Lesson 433 - Junior

Memory Verse

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Matthew 12:50).

Notes

The Apostle Paul again brings up the subject of angels in this lesson. He shows how much greater Jesus is than the angels, and also how much greater will be the inheritance of the redeemed children of God than anything the angels have.

God has given Jesus power to rule everything in the world. "Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet" [HEB:2:8]). Then why did Jesus come to this world and let men crucify Him? - He told His disciples, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself" [JHN:10:17];[JHN:10:18]). It was necessary for Him to die to pay the price of man's redemption. Because Jesus was willing to die for us, we will not have to be punished for our sins, if we repent and ask Jesus to forgive us.

King of Kings

But when the end of this age comes, and Jesus takes His authority, He will put down all kings and dictators, and He will rule the world in righteousness. And all the people who have been faithful to Him will rule with Him. No wicked man or evil power will be able to stand against Jesus. He will rule the obedient with love, but those who rebel against Him, He will rule with a rod of iron. The curse on nature will be lifted and man will again have dominion over all the wild animals.

The angels had part in giving the Law on Mount Sinai. That Law was so strong that every time people disobeyed it they were punished. Punishment was very severe. Children could be put to death for striking their Parents. Working on the Sabbath Day was also punishable by death. If punishment was so harsh and sure under the period of the Law, how much more severe will be the Punishment in the end of our age of Grace, if we refuse to obey the commandments of' Jesus who paid such a big price for our salvation!

Not only will disobedience be punished, but merely neglecting to serve the Lord will bring eternal punishment. Perhaps a person lives a good life before his neighbours and friends, never does anything to hurt them; but if he is not born again as the Bible teaches, he will be eternally lost.

This salvation is so great that all the prophets spoke about it. The angels desired to look into it. How could it be that Jesus could redeem mankind? He offered to pay the price by shedding His own Blood to atone for our sins. Should we not appreciate what Jesus did? He did it because He loved us while we were yet sinners. He was willing to die for His enemies.

Preaching the Gospel

Jesus Himself proclaimed the message of salvation when He was on earth. He preached: "Ye must be born again" [JHN:3:7]). He said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" [MAT:11:28]). Another time He said: "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" [MAK:1:15]). Before He went back to Heaven He instructed His followers to preach the Gospel: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" [MAK:16:15-16]). The Apostles and many of the disciples obeyed, and went everywhere preaching, "the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following" [MAK:16:20]). Then, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" [HEB:2:3]).

Lower Than the Angels

After telling us how great Jesus is, Paul says that He was made a little lower than the angels. How could that be? All the angels in Heaven bow down before Him and worship Him. None of them was worthy to die for the sinner. Jesus was lower than the angels because He became a man and suffered death -- but it was just for a little while.

If Jesus had come to earth in the form of an angel, He could not have died. Angels cannot die. So Jesus came as "the seed of Abraham," just a man. He was born into this world, grew up in Nazareth, played with other children, worked with His father; and when He was grown, He began to preach the Gospel. He suffered cold and hunger -- physical suffering; He was ridiculed and disbelieved by some of His best friends and members of His own family -- emotional suffering; and when He was on the cross, and the Father turned His face, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" -- spiritual suffering. He went through all that agony so that He could be the "captain of their salvation," the Leader of all those who want to go to Heaven. He was already perfect, but He suffered those things so that we would believe that He understands our needs and longings. Then He died to bear the punishment for sin, "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" [HEB:2:9]). He did it all for you and me. How we should love Him!

Crowned with Glory

The angels in Heaven glorify Jesus for His sacrificial death. John saw in a vision on the Isle of Patmos "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" of angels, and they were saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." And more than that, "every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever" [REV:5:11-13]). If we truly love the Lord and live for Him here, we shall some day join that mighty chorus to sing praises to Jesus, our Redeemer.

The Family of Jesus

Jesus wants to be identified with His people. He loves us enough that He wants to call us "brethren." He wants us to be part of His family. One time Jesus said: "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" [MAT:12:50]). We are also called His children because we are born of God, and "if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" [ROM:8:17]).

In order to be in the family of Jesus we must not only be saved, but also sanctified. Jesus is the One who sanctifies us, and "both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren" [HEB:2:11]). God is holy, and if we are a part of His family, we must be holy, too. After we have been saved, our sins forgiven, we can consecrate our lives deeper, and believe God for the glorious experience of sanctification. When He gives it to us, He makes us to know that we have been purified by the Blood of Jesus.

The family of God, the born-again and sanctified Christians, enjoy their relationship with each other, and feel the love of God for them as a father for his children. He will never leave nor forsake His own.

Questions

1. Why did Jesus have to die?

2. When will Jesus be King of kings?

3. How severe was judgment under the Law?

4. What were some of the messages Jesus gave when on earth?

5. In what sense was Jesus made lower than the angels?

6. Name some of the ways in which Jesus suffered.

7. Why did thousands of angels sing "Worthy is the Lamb"?

8. Who is the "brother," "sister," or 'mother" of Jesus?