Victory Over Death

Hebrews 2:9-18

Do you have a fear or phobia of something?  Many people do. I have a fear of heights. Some people fear crowds.  Others might fear dogs, snakes, or spiders. Little children often fear the dark.  In our Scripture passage today, the writer of Hebrews speaks of a fear of death. That is one fear that Satan has kept mankind in bondage to since the time of the Fall.  Fearing the pain and sorrow of going through death, and then fearing the unknown of what is on the other side of death. Jesus, though, has brought us victory over death, and the fear that comes with it.  Let’s examine these verses from Hebrews and see what Jesus has done for us.

Jesus, the second Person of the Trinity, came to earth as a human for us.  He didn’t come to earth to gain status or political power. He came to suffer and die so that we can have eternal life.  When man sinned in the Garden of Eden, one of the penalties was death, and Satan held the power of death. Jesus was obedient to God the Father in death (vs 9).  He fulfilled all that was required of Him as man’s representative, and now has received glory and honor (Philippians 2:8-11). He is Lord of all and will one day rule on earth.

Jesus is the Captain of our salvation (vs 10), the leader in regards to salvation. He led the way into heaven as our forerunner. Jesus’s suffering made Him the perfect leader.  His divine nature was already perfect, and His human nature was perfected through His obedience in order to be that understanding High Priest.  Jesus is our big brother (vs 11). He is not ashamed to call us His family. Just as big brothers do, He has gone before us in every way.

Through suffering, Jesus completed all that was necessary for our salvation. He took upon Himself a flesh and blood nature in order to provide redemption for mankind.  Jesus tasted death for all of us, which broke the power of Satan (vs 14), and freed those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (vs 15).  By conquering death He rendered Satan powerless. Satan and the power of death were defeated at Calvary.

The Old Testament high priests were the mediators between God and man. They offered sacrifices for sins, and interceded for the people. Jesus is now the only necessary High Priest.  He paid the price for our sins by His sacrificial death, and He alone can restore our broken relationship with God.  Jesus suffered every temptation, yet did not sin. He is a faithful High Priest who understands our struggles (vs 17-18).  Jesus understands our struggles because He faced temptation and suffered pain as a human being. He took our sins upon Himself.

By partaking in a human nature, Jesus showed His mercy to mankind, and by obtaining forgiveness for His people.  He was tempted, so He is fully capable of understanding and sympathizing with His human brethren, though He fully resisted all of His temptations.  Jesus was made in every way like us, so He can be our merciful and faithful High Priest.

Jesus went through our dark times before us.  He fought the same enemy before we did. He has borne the same load we do.  There is no sin in being tempted, the sin is if we yield to that temptation.  No matter what we may be facing, we should realize that the Savior identifies with our circumstances.  He feels everything we are experiencing. He felt pain. He was misunderstood. He had loved ones turn against Him.  Jesus bore all of our guilt.

Jesus’s death and resurrection set us free from the fear of death because death has been defeated.  Until Jesus returns, everyone must die. However, death is not the end. Instead, if one has accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, death is the doorway to a new life.  Jesus Christ’s victory bring us hope!