人算什麼，神竟然眷顧他？

希伯來書二5-18

诗篇第八篇如此说:

『耶和华我们的主啊！你的名在全地何其美！你将你的荣耀彰显于天。你因敌人的缘故，从婴孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敌和报仇的闭口无言。我观看你手指头所造的天，并你所陈设的月亮星宿，便说，人算什么，你竟顾念他？世人算什么，你竟眷顾他？你叫他比天使（或作神）微小一点，并赐他荣耀尊贵为冠冕。你派他管理你手所造的，使万物，就是一切的牛羊、田野的兽、空中的鸟、海里的鱼、凡经行海道的，都服在他的脚下。耶和华我们的主啊！你的名在全地何其美！』

创世记告诉我们，神按照祂的形像和样式创造人，又将生命的气息吹给人（创1:26-27，2:7）。在万物之中，惟独人类拥有神的生命和性情，并且受派管理神所创造的一切。

人被神赋予重大的权柄、资源和能力，也背负了重大的责任，必须忠心的完成使命。将来我们都要为自己是否忠心服事向神交账。神的原则是，多给的多收，少给的少收。

当诗人看见自己在浩瀚宇宙之中是多么微小，又觉得自己常令神失望，但神还是顾念人，将荣耀和尊贵赐给人，他就深感神对人的眷顾，不禁高呼“耶和华是应当称颂的，耶和华我们的主啊！你的名在全地何其美” ！

人类得天独厚地拥有神的形像，天賦於他智慧和能力，可惜他有负所托，没有好好管理神所创造的一切。自从亚当犯罪背叛神以来，罪就进入了世界。人与神的密切关系破裂了，而人擁有神的形象也遭受某个程度的破损。

神所创造的美好世界就受到破坏：杀戮、仇恨、奸诈、压迫，以及各种天灾人祸不绝，而人类也不能摆脱罪恶的捆绑。环顾世上所发生的事情，我们就会慨叹人的尊贵和荣耀往何处去了？我们对明天还有盼望吗？

但希伯来书二6-9引导我们的目光去看耶稣：

『人算什么，你竟顾念他？世人算什么，你竟眷顾他？你叫他暂时比天使小，赐他荣耀、尊贵为冠冕，并将你手所造的都派他管理，叫万物都服在他的脚下。既然万有都服了他，就没有剩下一样不服他的了。但是现在我们还没有看见万有都服他。不过，我们看见那位暂时成了比天使卑微的耶稣，因为受了死的苦，就得了荣耀尊贵作冠冕，好叫祂因着神的恩典，为万人尝了死味。』

“暂时成了比天使卑微的耶稣”（2:9），是指耶稣降世为人，受制于人的各种限制。希伯来书以“比天使低微一点”的人类（诗8:4；来2:7），来说明耶稣“暂时比天使卑微”（来2:9）。

经文提到“微小一点”也可以理解为为时间上的“暂时卑微”。耶稣是神的儿子，地位远超天使（来1:1-9）；祂降世成为人类，暂时比天使微小。

经文劝勉我们注目耶稣和思想他为人类所做的一切。

人算什么？创造天地万物的神子—耶稣，为了渺小的我们，而甘愿降卑为人，目的是要为全人类受苦和受死，以此为百姓的罪献上挽回祭，叫人可以与父神复和，从此恢复人类因为犯罪而失去的荣耀。

耶稣虽然受苦受辱受死，但因为祂复活，战胜死亡，就得着荣耀和尊贵为冠冕。一天当耶稣再来，他统治新天新地时，他将会提升那些属于他的人高过天使，与祂一同得胜，得着荣耀。

世人问题多多，使人失望。我们也發覺很難去愛人，更遑論付代价为他人牺牲。試問，我们是否顾念我们的敌人？顧念那些不爱我们的人呢？耶稣却在我们还作罪人，还作神的仆人的时候为我们死（罗5:8）。

我们令神失望，但他仍然爱我们，没有放弃我们。他差派他的儿子耶稣基督降卑为人，为人类付出死的代价，使人类的终极命运得到改变。因着信靠基督的救赎，基督的尊贵和荣耀成为我们的尊贵和荣耀。人的价值被提升到极高。

今天我们无论出自什么背景，面对什么黯淡光景，都不需要怀疑自己的价值或感到自卑。神已经宣告了我们对他是何等有价值。我们当除去那些自觉无价值的自卑感。

那位暂时比天使卑微的耶稣，降卑为人，成为血肉之体，是为了借着死来消灭那掌握死权的魔鬼，释放所有因为怕死而作奴仆的人（来2:14-15）。对许多人来说，死亡是可怕的。他們想到临死之时可能要受痛苦，又或者害怕死后不知要往何处去。就害怕死亡。

然而，耶穌已经借着受死和复活，为人类战胜死亡和魔鬼，带领我们在死亡和苦难的时候得胜。我們不必懼怕死亡。所有活在死亡恐惧中的人，今天就来接受基督的救恩而获得胜过死亡的盼望。

我们成为属神的人不惧怕死亡，因为死亡只是通往永生之门（参林前15章）。人人都会死，但死亡并不是终结，而是进入新生命的开始。

希伯来书当时是写给一群正在受迫害的基督徒；这班信徒因为跟从耶稣，受到性命的威胁。生存的痛苦和死亡的阴影剥夺了他们生存的意义。他们也快要抵受不住，几乎要放弃相信耶稣（希伯来书十32-39）。

但是作者告诉他们一个事实：惟有耶稣能够带领他们得胜！邪恶的势力甚至是死亡的威吓，对神的儿女来说都不足惧，因为在主里面我们得着平安和胜利。不但如此，无论信徒如何受苦，耶稣都能够体恤和帮助：“因为祂自己既然经过试探，受了苦，就能够帮助那些被试探的人。”（希伯来书二18）

耶稣在世为人，经历痛苦，受过试探，但祂完全得胜，彰显了人性的尊贵和荣耀，也证实了人类是能够战胜死亡和罪恶的。耶稣得胜了，也能帮助神的众儿女得胜。我们无论遇到任何困难，总要仰望和信靠主，因为他必能使我们得胜。

我们受苦之后可以成为神更敏锐的仆人。经过痛苦的人，更能安慰受伤害的人。我们受苦时，当求问神我们如何运用这些经验，去帮助其他信徒。

结语

在乌云盖天的日子，我们总会为今天，为将来而忧虑，进而怀疑人生或放弃人生。这时候我们要紧记耶稣真正的身分和权能。他是万王之王，万主之主，如今在天上作王。基督的尊贵和胜利即是我们的尊贵和胜利。

有一天他也会同样在地上作王，我们会和他一起作王。这个真理可以坚定我们的心志去迎难而上，跨越生活上许多的难关。

但愿我们都了解耶稣基督如何爱我们，为我们牺牲性命来救赎我们的心肠。这样，主牺牲的爱就激励我们去珍惜主为我们所做的一切。我们不再惧怕苦难和死亡，却要仰望和跟从耶稣的脚踪去走过苦难。我们终必得着荣耀和胜利。

人算什么？伟大的创造主，竟然顾念渺小的人，赐给人类尊贵和荣耀。造物主，宇宙的主宰更加顾念罪人，降生成为血肉之体，受苦受死，为要带领人类得胜，进入荣耀。

因为耶稣基督是得胜的主，他现在坐在宝座上掌王权。他爱我们，眷顾我们。因此我们的生命无论今天或将来，都是有盼望的。感谢主的保守和眷顾我们这些不配的人。荣耀归主基督，阿们！ 

Crossing the Boundaries -- Radical Discipleship

Mark 7:24-30

Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician Woman

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time set boundaries as lines to be guarded in order to protect the holiness of God’s people against things that defile.

Geographically, the Temple in Jerusalem is the holiest place. The holiest of all is the inner sanctuary of the Temple where God was supposed to dwell. With God’s presence there and proper worship in the Temple, it was thought to guarantee the prosperity of the nation.

The further away a place is from the Temple or Jerusalem, the less holy that place becomes. The Gentiles' places are thus considered unclean.

Besides geographical boundaries, there are also social boundaries. The priests and the Pharisees are considered the holiest because they serve at the Temple and other religious settings. Holiness declines among the Jews in general. The lepers, disabled people, tax collectors and the Gentiles are seen as unclean.

To be holy is to remain within the boundary. You avoid contact with sinners, lepers, menstruating women and corpses. You wash your hands before eating, refrain from unclean food, keep Gentiles away from the Temple, and so on.

For such contact would defile a person and in turn, defile the sanctuary when he comes to worship in the Temple. Consequently, God might withdraw from the sanctuary thereby removing the protection and the benefits that God’s presence would secure.

However, when Jesus came, everything changed!

Crossing the Boundaries to Bring About God’s rule –the Kingdom

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, God himself crossed the boundary between heaven and earth by sending the Holy Spirit to descend upon Jesus. Jesus was then driven by the Holy Spirit to cross the boundary into the wilderness, which was the devil's field. There, Jesus was tempted by Satan but he overcame the devil's temptations. Through Jesus, God bound Satan and plundered Satan’s house (Mark 1:12-13).

Then Jesus came into Galilee, began His ministry, proclaiming, “…the time is fulfilled, and the rule of God – the Kingdom, has arrived.” (Mark 1:14-15) All subsequent healings, exorcisms and miracles that took place through Jesus and His disciples were manifestation of the rule of God – the Kingdom.

The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and He is called “the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24). He proceeded to make an onslaught against the purity rules and boundaries. He saw them as oppressive and limiting. The boundaries that were meant to guard holiness had become barriers that excluded those who needed God’s help the most.

Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, continued to exercise power over that which was unclean. He exorcised unclean spirits, healed on the Sabbath, pardoned “sinners”, ate with tax collectors and called one of them, touched a leper, a hemorrhaging woman and even a corpse, His disciples ate bread with defiled hands and etc.

When Jesus touched the leper, instead of being rendered unclean by the contact, Jesus cleansed the leper. When Jesus was touched by the woman with a flow of blood, instead of being rendered impure, Jesus made the woman whole. When He touched the corpse, instead of being defiled, Jesus made it alive.

This was made possible because the power of the Holy Spirit spread wholeness and purity.

Jesus, in His inaugural address stated; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.” (Luke 4:14-19)

Jesus and His disciples were crossing the boundaries not to attain their own personal freedom but to bring the life-giving power of the Kingdom to those who were outcasts, manifested in the spreading of purity, forgiveness and wholeness.

They have thus far crossed the boundaries within Israel. What about the geographical and social boundaries that separated Israel from the Gentiles?

Mark 7:24-30 recorded that Jesus went off to the territory of Tyre, today’s Lebanon, a wealthy Gentile city. He entered a house to rest and wanted no one to know, but He could not escape notice, for a woman came and fell at his feet.

She was Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth. She asked Jesus, “Please drive out the demon–the “unclean spirit” – from my daughter!”

Jesus answered her, “Let first the children be satisfied for it is not good to take the bread for the children and throw it to the little dogs.” (v. 27)

Jesus meant it is not time yet for the Gentiles to benefit from the Kingdom. He has a special calling with a very short time. He is the Messiah sent to find the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the children of God, and then He would die on the cross to defeat Satan to redeem sinners.

Nonetheless, Jesus’ word, “let first the children be satisfied” leaves the door of salvation open to the Gentiles.

How did the Gentile woman respond? Or rather, how would you respond in such a situation? Will you feel very hurt? Infuriated? Will you curse Jesus? Or leave for alternative sources for help? Will you now only come for worship services and stop serving? Will you backslide?

Don’t over-react so fast. See how the woman answered, “Lord, even the pups down under the table eat some of the little crumbs of the children” (v. 28).

The woman did not oppose to what Jesus said. Rather, she developed a scenario of Jesus’ allegory so that she and her daughter could have a place in it.

Jesus told her, "Because of this word - you go back! The demon has left your daughter. “

The woman went home and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon had departed (v.30).

Jesus has healed the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman! He has finally agreed that the Gentiles could be benefited from the Kingdom, even now!

The aftermath of meeting with the Syro-Phoenician woman, Jesus went to another Gentile territory, Decapolis, where He healed a deaf and mute man. He subsequently fed 4,000 Gentiles in a desert in a Gentile territory, where He “took bread”. The Gentiles “ate” and were “satisfied”.

Each one of us is a disciple of Jesus Christ. That means we are also to cross boundaries whether they are drawn from unclean food, tradition, religion, race, language, nationality, gender, social status, income group and etc. Let no one be hindered from benefiting from the Kingdom!

Have you been quite a while complacently living within your comfort zone? Probably you think you could confine God’s presence in your home, your office or your community to guarantee you power, prosperity and blessing.

You can’t contain God’s presence within that boundary! He is already on the move, and He is asking you now, “Are you coming with me?”

Jesus, the Son of God, the Logos incarnated, crossed the boundary between heaven and earth, overriding the dividing line between the clean and the unclean, and entered into the domain of the “Ruler of this World”.

He ministered on earth, calling forth an eschatological prophetic community with Him, together spreading God’s rule by crossing the boundaries.

At His death, God ripped apart the curtain of the sanctuary and broke out from the confines of the sanctuary (Mark 15:38). God’s presence had left the Temple and became available anywhere on earth to grant blessings and to pardon sins.

After the resurrection of Jesus, He commanded this prophetic community to spread the holy power of the Kingdom outward, from Israel to the ends of the earth and thereby crushing Satan’s oppression, bringing about deliverances, releasing healings, peace, joy, happiness and constituting wholesome lives.

Conclusion

Today let's go out, young and old, or let our various resources be channeled out to cross the boundaries in doing God’s works. Let’s pray for the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit to fall upon us now.

We will not only preach the gospel of Christ’s salvation, but also deliver all the goodness of the Kingdom to people over the other side of the boundaries: the destitute, the orphans, the disabled, the street wanderers, foreign workers, refugees, strangers, people in remote areas, prisoners, war victims, natural disaster victims, and etc.

By this, we mean what we pray, in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Do you now realize how important your position is in God’s great salvation plan?

You and I are part of this eschatological prophetic community of Christ. Every move we make, every dollar we give towards spreading the benefits of the Kingdom beyond the boundaries, Satan’s domain will shrink and his oppression will be crushed.

Where ever the Kingdom prevails, there will be deliverances, healings, peace, joy, happiness and wholesome lives.

Not only that, the further you engage in crossing the boundaries to spread the benefits of the Kingdom, the more God’s empowering presence will be added unto you. More power and more grace will be given unto you! More joy, more peace and more blessings will be given unto you.

Wise Men Shall Follow the Star

Matthew 2:1-18

Magi from the East Visited Jesus

Christmas is the only festival celebrated by all people throughout the world. Generally, many people have heard the name of Jesus and his deeds. However, the challenge of the Christian faith is not “who is Jesus?” but rather “How would you respond to Jesus?”

The birth of Jesus actually caused a commotion in the community. Everyone had different reactions towards the birth of Jesus. These reactions can be grouped into three categories.

Familiarity Breeds Contempt

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, about the year 4BC, during the time of King Herod, the Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Magi were not Jews; they were Persian wise men, nobles, or astronomers from Mesopotamia, East of Jerusalem.

When King Herod heard what the Magi said, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

King Herod then summoned all the chief priests and teachers of the law, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied.

The priests and teachers of the law were the leaders and scholars of the Jewish community at that time. They were very familiar with the birth of the Messiah. This is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible about 700 years’ ago, prophet Micah prophesized that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

The Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. God had promised a Messiah who was a descendant of David. He would come to save the people of God from their sins. This Messiah would revive Israel and become her king.

It is sad to see that, other than giving professional advice and opinion to King Herod, this group of priests and teachers of the law did not have any other reactions! They missed out on welcoming and worshipping the Saviour who was going to be born.

They did not recognize him. This was a huge insult! The wise had become the foolish. They treated the Messiah with contempt because they were too familiar with it. They were not convicted by what they used to teach.

Today, there are many among us who have been celebrating Christmas year after year and are very familiar with the stories of Jesus. These people might have friends and relatives who are Christians, or even family members who are Christians.

Through these relations, these people think that they are familiar with Jesus. However, being familiar with Jesus is one thing. The point is that how do you respond to Jesus?

Christians themselves may also neglect the main character – Jesus – of Christmas because of familiarity, especially those who follow the tradition of their parents or long-time Christians.

Jesus is the Son of God who came down to this earth and died in the place of sinners on the cross. He came to save the world. No one can obtain salvation through familiarity or relations with other Christians. Everyone has to come to Jesus personally and confess their sins, accepting him to be the Lord of their lives and worship Him with sincerity.

And we also need to continuously dwell in Christ through worshipping and serving Him. For faith without action is dead! Through abiding in Christ, we would be blessed with abundant life. If it so happens that we leave this earth today, God will accept us into His rest eternally.

Let us come to the presence of Christ humbly today, trusting him to save us in every aspects of life. Christ says, “abide in me and I in you; do not be worried or anxious over anything for I shall give you rest”.

Rejecting Jesus for Fear of Being Threatened

The response that King Herod and the Jews in Jerusalem had represents a second kind of attitude towards Jesus, and that is they rejected Him because they felt threatened by Him.

King Herod was a half Jewish Edomite. He did not ascend the throne through the bloodline of King David. Most Jews viewed him as a usurper and thus hated him. He was afraid that Jesus would replace him as king.

Although King Herod had the political power, wealth and the whole of Jerusalem as his backing, he could not accommodate a fragile and little Jesus. When King Herod failed in his plan to use the wise men to eliminate Jesus, he ruthlessly ordered all boys under the age of two in Bethlehem and its vicinity to be killed! King Herod went insane.

But how about the disturbance of the Jews in Jerusalem?

Even the Jews were disturbed, for they fully understood in their hearts that Herod would not allow anyone to be called the King of Jews, and he would definitely stir a bloody storm for this. The subsequent event that took place proved them right. A massacre of the innocents had caused many infants to be killed.

The Jews in Jerusalem wanted to maintain stability at the cost of forsaking their rightful Jewish King.

The Jews thought that, faith was certainly precious but life was even more important than faith! Though the new king was honourable, Herod was definitely someone not to be offended!

Jerusalem is about 8 km away from Bethlehem. It takes two hours of walking distance to reach Bethlehem. But there was no one traveling from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to visit the new born king then.

The Jews in Jerusalem backed down when confronted with challenges and a price to pay.  They were afraid of losing certain comforts of their lifestyles. They were meticulous, calculative and self-serving when confronted with faith challenges.

Many Christians may think this way: Jesus has to meet my needs and He is not supposed to change my way of living. I welcome Jesus to solve my problems but I forbid Him to disrupt my life.

However, Jesus did not come to take over the throne of King Herod. Jesus also did not come to rob the people of their life. Instead, Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26)

The blessings and happiness in life that we are looking for are also the blessings and happiness that Jesus wants to give to us.

Jesus wants to release us from the shackles of sin; and to offer us freedom, peace, meaning and direction in life from the frustration and hopelessness of life. Jesus wants to give us abundant and joyful life! Do not be afraid of Jesus; receive Him to be the king of your life!

Today, there are many witnesses seated in the church. Their lives are a witness to how Jesus has saved them from sin. In the past, they were chained by bad habits, drugs, empty thoughts, bitterness and hate, hurt and depression. Today, they are already released, and their lives have experienced transformation.

Come and Worship Jesus with a Heart of Adoration

The final category is the kind of attitude the wise men have towards Jesus. They came from afar. Jesus was not born in their homeland, they were not familiar with Jesus, and they did not feel that Jesus was any threat to them.

They longed for Jesus because they saw the star of a Jewish King. They knew very well that they were not Messiah’s own people. But they did not mind the long journey to search for Jesus.

They persisted on undertaking the journey of thousand miles despite the high prices they had to pay, the length of time they had to spend and the high risk they had to take, simply because they recognized the greatness and excellency of the new born king and they adored him!

Yes, they adored Jesus! It is a kind of selfless and genuine worship. A worship that goes all out and does not hesitate to lay down one’s own life for God. It is something that every Christian should imitate.

God loved us, while we were yet sinners, he sent his Son—Jesus to die for us on the cross in order that our sins be forgiven and we receive eternal life. Let this sacrificial love of God stir us so that we will respond by loving God, coming before Jesus with adoration.

These wise men were overjoyed when they saw Jesus. They bowed down and worshipped Him and presented Him with expensive gifts. The identity of Jesus and the works that He would accomplish could be seen through the gifts that were given to Him. Gold is a gift fit for a king; frankincense for saints, and myrrh for embalming a dead body.

These wise men from the east were truly wise people. They searched for Jesus and worshiped Him not because they could benefit from it, but for the fact that Jesus is God’s anointed king. He is divine—Emmanuel which means God with us. And they really loved to worship him for who he was.

The Bible says that Jesus is also the eternal Word, everything in the universe was created through Him. When humanity sinned and fall, God sent Jesus to save us and to redeem sinners. So, he is the creator and redeemer of the whole universe!

The Eastern Magi, who were outsiders, adored and worshipped Jesus. They had become Jesus’ own people. But the Jews in Jerusalem, who were His own people, lost their privilege and they became outsiders. What an irony!

May we who are here right now, whether we are Christians or non-Christians, have hearts as pure as the Magi’s, and go all out for Jesus, the new born king, the creator and redeemer of the whole universe.

Like the Magi did to Jesus, let us come and bow down to worship Him, adore him and receive Him as our king and Lord. He deserves our adoration and worship.

Christian faith is not a religion but a relationship of love and free grace. Religion is I do something for God to earn my salvation. There is an element of “you help me and I help you” in religion. But the gospel is that God first loved us and he saved us through Christ while we were sinners and his enemies.

Salvation is purely free grace from God. We can do nothing to earn the salvation. We just need to receive Jesus to be our saviour and Lord.

So now, in gratitude for God’s free grace, in gratitude for Christ’s saving love, let us adore and worship him, surrender our lives to him. We no more “kira” with Jesus; no more telling Jesus “you help me; I help you”.

Instead, we let Jesus use us in whatever ways that pleases him and brings glory to him. How wonderful to be Christ- the king’s own people!

Conclusion

Today, the star of the king is still shining brightly. It is giving everyone a signal, telling us that Bethlehem is here, that Jesus is right here.

Let us take this journey of faith, submit to Jesus the most precious, sincerest longing and worship of our hearts. Jesus is the King who deserves everything! Those who trust in the Jesus, dwell in Him, will have a meaningful life and be filled with hope.

Today, Jesus wants to come into your life – not to be a threat to you – but to build up and complete your life. He will be a bright shining star that will guide you into a blessed and abundant life.

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!