For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:16,17
When I was growing up, there were lots of things that I just “had to” have. I “had to” have my own bowling ball with fingertip holes[1]. I had to have a bike with gears. I had to have a Gilbert ERECTOR™ Set[2].
On holidays when we visited relatives, I “had to” have the pork and veal that was cooking for hours in my Italian grandmother’s spaghetti sauce. I “had to” stuff my face with her lighter-than-air homemade ravioli. And I “had to” eat before I went over my Polish grandmother’s house because her food was terrible.
There have been all sorts of “had to” moments in the history of cinema. My personal favorite comes in that great holiday classic movie, “A Christmas Story.” Remember when Flick and Schwartz argue about whether or not their tongue will stick to the cold metal flagpole in the schoolyard?
When Schwartz says those immortal words that will live on forever in the history of movies, "I triple-dog dare you,” Flick just “had to.” And, as we all know, Flicks tongue does get stuck[3]. When the bell rings, all his friends all abandon Flick with his tongue firmly glued by the ice to that dirty, rusty, disgusting flagpole. The fire department is call and their special training is needed to get him unstuck[4].
The writer of this letter to the Hebrews brings us to a very strange and different “had to” moment in history. How many times have we heard or used the words, “Well, God can do anything he wants to.” After all, he’s God. He’s got all the power. All knowledge. All wisdom. And doesn’t his job description give him the right to do anything he wants?
And in one sense, God can do anything he wants. But, in a very real sense, God can’t. I know that these words probably come as a shock to you. They might make you want to turn away and label me as some sort of internet heretic. Your fingers might be itching to blastoff some angry comment, condemning me and everything that I am.
To be honest, the idea and words that God can’t so everything still sort of sticks in my throat as I say them. My fingers tremble and hesitate as I type them. The words also rattle around in my brain whenever I think about them.
But the truth is that there are some things that God absolutely “had to” do. And the other side of that coin is that there are some things that God absolutely cannot do. Here are a few examples to noodle on.
Since God is perfectly holy, he cannot let sinners like you and me into heaven.
Since God is only truthful, he cannot lie.
Since God is God, he cannot do or say anything that’s not God like.
So, why did Jesus have to come? What was so important that he couldn’t just tell someone else to come and do it for him? Why couldn’t he delegate it to an angel as his official messenger. After all, that’s what he’s done so often in the past. That seemed to be his pattern; tell an angel what to say and let them take care of it.
But this was different. It was more important than any plain old miracle or message. This was bigger than freeing the Hebrews from Egypt. It required more power than opening the Red Sea. It needed greater authority than defeating the armies of Pharaoh.
There’s one more thing that God “had to” do. To become our great high priest and offer a once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin, he “had to” become a man. He couldn’t just show up by dropping down from the sky. No, he “had to” be born of a woman just like the rest of us. He had to come under the same law that we’re under[5].
To understand the kind of life that we live and offer the right kind of sacrifice for our sin, he “had to” understand us. He “had to” be able to feel and empathize not with our strength, but our weakness. He had to be tempted in all the different ways that we are but with one great big difference. He never sinned[6].
This just makes me want to fall down in front of Jesus and worship him. To thank him for being willing to personally experience all the same kind of stuff that I experience. He knows what it’s like for us.
Yes, “He gets us[7].” He was willing to leave his heavenly throne where he enjoyed a perfect and completely intimate relationship within the Godhead from eternity past. Where was worshiped by angels’ day and night[8]. He “had to” give all that up for you and me. So, is it all that big of a sacrifice for us to give up everything for him?
Noodling Questions
How does our “had to” list change the way we live?
Where does Gods “had to” list shake us up and make us want to change?
Since God gets us, what does that make us think about God? Why?
[1] https://www.bowlersmart.com/2020/03/19/conventional-grip-vs-finger-tip-grip-bowling-ball-drilling-by-mdm-coaching/
[5] Galatians 4:4,5
[6] Hebrews 4:15,16
[8] Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8
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