Lesson 4, January 15-21
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Leviticus 25:25–27; Hebrews 2:14–16; 11:24–26; 1 Cor. 15:50; Hebrews 5:0, 9; 12:1–4.
Memory Text: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14
Hebrews 1 talks of Jesus as the Son of God, the ruler over the angels, and “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:3). In Hebrews 2, Jesus is the Son of man, who was made lower than the angels and who adopted human nature with all its frailty, even to the point of death (Hebrews 2:7).
In Hebrews 1, God says about Jesus: “Thou art my Son” (Hebrews 1:5). In Hebrews 2, Jesus refers to human children as His “brethren” (Hebrews 2:12).
In Hebrews 1, the Father declares the Son’s divine sovereignty (Hebrews 1:8-12). In Hebrews 2, the Son affirms His faithfulness to the Father (Hebrews 2:13).
In Hebrews 1, Jesus is the divine Lord, Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign. In Hebrews 2, Jesus is the human high priest, merciful and faithful.
In summary, the description of Jesus as a faithful and merciful brother is depicted in the description of the Son as the ultimate manifestation of the eternal, creator God (Hebrews 1:1-4).
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 22.
Sunday, January 16
Read Leviticus 25:25-27, 47-49. Who could redeem a person who had lost his property or his liberty because of poverty?
The law of Moses stipulated that when a person was so poor that he had to sell his property — or even himself — in order to survive, he would receive that property or his liberty back every fifty years, on the jubilee year. The jubilee year was a “grand” Sabbath year in which debts were forgiven, properties reclaimed, and liberty proclaimed to the captives.
Fifty years was a long time to wait, however. That’s why the Law of Moses also stipulated that the nearest relative could pay the part that was still owed and, thus, ransom his relative much sooner.
The nearest relative was also the one who guaranteed that justice was done in the case of a murder. He was the avenger of the blood who would pursue the murderer of his close relative and punish him (Numbers 35:9-15).
Read Hebrews 2:14-16. How are Jesus and we described in this passage?
This passage describes us as slaves of the devil, but Jesus as our Redeemer. When Adam sinned, human beings fell under the power of Satan. As a result, we did not have the power to resist sin (Romans 7:14-24). Worse, there was a death penalty that our transgression required, which we could not pay (Romans 6:23). Thus, our situation was apparently hopeless.
Jesus, however, adopted our human nature and became flesh and blood like us. He became our nearest relative and redeemed us. He was not ashamed to call us “brethren” (Hebrews 2:11).
Paradoxically, by taking our nature and redeeming us, Jesus revealed His divine nature, as well. In the Old Testament, the true redeemer of Israel, their closest relative, is Yahweh (e.g., Psalms 19:14, Isaiah 41:14, 43:14, 44:22, Jeremiah 31:11, Hosea 13:14).
What are ways that you can learn to experience more deeply that reality of just how close Christ can be to you? Why is having this experience so important to your faith?
