WEDNESDAY 12/11/13 Daily Readings for Advent...Advent is for adoring Jesus

WEDNESDAY 12/11/13 Daily Readings for Advent...Advent is for adoring Jesus

WHY JESUS CAME

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. —Hebrews 2:14–15

Hebrews 2:14–15 is worth more than two minutes in an 
Advent devotional. These verses connect the beginning 
and the end of Jesus’s earthly life. They make clear why 
he came. They would be great to use with an unbelieving 
friend or family member to take them step by step through 
your Christian view of Christmas. It might go something 
like this…


“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood…”

The term “children” is taken from the previous verse and 
refers to the spiritual offspring of Christ, the Messiah (see 
Isaiah 8:18; 53:10). These are also the “children of God.” 
In other words, in sending Christ, God has the salvation 
of his “children” specially in view. It is true that “God so 
loved the world, that he sent [Jesus] (John 3:16).” But it is 
also true that God was especially “gathering the children of 
God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52). God’s design 
was to offer Christ to the world, and to effect the salvation 
of his “children” (see 1 Timothy 4:10). You may experience 
adoption by receiving Christ (John 1:12).

“…he himself likewise partook of the same things 
[flesh and blood]…”

Christ existed before the incarnation. He was spirit. He 
was the eternal Word. He was with God and was God 
(John 1:1; Colossians 2:9). But he took on flesh and blood 
and clothed his deity with humanity. He became fully 
man and remained fully God. It is a great mystery in many 
ways. But it is at the heart of our faith and is what the 
Bible teaches. 

“…that through death…”

The reason Jesus became man was to die. As God, he could 
not die for sinners. But as man he could. His aim was to 
die. Therefore he had to be born human. He was born to 
die. Good Friday is the reason for Christmas. This is what 

needs to be said today about the meaning of Christmas. 

“…he might destroy the one who has the power of 
death, that is, the devil…”

In dying, Christ de-fanged the devil. How? By covering all 
our sin. This means that Satan has no legitimate grounds 
to accuse us before God. “Who shall bring any charge 
against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33). 
On what grounds does he justify? Through the blood of 
Jesus (Romans 5:9). 

Satan’s ultimate weapon against us is our own sin. If 
the death of Jesus takes it away, the chief weapon of the 
devil is taken out of his hand. He cannot make a case for 
our death penalty, because the Judge has acquitted us by 
the death of his Son! 

“…and deliver all those who through fear of death 
were subject to lifelong slavery.”

So we are free from the fear of death. God has justified 
us. Satan cannot overturn that decree. And God means 
for our ultimate safety to have an immediate effect on our 

lives. He means for the happy ending to take away the slavery and fear of the now. 

If we do not need to fear our last and greatest enemy, 
death, then we do not need to fear anything. We can be 
free: free for joy, free for others. 

What a great Christmas present from God to us! And 
from us to the world!