Weekly Devotions

Hebrews 2:14-18

This month is set aside as Black History Month in our nation. It is the time of the year when the entire nation is attuned to the contributions of Black Americans.

It was no easy task getting our nation to A place of celebrating the contributions of people of color. For years the stereotypes and false history told a story that blacks had made no significant contributions to our national welfare. However, through the tireless efforts of trailblazers in history such as Carter G. Woodson and W. E. B. Dubois, to name a few, the truth began to come out.

The unknown writer of Hebrews provided his community with a truth about Jesus that needed to get out.

Jesus did not come into the world because of his concern about angels. Nor did Jesus come into the world absent the limitations of humanity. Jesus our savior and deliver was made like us in every way. Jesus did not pull back from what it meant to be like us. He accepted what it meant to be like us in order to endure our trials and every test we would encounter, but remain true to God’s will. Being like us is what allowed Jesus to conqueror death and the grave. We now have a high priest who is not unfamiliar with our needs, our trouble and our sorrows.

Because he was like us, it was the shedding of his blood that provided the covering for our sins and opened the door to our acceptance with God. The Hebrew writer is putting an end to the false notion that Jesus did not share our humanity. Jesus was never so divine that he was out of touch with human needs. He knew what it was like to cry as he wept at the grave of Lazarus. He knew what it was like to feel the sting of disappointment when his closest friend abandoned him. He even knew what it was like to question God--why have you forsaken me.

Having gone through all that we go through in our own journey means that Jesus is able to help us and all of those in need during our time of testing. He was not ashamed to be made like us in order to save us. May we never forget that truth.