The gospel that we proclaim is the good news that God saw us in our hopeless and sinful condition and acted on our behalf. He has given us a redeemer, Jesus, the Son of God, who makes it possible for us to experience forgiveness and reconciliation with God. And all who put their faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus will experience God’s forgiveness and will have eternal life in fellowship with God.
Hebrews begins with a description of the Son. A Son who is exalted above the angels. Following that, we are introduced to Jesus, who, for a time, was made lower than the angels but is now crowned with glory and honor. The author is not describing two different persons in these first two chapters. Instead, he is describing the two distinct natures of Jesus, the Son of God. In Hebrews, “the Son” is used for his divine nature, while “Jesus” refers to his human nature. But they are one person.
The Gospel in a Nutshell
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9 NIV
This verse is the gospel in a nutshell. It begins with the incarnation; Jesus became fully human (Heb. 2:17)—lower than the angels. He suffered and died on the cross, tasting death for everyone. And he has been crowned with glory and honor, and now sits at the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12).
It might be tempting to think that after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, he left his human nature behind, becoming what he had been from eternity past. But he did not. It is the human Jesus who was crowned with glory and honor. It is the human Jesus who is now sitting at the right hand of God. He is not any less the divine Son, the second person of the Trinity. But he is now also the firstborn of a new creation—a new humanity. And he invites all who are willing to share in that new humanity with him. And that is the good news.
