Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor… Who is it that, "for the suffering of death, is crowned with glory and honour"? Undoubtedly the Being in whom existed the wonderful union of the human and the Divine natures. It was not solely the Divinity of the Son returning to its pristine abode. That was never "made lower than the angels." That being incapable of passion, never tasted " he suffering of death." Of the place and state, to which our Redeemer is exalted, we can form no adequate conceptions. Here let us pause and reflect; what glory to the fallen nature of man, that the Eternal Son should assume it, even to dwell in it on earth, and say of its humble offspring, "My brethren are these"! How immeasurably great, then, its honour and advancement when He is exalted in it to the right hand of the Father; "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him"! While we perceive that it was in our nature our Saviour passed into His glory, our advancement hereby will be more impressive if we consider that in entering upon His joy He "opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers." What surer pledge of our inheritance in heaven can we have than the exaltation of Him, in our nature, to the possession of "all power in heaven and in earth"? But of this interesting and stupendous event of the Ascension, where are the evidences? How shall we believe that this great thing hath been done for us; this thing so wonderful, and of such amazing consequences? 1. Behold, I bring to you the types which "at sundry times, and in divers manners," God vouchsafed to give of what He would accomplish in the great Redeemer. See Enoch translated to heaven under the Patriarchal dispensation, and Elijah under the Mosaic. See the leaders of Israel, after the sojourning of the people in the wilderness, conducting them through the flood of Jordan to the Canaan of rest and felicity. See the high priest passing through the vail into the holy of holies, after baying made the great expiation with the blood of the sacrifice, there to appear in the presence of God in behalf of the people. 2. Again: I bring to you that venerable evidence which the Almighty hath so often employed in the service of truth — prophecy (see Daniel 7:13, 14; Psalm 24:7; Psalm 68:13). What is this but prophecy on one side of the event, as history on the other, giving evidence to times past, present, and future, of the ascension of men's Saviour into heaven? 3. This brings me to observe that we have the historical evidence of those who were eye-witnesses of the fact. These were not a few men; they were the whole company of the apostles; these were men worthy of all credit, for they were eminently honest, consistent, scrupulous, explicit, and unvarying. (1) Our first emotion upon contemplating the ascension of our Lord is amazement. The lustre of His virtue in life, and His sublime equanimity in death, transport us with the perfectibility of our nature. (2) But from amazement at this precious part of the Christian dispensation let us rouse ourselves to consider our obligations to respect a nature which God has so highly exalted and destined for such n-bin felicity. Are we members of a body of which the Son of God is the head, and shall we not fear to pollute so illustrious a fellowship? Have we a representative in the inmost presence chamber of heaven, and shall we sink into a mean commerce with vice or debase, by folly and wickedness, the nature He has exalted? (3) We may further observe the wisdom and propriety of raising our affections, and directing our pursuits, to the great realities of the future existence. (Bp. Dehon.) Parallel Verses KJV: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. |
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