Jesus Wants to Help

Hebrews 2:9-18 presents Jesus as the One who came to humanity’s aid. He did that through great risk to Himself, being required to put on flesh and become like every other human being. He was tempted, He suffered, and He died. And He did all those things to provide what humankind needed: salvation. Hebrews 2:16 describes what Jesus did for humankind as giving help, and a closer look at the word translated "help" illustrates its meaning.

In various passages, this word describes interactions where one person reaches out to take hold of the other. The intention of that grip depends on the person doing the grabbing. In Luke 20:20, the scribes and chief priests wanted to catch Jesus in a statement. In Acts 16:19, the masters of the girl with the divining spirit seized Paul and Silas to take them before the authorities. In Mark 8:23, Jesus took a blind man by the hand, led him out of the village, and healed him. In Mark 14:31, Jesus took hold of Peter, who was sinking in the water, and helped him back to the boat. The one grasping determines whether the act is beneficial or detrimental to the one in their grip.

Hebrews 2:9-18 presents Jesus as a helper of humanity, the One who saves us from our sins. In the same way that God took Israel by the hand (Heb. 8:9) to lead them out of the land of Egypt with power, Jesus takes hold of us to lift us out of sin and back into fellowship with God through His sacrifice on the cross (Heb. 2:16). Jesus intends to save us, but all His strength will profit us nothing if we refuse to take His hand by being washed clean of sin in baptism (Heb. 10:22). Jesus wants to help you; He is reaching for you with all His strength. Take His hand!