What is Man that You are Mindful of Him?

Hebrews 2:5-18

The psalmist said in Psalm 8, that:

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

God created man in His own image and likeness, and breathed into him the breath of life (Gen 1:26-27, 2:7). Only man has the life and character of God among all of God’s creation, and he was entrusted to rule and reign over all of them.

Man is endowed with great authority, resources and abilities, as well as heavy responsibilities by God. He has to finish his mission faithfully. All of us have to be accountable to God for our faithfulness or unfaithfulness.

The principle of God is: More is required of those who receive more and less is required of those who receive less.

The psalmist came to realize how tiny and insignificant he was in the vast universe. And he also came to realize how he had often caused disappointment to God, yet God was so mindful of him that He still gave him glory and honor.

For these reasons, the Psalmist was deeply impressed by God’s providence for him. Hence, with an exclamation he said, “Lord, my Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

Man is unique. He has the image of God, and he has received his wisdom and power from Him. Unfortunately, he failed in his assignment to take good care of all of God’s creation.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command by taking the fruit of the tree of good and evil. They doubted God’s word and intention. They chose to believe the serpent’s words. So, they ate the fruit of knowledge of good and evil.

Since Adam and Eve had betrayed God, sin entered the world. The good world that God had created is constantly being damaged. Killing, hatred, deception, persecution, and all kinds of endless natural or man-made disasters are prevalent，and mankind is unable to be free from the bondages of sins and evils.

If we were to look around at what is going on in the world, we will be wondering where the glory and honour of mankind have gone? Do we still have hope for tomorrow?

However, Hebrews 2:6-9 directs us to look to Jesus for answer:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?  You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”

“Lower than the angels for a little while” (Hebrews 2:9）refers to Jesus who was born as a human being and He was subjected to all kinds of limitation. The book of Hebrews uses man who is “lower than the angels” (Psalm 8:4; Hebrews 2:7）to indicate that Jesus was indeed, “made lower than the angels for a little while.” (Hebrews 2:9）

This is because in Greek, the term “lower than” in the scripture could be understood as a lower position, or it could also be understood as a little while in time, which means He was made “low temporarily”.

Jesus is the Son of God and He supersedes the angels in His position (Hebrews 1:1-9). He was born as a man and was temporarily made lower than the angels.

The Scripture exhorts us to fix our eyes on Jesus, and to ponder what He has done for mankind.

What is mankind? That Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator of heavens and earth, is willing to humbly become man for insignificant people like us, with an aim to suffer and die for us, so that through His atonement for our sin, we would be able to be reconciled to God and hence restore the glory that was once lost due to our sin against God.

Though Jesus suffered even unto death，He received His crown of glory and honor because of His resurrection— His victory over death. When the day Jesus returns and rules and reigns over the New Heaven and the New Earth, He shall exalt those who belong to Him to be above the angels, and they shall triumph with Him and receive the glory with Him.

The world is full of man-made troubles and this causes us disappointment. Are we still able to care for others, to be mindful of them, and to even sacrifice for their sake? Especially when it comes to caring for our enemies, those who do not love us, do we care enough?

But Jesus died for us while we are still sinners and servants to sins (Rom 5:8).

We have failed God, but He still loves us and does not give up on us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be born as a man and to pay the wages of sin on our behalf, so that the ultimate destiny of mankind is changed. Salvation of Christ has caused His honor and glory to be ours. The value of people has been greatly enhanced.

No matter what kind of low background we have come from, and how dim our situation maybe, we are not to doubt about our worth or to feel inferior. God has already declared our worthiness in Him. We have to get rid of any sense of worthlessness.

Hebrews 2:14-15 also say:

“Jesus who is lower than the angels for a little while came humbly on earth as human in flesh and blood, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

To many people, death is something fearful. Some might think that they will suffer pains in the face of death, or some might be fearful for not knowing where their destiny will be after their death.

However, let’s fear not! Jesus has overcome death and the devil through His death and resurrection, and He shall lead us through death and suffering triumphantly.

For all who have been living under the fear of death, let us come and receive the salvation of Christ this day, so that we can have hope over death. After we have become the children of God, we have no fear towards death, for we know that death is only the way leading to eternity (refer to 1 Corinthians Chapter 15).

All shall die but death is not the end, instead, it is the entry into our new lives.

The book of Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who were going through persecution. The lives of these believers were threatened because they followed Jesus. Pains in life and shadow of death deprived them from having meaning in their lives. They almost could not bear it anymore and they were on the verge of giving up their faith in Jesus (Hebrews 10:32-39).

However, the author told them the fact that only Jesus was able to bring them victory! The children of God are not to fear about threats of evil forces or even death itself, for we shall receive peace and victory in the Lord.

And not only so, Jesus is able to sympathize and help the believers no matter how much suffering they have to go through. Hebrews 2:18: “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Jesus suffered and went through temptations when He was a man on earth, but He had complete victory. With that, it reveals the honor and glory of humanity and it also proves that man is able to conquer death and evil.

Jesus has the victory and He is able to help God’s children to be victorious. We have to look upon the Lord and rely on Him in whatever difficulties we may go through, for He will definitely enable us to have victory.

After we have suffered, we can be more acute as servants of God. Those who have gone through pains will be more capable of comforting those who are hurtful. When we suffer, we have to seek God in order to utilize all these experiences as our means of helping other believers.

Conclusion

In our gloomy days, we often worry about today and tomorrow, and even our future. It is at these moments that we have to keep in mind the real identity and power of Jesus.

Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and He is now ruling and reigning in heaven. The honour and victory of Jesus shall become our very honour and victory.

There will be a day He shall also rule and reign over the earth, and we shall rule and reign with Him too. This truth shall strengthen our hearts and help us strive on and overcome all the hurdles and hindrances in our lives.

May we all come to understand how Jesus has loved us and how He has given up His life in order to save us. By then, God’s sacrificial love shall spur us to be more appreciative of things that He has done for us.

We will not be fearful of tribulations and death. Rather, we will look upon Jesus and follow His footsteps in overcoming difficulties and sufferings, and we shall receive glory and victory in the end.

What is mankind, that the great Creator is even mindful of him? Man is so insignificant yet He crowns him with honour and glory. God heart is with the sinners. Hence, He came in flesh and blood to suffer and to die, in order to lead us victoriously into His glory.

For Jesus Christ is the triumphant Lord. He is enthroned and He is reigning now. He loves us and cares for us. Therefore, be it now or future, we have hope in God. We thank God for He preserves us and cares for us who are so undeserved of Him. All glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!