Jesus: Before Us, Beside Us, Behind Us
Part 2: Beside Us
-Introduction
-story of Dennis Byrd - Jet’s player paralyzed in a game against the Chiefs on
November 29, 1992
-In his book Rise and Walk, Dennis Byrd describes his struggles and eventual
triumph over paralysis. When expressing thanks to many who had helped him, he
wrote the following regarding his wife: “Thank you for never leaving my side.”
-Throughout the ordeal, she stood beside him.
-When we talk about somebody standing beside us, we refer to a person who cares for us-
a person who offers support, strength, encouragement and help.
-Let us always remember that - no matter how difficult and challenging life can be - as
faithful Christians, Jesus always stands beside us, cares for us and offers support,
strength, encouragement and help!
-Last week we looked at Hebrews 2:5-15 and considered the topic, “Jesus: Before Us.”
-vs 9 - He was “...for a little while made lower than the angels...” - took on flesh.
-Jesus took on flesh, “taste[d] death for everyone” and is now “crowned with
glory and honor.”
-Phil 2:5-11
-vs 10 - “founder of their salvation”
-Heb 12:2 - “founder and perfector of our faith”
-Jesus has gone before us.
-Heb 6:20 - He is our “forerunner” (The one who scouted the way for us.)
-Since Jesus has gone before us, He has provided the way. It is our responsibility to follow.
-Hebrews 2:11-18
-vs 11 - “all have one origin” - There has been much discussion and various ideas down
through the years regarding the precise meaning of this phrase. Yet, I believe the context
helps us to see that this is a continued reference to Jesus taking on flesh and blood. The
Hebrew writer is emphasizing the fact that Jesus became like us.
-“Both the Sanctifier and the sanctified-both Christ and his followers, are all of the same
nature; for as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, i.e. of human nature, he
partook of the same, and thus he was qualified to become a sacrifice for man” (Adam
Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc.)
-With Jesus taking the form of flesh and experiencing life as a man, he is not ashamed
to call us brethren.
-vs 12-13 - The O.T. references given in these verses demonstrate the commonality /
relationship between Jesus and us.
-“The apostle is showing them that according to "their own Scriptures," and in
accordance with principles which they themselves admitted, it was necessary that the
Messiah should be a man and a sufferer; that he should be identified with his people, and
be able to use language which would express that condition. In doing this, it is not
remarkable that he should apply to him language which "they" admitted to belong to
him, and which would accurately describe his condition” (Barnes’ Notes, Electronic
Database Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
-vs 14-16 - Again, Jesus was willing to leave heaven in order to come to earth and share in
flesh and blood and serve as a sacrifice for our sins. By doing so, He has made deliverance
from sin and death available to all.
-Jesus did this - not as a help to angels - but a help to the offspring of Abraham - us.
-“helps” - translated from a Greek word defined as:
a. properly, to lay hold of or to seize upon anything with the hands
b. by a metaphor drawn from laying hold of another to rescue him from peril, to
help, to succor Heb 2:16” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. © 2000,
2003 by Biblesoft, Inc.).
-Notice the connection between this definition and the deliverance of vs 15.
-Sometime, take some time to really dwell on this thought: Jesus helps me - Jesus is
beside us.
-vs 17 - Here, the writer points out two very important, significant and comforting thoughts
for all Christians - 1. Jesus is our merciful and faithful high priest; 2. He made propitiation
for our sins.
-Lord willing, we’ll reserve these two concepts for our next lesson: Jesus: Behind us.
-vs 18 - With Jesus as our High Priest, having served as a sacrifice for our sins, He offers
help to us.
-1 John 2:1 - Jesus is our advocate,
-“advocate” - (Vine’s) - “parakletos - lit., ‘called to one’s side,’ i.e., to one’s aid...It was
used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense...one who
pleads another’s cause, an intercessor...”
-Notice, this help is given by the Hebrew writer in connection with Jesus’ role as High Priest.
Again, I plan to explore this in a little more detail next week.
-Summary and Invitation
-Yet, for the purpose of this lesson, let’s take great comfort in knowing that Jesus helps us -
Jesus: Beside Us.
-He left His home in glory, came to this earth and took on flesh. He experienced the life of
humanity, subjected Himself to the hardships of life and the rejections and persecutions of
sinful men. He willingly went to the cross of Calvary - not for Himself - but for you and me.
-Yes, Jesus has helped me.
-Yet, when He departed from this earth, He did not stop working on our behalf.
-He continues to help us.
-Jesus: Beside Us.
-As faithful Christians, please don’t ever forget that Jesus is at your side!
-So, are you a faithful Christian? If not, won’t you come to Jesus? Believe in Him
(John 3:16, 8:24), Confess your faith in Him (Matt. 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent
of your sins (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of
sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16).
-If you’ve previously obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful? Jesus won’t leave
your side. Please, don’t leave His. If you’ve strayed from faithfulness, return by confessing
your shortcomings, repenting of them and praying for forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22- 24)