When Being There is not Enough
Hebrews 2:10 – 18
Dan Hough
  
Introduction
His name was Chancy Gardner, or more properly, Chancy THE gardener.  Portrayed by the late actor Peter Sellers in the movie ‘Being There’, an illiterate and uneducated gardener finds himself unemployed following the death of his boss.   Scarcely able to care for himself and lacking any social skills, he wanders aimlessly.  Yet, through a series of coincidences and sheer dumb luck, he suddenly finds himself thrust into the limelight as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States.  This is a tongue-in-cheek, rags to riches story of how anyone can make it, even completely without intention, given the right connections and having a knack for being in the right place at the right time. 

Perhaps many have grown to feel the same way about their own lives.  Life may seem to be only a series of coincidences over which we have no control.  Fate seems to intervene in bringing us success or suffering.  Some have a knack for being in the right place and others do not.  God, although all-powerful and all knowing, is somehow too far removed from our present circumstances to be personally involved in our daily concerns.  Oh, we believe in God all right, but we don’t want to bother him with all the small stuff.  There have been and may continue to be those times when we face difficulties that leave us with nagging, unanswered questions.  Why do we experience times of pain and suffering?  Why does God permit evil to continue, especially that which brings so much hurt to seemingly innocent lives?  Where is God in the midst of our difficulties?  Does he not know?  Does he not care?  Is our human existence merely left into the hands of some blind and impersonal fate?   These are tough, tough questions.  Some would say that we should not even ask such questions, because they only bring distress.  Yet, these are the eternal questions that suffering humanity has been asking for a very long time.  They are worthy of reflection, because they point to the very character of God.

While not all of our questions may be answered, Hebrews 2 is a reminder of how very much God cares about our suffering.  Even Jesus--“Emmanuel with us”, the eternal word of the Father, and very Son of God--was not exempt from human temptation and suffering.  Even more amazingly, it appears to have been a necessary part of the plan.  You see, God saw the plight of his children, ensnared by the lure of sin and held captive by guilt and the fear of death, and chose to act on our behalf in order to make our salvation perfect.  It was necessary for God to become one of us through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, in order that we might truly have him as our brother and participate together as one family of faith.  Since we are flesh and blood, he chose to become flesh and blood and dwell among us.  In order for him to truly be our savior, his identification with us had to be complete through his participation in every aspect of humanity, even suffering.  Being in our presence was not enough to affect our salvation.  An acknowledgement of our need was not enough to bring change in our hearts.

I recall as a child being reminded of the necessity of suffering just I bit when I disobeyed my parents one too many times.  My father had a special paddle that hung downstairs in the basement with these words printed on it: ‘the board of education’.   Every once in a while I crossed the threshold of my parent’s tolerance by a wide margin and received my just reward.  Some of you may remember similar experiences.  Some parents try to soften the blow with these words: “This is going to hurt me as much as it hurts you” or “I feel your pain”, to which we may feel like saying, “Liar, liar, pants on fire”.  You see, there is only one person on the sending end and another on the receiving end, make no mistake about it!  A word of caution here: for those children who face such circumstances, don’t get any ideas.  It is always better in the long run to face punishment honorably.  

Now then, we know that Jesus identification with our suffering involves much more than just an acknowledgment.  He who was already perfect chose to participate with us in such a way that he would be received as savior and serve as the head of the Church.   The author of Hebrews quotes Psalms 22:22 and Isaiah 8:17-18 prophetically as evidence of the believing remnant that would be the Church.  Jesus would not be a harsh taskmaster, but would become our trusted brother and friend.  We may resent those who lord it over us, but we cherish and are willing to do anything for someone we consider a true brother.  In this way Jesus, although already perfect, became and was received as the true pioneer and author of our faith even through his suffering.
       
This past week we have celebrated Christmas, the coming of the Christ-child.  This is an amazing miracle of the divine and human brought together in one person.  However, his glorious coming was not the end of his mission, but only the beginning.  The child would crawl out of the manger, grow into a man and have a three-year ministry that sent him to the cross.  It was not enough for God to merely be in our presence as Emmanuel, but Jesus had to experience every aspect of humanity, the bad as well as the good.  His diapers got dirty.  He attended school and studied, even when he was tired.  He honed his skill as a carpenter, even when his hands were blistered.   He fulfilled a calling, even when it demanded his life.  Jesus was tempted in every way, struggling with the limitations of flesh and blood.  He knew gnawing hunger.  He grew weary.  He was tempted by the lure of earthly power and importance.  He was frustrated when his disciples did not understand.  He grew angry when people tried to use God as a pretense for selfish gain.  Yet, he did not sin.  Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me: yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)  Jesus suffered denial and mockery from the very people he sought to save.  This was perhaps the greatest temptation of all: “Save yourself”.  He could have called on the angels to rescue him, yet he went on willingly.  Jesus then became sin on our behalf as the full sacrifice or atonement unto God, yet through no guilt of his own.  In becoming the complete and perfect atoning sacrifice, it was almost more than his humanity could bear.  In the full weight of the burden of everyone’s sin, even yours and mine, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).  His flesh and blood had to become the broken flesh and spilt blood that we remember when participating together in the Lord’s Supper.  God cared enough to send his son all the way to the cross.  Yes, a very human Jesus identified with us even to the point of death.   This is the new covenant we have received from God, sealed with his blood.

Now his identification with us is complete, and he is exalted as risen savior and Lord.   The one who became our atonement is now our high priest.  When we go to the Lord in prayer, we have one who truly identifies with our weaknesses.  He helps us in ways that he does not help even the angels.  Because of his suffering, Jesus understands our need for the forgiveness and mercy we ask for.  He willingly gives it, not because it is deserved, earned or in some way merited, but fully out of the good intention of his will.  He intercedes on our behalf, as our advocate.  Because of his suffering, our high priest Jesus is able to faithfully bear our burdens before the Father, because he has already born the full weight of our sin.  His identification with us is completely unfailing, especially when we experience times of suffering.   Although it has not yet appeared all that we shall become, the processes have already been set in motion.  The destroyer has been rendered powerless and we no longer need to be held captive to the fear of death.  Our sins have been passed over and we are found wholly complete and completely holy in him.  Because of his suffering, Jesus understands our need for a savior and urges us to put our full trust in him.  This is what Jesus coming to us and living among us is all about.

Conclusion (“The bird story”)
A friend of mine from Ox Hill Baptist shares a story that illustrates what it means for Jesus Christ to dwell among us.  Allow me to share it with you.  A family lived on a small farm in the country.  One Christmas Eve, as the mother and daughter headed out for services, the daughter asked her father if he would like to come to church.   His reply was always the same.  “No, not today.  That religious stuff is ok for you, you two go ahead and go without me.”  His wife and daughter then headed out in the lightly falling snow for church.  Several minutes later, as the man was reading his newspaper beside the fire, he heard a loud “thump” outside.  Thinking he was imagining things, he continued to read.  But a few minutes later, he heard it again.  As he looked outside and switched on the light, he discovered the source of the noise.  The snow had become much heavier and a flock of birds, blinded by the falling snow, was banging into the side of his barn.  They needed help, but he wasn’t sure what to do.  Putting on his overcoat and boots, he went out to the barn and opened the door, hoping they would fly in safely.  After coming back inside to the warmth of the fire for a few moments, the man again heard several loud “thumps”.  Looking out the window, he saw that the birds were no better off.  With the light on, they seemed all the more confused, circling around and banging into the barn.  Once again, he trekked back out into the snow, this time shooing the birds towards the open barn door.  But it seemed to be of no avail.   They continued to fly into the side of the barn.  He found some leftover birdseed and spread it out into the snow leading to the open door.  His hope was they would follow the birdseed into the safety of the barn.  Yet, the birds continued to be confused in their plight.  By now several birds lay in the snow, stunned.   “If only I could become a bird”, the man thought, “I could communicate with them and show them the way to safety.   I would do whatever it took to help them, even if I had to bang into the side of the barn myself.”   Just then the man heard a distant church bell ring and he realized something profoundly important.  This is what God did through Jesus Christ.  He became a man and suffered both with and for us so that he might be saved.

Invitation
God’s response to suffering calls forth a response from us.  Are you struggling with temptation and need someone to guide you safety in the ways of truth and life?   Trust in Jesus to provide and show you the way of escape that you might pass through.  He is the way, the truth and the life.  Are you experiencing pain or hurt?  While we cannot demand answers from God, know that we can place our cares into the hands of our high priest and he will make intercession.  He knows your suffering.   Give him your burden and he will give you peace.  Somehow in the midst of difficulty, you will be able to find strength and grace beyond yourself to endure.   There may be others here today who have been Christians for a long time, but you have been resisting doing and being all that God wants from you.  How can we refuse our brother and yet our Lord, Jesus, who has suffered for us and brought us our salvation?   In seeing his example, let us also follow in obedience, whether that means being baptized, joining as a member of this church, engaging in Christian service or simply being obedient in a matter that only you and the Lord know about.  Perhaps you are here today, and you have never given yourself to the savior and experienced the mercy and forgiveness that frees you from sin and gives you new life.  Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart.  Put your trust in him.  As we sing the hymn of affirmation in a few moments, come and share your decision with this congregation.   Let’s pray together.

Prayer
O Merciful and faithful high priest, our helper in a time of trouble.  We are glad that you are not only our Lord, but also our brother and friend.  We thank you for the gift of our salvation, paid for in full with your blood, that frees us for the purposes to which we have been created and called.  There are some here today who need your helping hand as they experience struggles.  Be with them; comfort them; help them to trust in you; and give them peace.  For those who did not know Christ, we pray that they may seek out Christians who can introduce them to your saving love.   For all of us, Lord, help us to follow your example of dedication and selflessness.   And we’ll give you all the glory. Amen.