Our Savior Made Perfect
Written by Ben Eroen
For it was fitting for Him...to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:10
A few years back, a popular Christian music group put out a Christmas album, with one track in particular that piqued my interest. The song inspires new perspectives on something familiar in the way that only art can accomplish. With lyrics like “the architect inside the plan” and “when the playwright took the stage,” the song adds a new dimension to the ultimate juxtaposition; Jesus became one of us.
The Incarnation is a central doctrine of Christian faith, without which our salvation isn’t possible. Christ had to first “put on flesh” (Heb. 2:14) in order to be our substitutionary sacrifice. This time of year, the idea isn’t far from our minds. But what is often overlooked is that, as beautiful as the story is, this wasn’t the original plan!
God’s original intent was for us to live in perfect union with Him, but sin changed the narrative. God, full of merciful love and grace, went to the furthest extent possible to create a way to welcome us back and sent Jesus. Basically, “the author climbed inside the page.”
A few weeks ago, I came across two Bible verses that struck me in a new way in light of the impending Advent season. Maybe it was the fact that stores are pushing the holidays on us sooner than ever before, but for some reason, with my mind already pondering Christmas in early November, these verses took on deeper meaning. Hebrews 5:8-9 reads:
The Incarnation is a central doctrine of Christian faith, without which our salvation isn’t possible. Christ had to first “put on flesh” (Heb. 2:14) in order to be our substitutionary sacrifice. This time of year, the idea isn’t far from our minds. But what is often overlooked is that, as beautiful as the story is, this wasn’t the original plan!
God’s original intent was for us to live in perfect union with Him, but sin changed the narrative. God, full of merciful love and grace, went to the furthest extent possible to create a way to welcome us back and sent Jesus. Basically, “the author climbed inside the page.”
A few weeks ago, I came across two Bible verses that struck me in a new way in light of the impending Advent season. Maybe it was the fact that stores are pushing the holidays on us sooner than ever before, but for some reason, with my mind already pondering Christmas in early November, these verses took on deeper meaning. Hebrews 5:8-9 reads:
Although he was a son,
he learned obedience through what he suffered.
And being made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
The book of Hebrews is written mainly to Jesus-believing Jews as an encouragement that Jesus is the ultimate high priest, ordaining a new covenant and extolling them not to fall back into old covenant beliefs and practices. My guess is most of us don’t go to church on Sundays debating if we should sacrifice an animal to make extra sure our sins are atoned for. However, I do think many of us struggle instead to bring a perfect, omnipotent God closer within reach and fully realize what a fount of blessings Jesus is to those who believe.
To that end, these verses extol us in two simple ways. First, simply remember Jesus suffered and learned obedience. I take no joy that Jesus had to suffer for my sins, but I do take immense inspiration knowing that even He learned from it; it was purposeful. He made the willful decision to choose obedience to His Father and allowed God’s plan to play out. Now, in times of need, we can look to His example for the strength we need to act in similar fashion (Phil. 4:1-18).
Secondly, He was made perfect and is now the source we need to continue towards for our salvation. The intimate promise of the Incarnation is that Jesus knows everything it means to be you! He is not a distant king that cannot understand the life of a peasant. He’s an embracing confidant that knows not only what you need but also what you feel, long before you know it yourself. He has experienced everything it means to be human, and He is ready to shepherd you through it all. By coming to earth, not only did Jesus become the perfect sacrifice, He also became the perfect companion to walk alongside us as we pursue eternity (Heb. 4:11-16).
Take a moment and recite this prayer of worship and thanks to our Immanuel.
To that end, these verses extol us in two simple ways. First, simply remember Jesus suffered and learned obedience. I take no joy that Jesus had to suffer for my sins, but I do take immense inspiration knowing that even He learned from it; it was purposeful. He made the willful decision to choose obedience to His Father and allowed God’s plan to play out. Now, in times of need, we can look to His example for the strength we need to act in similar fashion (Phil. 4:1-18).
Secondly, He was made perfect and is now the source we need to continue towards for our salvation. The intimate promise of the Incarnation is that Jesus knows everything it means to be you! He is not a distant king that cannot understand the life of a peasant. He’s an embracing confidant that knows not only what you need but also what you feel, long before you know it yourself. He has experienced everything it means to be human, and He is ready to shepherd you through it all. By coming to earth, not only did Jesus become the perfect sacrifice, He also became the perfect companion to walk alongside us as we pursue eternity (Heb. 4:11-16).
Take a moment and recite this prayer of worship and thanks to our Immanuel.
Hail His arrival, the God of creation
Royalty robed in the flesh He created
Jesus the Maker has made Himself known
All hail the infinite infant God.
Royalty robed in the flesh He created
Jesus the Maker has made Himself known
All hail the infinite infant God.
Reflective Question for the Day
What prayers, songs, or scriptures help you think of Jesus not as a distant king,
but as an embracing confidant who walks beside you each and every day?
Written by Ben Eroen.