For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:
“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
While we saw in chapter one that Jesus is so much better than the angels, the author of Hebrews points out in this chapter that Jesus was made a little lower than the angels by becoming a man and experiencing death. This is a key point because when God created all things, He put man in authority. We see in Genesis 1:27-28 that God gave man dominion over all creatures of the earth. This is confirmed in Psalm 8, which is quoted by the author of Hebrews here in today’s passage.
This is key information regarding the condition of man and Jesus’ redemptive role. In Genesis 3:16-17, God told man that the penalty for sin was death. When Adam fell, not only did death enter in, but in the process he also gave away his authority. That’s why Paul calls the devil “the god of this age” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. Since the fall, man has been subjugated rather than fully dominating as intended. This is why in verse eight we are told that we do not yet see all things put under man.
But praise God, we see Jesus! Jesus came as a man and performed perfectly. Then, by God’s grace, He tasted death for everyone and was raised victoriously. In Matthew 28:18, the risen Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me.” The man Christ Jesus regained the authority on earth that Adam lost.
We must be willing to learn to operate in the authority that God has given us in Christ. We know what’s possible, because we see Jesus. He said that we will do greater works than He did. He gave us His Holy Spirit. If God be for us, who can be against us? Take the authority of His name and go brave grace!
Braving Grace 