“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren.” (Hebrews 2:17)
There will always be an inability to grasp how the omnipotent and omniscient God could become fully human, yet such is the clear teaching of Scripture. Please notice that “all things” were incorporated into the life of Christ when it “behoved him” to be made like the ones He would call His brethren (our text).
- He experienced pain, hunger, fatigue, etc. (1 Peter 2:23; Matthew 4:2; Luke 8:23; John 19:28).
- He experienced the testing of evil (Luke 4:1-2; Hebrews 4:15; 2:18).
- He was representative of all men in substitutionary death (John 3:14; 12:32).
- He was identified with Adam, the federal head of humanity (1 Corinthians 15:45-47).
- He ascended bodily into heaven (Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:10).
- He still identifies with man (Revelation 1:13-16).
The apostle Paul gave us the simplest summary of what took place among the Trinity as the Lord Jesus “made himself of no reputation.” The Greek term used is ekenosen. Essentially, it means to make empty, to divest, to make void that which was formerly owned. Jesus, the eternal Second Person of the Godhead, “emptied” Himself and “took upon him the form of a servant.” Then, he “was made” in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).
Please notice the action of the verbs. Jesus did the “making” and the “taking” of the servant likeness that was prepared for Him (Hebrews 10:5). Once emptied and in the body that was made for Him, He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). HMM III
