11/18- Hebrews 2:14-18 Christ became flesh

(Via Dolorosa 11th station where Jesus was crucified- Church of the Holy Sepulchre)
Daily Devotional using Calvin.

Hebrews 2:14-18

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Calvin abridged: This passage speaks of why the Son of God to put on our flesh so that he might take part in the same nature that we have. He put on our nature that he might make himself capable of dying, for as God he could not undergo death. One of the benefits of his death is that we are so delivered from the tyranny of the devil that we are rendered safe, and that he so redeemed us from death, that it is no longer to be dreaded. 16- “It is not angels that he helps”- he chose to be like us not because we were better than angels, but because of our misery. This passage lays to rest those who denied that Christ became a real human being. 17- “be made like us’- He is like us in the flesh, and also like us in the affections or feelings. “to be a merciful and faithful high priest”- a priest’s work is to appease God’s wrath, to help the miserable, raise up the fallen, relieve the oppressed, and mercy is especially required.

Thought: God became human in part to sympathize with us, understand us, communicate with us, and to have mercy upon us. In the process he defeats death and evil.