saying. Soon I know that Dorea (our baby) will respond to her mother’s voice with smiles and sounds. I have watched love in action as Rita (my daughter-in-law) teaches her newborn what unconditional love is all about – long before she is capable of rationalizing what is happening in her newly discovered universe. I imagine God looking at his own son and loving him with unconditional love. I will always be awed by the fact that he would allow him to come, knowing that he would have to die to buy back from evil the humans God loves so much.

God made Christ Jesus – who is our Priest/King – a little lower than the angels, so that he could fulfill the most noble of purposes. He would “taste death” for everyone – even you – even me! “And when I think that God his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in! That on that cross, my burden (black ghastly sin) gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great thou art,” how very, very great thou art!

The Hebrew writer says so simply, “But we see Jesus . . . .” The more I read and the more we consider the depth of the Word’s presentation of just who Jesus is, the more I wonder. Do we really see Jesus? The real Jesus or just our preconceived notion of who he is? A little baby in a manger at Christmas or the biblical revelation of God’s multifaceted self?

Prayer: Father, there are no words to tell you how amazed we are at this gift you have given us – Jesus Christ your Son! Help us to remember – not just at Christmas but all year long – how costly this gift from you was. We write thank you notes for gifts from friends. Help us to live in such a way that our lives will be our thank you not to you! Amen.

And Who is Melchizedek?

An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for Rehobeth United Methodist Church, Winter 2012,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

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