Hebrews 2:10-18 | What's a lesson for the original audience?
A Fearless End
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
-Hebrews 2:14-15
-Hebrews 2:14-15
Having already discussed once again the situation that the original audience was facing, I will not exhaust it here. I will, however, reiterate how intense the persecution was that Christians were facing. The road before them was almost certain death, if not continuously fleeing. Let me give you some perspective on just how bad the situation was.
It is a widely held understanding that the nature of distant prophecy requires a near fulfillment to validate the prophet. This is true when it comes to the book of Revelation. A large majority of what was prophesied in Revelation was actually fulfilled in Nero's reign. As a matter of fact, the persecution was so intense and so severe that some schools of thought actually believe that the reign of Nero is the Great Tribulation Jesus speaks about. Many Christians are terrified of the idea that we would go through such tribulation, making claims about how the Lord would not have His people suffer like that. Ladies and gentlemen, such things happened to the early church. It was on the scale enough that it is held to be a near fulfillment of what is spoken of in Revelation.
Many of us might begin to understand how terrifying this may seem. The people are equivocally being tempted with the mark of the beast or being threatened with death. To most, death is the most terrifying option. But what is it that is spoken in the verse above? Jesus, in entering death and over-throwing death, has released the captive who was held in bondage by the fear of death. What can you do to a believer who has no fear of death, neither for himself nor those he loves?
Often when we circle the conversation around fear of death, we speak from a perceived view of the self. Most people fear their own death. Many believers have come to terms with their own deaths, however, and are yet so anxious for the death of their brothers, sisters, and their own families. Living in the reality of the work of Jesus can also free us from the fear of death for others in the household of faith. Are we so set at ease to walk in faith of the work of the cross? Or are we so accustomed to doubt that we hold fear as the default response to death? This seems to be the question that is being challenged for the believers of the day. In light of this, it seems only so appropriate to share Paul's words out of 1 Corinthians 15.
It is a widely held understanding that the nature of distant prophecy requires a near fulfillment to validate the prophet. This is true when it comes to the book of Revelation. A large majority of what was prophesied in Revelation was actually fulfilled in Nero's reign. As a matter of fact, the persecution was so intense and so severe that some schools of thought actually believe that the reign of Nero is the Great Tribulation Jesus speaks about. Many Christians are terrified of the idea that we would go through such tribulation, making claims about how the Lord would not have His people suffer like that. Ladies and gentlemen, such things happened to the early church. It was on the scale enough that it is held to be a near fulfillment of what is spoken of in Revelation.
Many of us might begin to understand how terrifying this may seem. The people are equivocally being tempted with the mark of the beast or being threatened with death. To most, death is the most terrifying option. But what is it that is spoken in the verse above? Jesus, in entering death and over-throwing death, has released the captive who was held in bondage by the fear of death. What can you do to a believer who has no fear of death, neither for himself nor those he loves?
Often when we circle the conversation around fear of death, we speak from a perceived view of the self. Most people fear their own death. Many believers have come to terms with their own deaths, however, and are yet so anxious for the death of their brothers, sisters, and their own families. Living in the reality of the work of Jesus can also free us from the fear of death for others in the household of faith. Are we so set at ease to walk in faith of the work of the cross? Or are we so accustomed to doubt that we hold fear as the default response to death? This seems to be the question that is being challenged for the believers of the day. In light of this, it seems only so appropriate to share Paul's words out of 1 Corinthians 15.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
-1 Corinthians 15:50-58
55“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
-1 Corinthians 15:50-58
There is no doubt that a major part of the lesson for the original audience is directed toward the fear of death. Death has been conquered! The captive has been set free! The believer can worship freely the Lord who has purchased this freedom with his own blood. While this may be one lesson, there are still many more to be had. What lesson do you see for the original audience?
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2026
January
John 14:22-31 | What's the lesson for me today?John 14:22-31 | What am I going to do about it?John 14:22-31 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:1-11 | What's the connection?John 15:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:12-27John 15:12-27 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:12-27 | What's the connection?John 15:12-27 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:12-27 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:12-27 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:12-27 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:1-15John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:1-15 | What's the connection?John 16:1-15 | What’s a lesson for the original audience?John 16:1-15 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:1-15 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:16-33John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?John 16:16-33 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 16:16-33 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:16-33 | Prayer Prompts
February
Passage of the Week: John 17John 17 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 17 | What's the connection?John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 17 | What's the lesson for me today?John 17 | What am I going to do about it?John 17 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:1-11John 18:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:1-11 | What's the connection?John 18:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:12-40John 18:12-40 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:12-40 | What's the connection?John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:12-40 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:12-40 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 19John 19 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 19 | What's the connection?John 19 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 19 | What's the lesson for me today?John 19 | What am I going to do about it?John 19 | Prayer Prompts
March
Passage of the Week: John 20John 20 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 20 | What's the connection?John 20 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 20 | What's the lesson for me today?John 20 | What am I going to do about it?John 20 | Prayer PromptsJohn 21 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 21John 21 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 21 | What's the connection?John 21 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 21 | What's the lesson for me today?John 21 | What am I going to do about it?Passage of the Week: Hebrews 1:1-4Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What is a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:1-4 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 1:5-14Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:5-14 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 2:1-4Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's the connection?
April
Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 2:1-4 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 2:5-9Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's the connection?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What am I going to do about it?
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