Together with us in flesh and blood

September 8, 2013 Evening:

Title: Flesh and Blood

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 27:13-14 – I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Gospel Passage: Mark 12:18-27 – The Sadducees rebuked concerning the resurrection

Sermon Text: Hebrews 2:14a Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things,

Sermon Point: The shocking nature of the flesh and blood connection between the One and the many united to Him in His death and resurrection

[14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood,

The Lord intended to save a people for Himself. We are God's people. We have experienced life in this mortal world. We are sons of God by birth as image-bearers of the Almighty. We are especially His beloved children through our connection with the only begotten Son of God, Jesus.

We have come to believe that our destiny is for a life that is beyond our mortal death. Though we die, we live. We believe that we will see the Lord in the land of the living.

Even this dying world has become a “land of the living” because of the life that God has already given to us in Christ. But beyond this life there is another more permanent land of the living where Christ is. That land of the living is coming down upon this poor world, and we will walk before the Lord in the land of the living in the fullness that God has intended for us before all eternity.

he himself likewise partook of the same things,

We know the life of mortal flesh and blood now. We are subject to the infirmities of this dying world. We are led in paths of righteousness, but those paths take us into the valley of the shadow of death.

It was the will of the Lord that His own Son would walk in those same paths as a true man. He was a true partaker of flesh and blood.

This is a shocking gospel. Our Savior's connection with us is not only a soul connection. It is a flesh and blood connection.

He understands the challenges of mortal life in every way. In fact, there are aspects of mortality that Christ has faced that we will never face. He faced hell for us. Because of His sufferings, we will never fully know for ourselves what it is for a person to face the full weight of death.

In His resurrection, Jesus led the way for us into an existence of immortal flesh and blood. As He is, so shall we also be.

Why would God stoop so low? I can think of only two answers to that question.

1. He like His own plan for glory and has always intended to see it through to its conclusion.

2. He loved us, and this is what His love required.