Hebrews 2:5-9

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.  It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?  You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.”  Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.  But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

The power and preciousness of the Gospel is a Person: Jesus Christ.  Angels are created beings with a power and glory that are greater than those of man in this fallen state.  Since Jesus became a man in the incarnation, some might conclude that angles are superior to Jesus.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The author has already dealt with this question but brings us more arguments as to why Jesus is superior to the angles.

FUTURE SUBJECTION OF THE WORLD: There are many things about the world today that are not as they should be and are not as they will be.  Satan and the evil angles having freedom to plague the earth with evil is one of them.  The sin and injustice that marks the world today is only a temporary reality.  In His incarnation, Jesus became a man and was, for a little while but in a lower position than the angles.  However, He never ceased to be God.  Scripture attests to this truth but makes it very clear that Jesus is highly exalted today and will reign for eternity.  He alone is seated at the right hand of the Father today.  All things including the angles are subject to Him.  Things may appear to be out of control in today’s world but He is sovereignly at work to bring all things into subjection to Him.  On the new earth, all things will be perfectly and permanently brought into subjection.  This was never said of angles who are simply servants who are bringing this into reality.

PAST SUFFERING FOR THE WORLD: Jesus paid the price for sin on the cross by giving His life.  He purchased the salvation of fallen men with His blood.  The suffering of Jesus is a demonstration of love beyond compare.  This supreme sacrifice on the part of Jesus is something the angles admire and attest to be true.  Jesus is over the world because He died for the world as a man who was willing to take on flesh so He could redeem us from the blight of sin.  This is the glorious truth of the Gospel.

APPLICATION: Do not become frustrated or impatient with the current reality that seems to be unjust and out of control.  Remember the promise of the coming of Jesus who will make all things right.  Worship Christ for His sacrificial love that has made a way for us to be saved and given us eternal hope. 

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