Help! Christmas Eve
Help!
Hebrews 2:17-18
On July 19, 1965, the Beatles released, Help!, their 8th number 1 hit that would spend 3 weeks on top of the charts. John Lennon had been struggling with the Beatles meteoric rise to international stardom. He told one magazine, “I was fat and depressed and I was crying out for ‘Help.’” In another interview, he said, ‘Help!’ was one of the most honest songs saying, “The whole Beatles thing was just beyond comprehension. I was subconsciously crying out for help.” Many of you have heard the song, but listen to its lyrics,
I need somebody
(Help) not just anybody
(Help) you know I need someone, help
So much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
but now these days are gone
I'm not so self assured
now I find I've changed my mind
And opened up the doors
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me
Most heard the song as another Beatles pop anthem but Lennon, it was a cry for help! World famous, rich, influential, yet insecure, depressed, and needing somebody, not just anybody to help. Maybe you are like John Lennon today. On the outside everyone thinks you are fine: confident, put together, successful while on the inside you are unwell.
Christmas is a season of heightened emotions. It brings out the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But Christmas also is a reminder that God has sent you help. He has sent you somebody, not just anybody, to help you with being unwell. God has sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to help. And he was the only one who can help in the exact way we need it. I want to look at two verses today to remind you why you can look to Jesus for help whenever and wherever you need it. Hebrews 2:17-18,
[17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
These two verses teach us five things about Jesus which should encourage those who need help this Christmas.
First, Jesus was made like us in every respect - Jesus, the eternal Son of God, co-equal with the Father, Creator of the Universe, became a man. The angel announced his birth to Mary, Luke 1:30–33,
[30] And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary responded, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:35,
[35] And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
The incarnation is one of the most glorious, yet mysterious doctrines of the Christian faith. If we lose this doctrine, we lose Christianity.
Jesus was born as a baby to Mary. He was carried in the womb and delivered after 9 months. He was made like us, human beings, in every respect. And yet, he was not born a sinner like you and I, because he was also born of God. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary causing her to conceive even though she was a virgin. Jesus was made like us in every respect. He had two legs and two arms. He had two eyes, two ears, a nose and lungs. He had a human heart and had human blood flowing through his veins. He got tired and needed to rest. He needed food and water to sustain his body. He needed oxygen or he would die. Hebrews 2:14,
Since therefore children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.
We cannot lose the humanity of Jesus Christ, but we also cannot lose the why behind it.
Second, Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest - The next phrase in our verses gives us the purpose clause of ‘so that.’ The author is giving us the reason why Jesus was made like us in every respect. Hebrews 2:17,
[17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God
Jesus Christ had to be made like us so that he would be able to be our high priest. Jesus acted as our merciful and faithful high priest. He was merciful because he didn’t give us what we do deserve. We deserved death because of our sin. We rebelled against a holy God. And this is why we need help. We do not need help merely because we don’t feel peace. We need help because we don’t have peace with God. Our sin puts us at war with God. And yet, Jesus acted as a merciful high priest, not giving us what we deserve, but giving us mercy.
Jesus also acted as a faithful high priest. He was faithful in that he never sinned. He always acted perfectly in his service to God. He was faithful unto death. He perfectly obeyed the Father. And because he had a heart of mercy and a life of faithful obedience he could make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Third, Jesus makes propitiation for the sins of the people - Hebrews 2:17,
[17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (ESV)
Propitiation means atonement. It is when one takes the wrath directed at one person and turns it upon themselves while at the same time turning that which was wrath into favor. One pastor notes,
And so, the word propitiation simply put means "satisfaction." It means that Christ, in His perfect life and atoning, substitutionary death, that He satisfied the wrath of God against our sin and against us. It wasn't that He simply satisfied or assuaged God's wrath against sin; He assuaged God's wrath against us.
The high priest for Israel was the one interceded for the people before God. They knew they were sinners and needed forgiveness from God. Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy Place behind the curtain where the arc of the covenant was placed as a symbol for God’s presence. The high priest would enter into God’s presence and offer a sacrifice on behalf of the people. They knew they needed help with their sin. Jesus came and offers a different degree of help. Hebrews 9:11–12, 15
[11] But when Christ appeared as a high priest… he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption….[15] Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
And in Hebrews 10:11–14,
[11] And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. [14] For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
After a long day of work when you are standing on your feet all day, there is nothing like sitting down. When you sit down, the day is done. The work is over. Jesus Christ sat down at the right hand of God. The work was finished. God was satisfied. Jesus satisfied God’s wrath. He satisfied God’s justice. He satisfied our record of sin once and for all. So now, those who believe in Christ, are forgiven.
The text says that Jesus came to make propitiation or atonement or to satisfy God’s wrath for the sins of the people. Do you realize you have sin? Do you realize that you need atonement for your sin? Do you know you need help? We all need help because we all have sinned. Jesus Christ was made like us in every respect so that he could be faithful and merciful to satisfy God’s wrath against us so we could be saved. When the angels announced to the shepherds, Luke 2:10b–11,
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The good news of great joy is for all people because Jesus was born as the Savior of all. He was made like us so that we could be saved. And he came for all people because all have sinned and all need a Savior. And we know he was the Savior, because he was not only born as a man, but he would die as one.
Fourth, Jesus suffered for us - Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He tempted him with food and power, but Jesus did not fail to temptation. He instead chose to suffer. Hebrews 2:18a,
[18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted,
Jesus chose to take the road of suffering. He chose to walk the way of the cross. He chose to be despised and rejected. He chose to die for us. He chose to be the faithful and merciful high priest. He chose God’s wrath. He chose to suffer so we could be saved. Listen to how he suffered, Matthew 27:45–54,
[45] Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. [46] And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [47] And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” [48] And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. [49] But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” [50] And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
[51] And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. [52] The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, [53] and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. [54] When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (ESV)
The Son of Mary was declared to be the Son of God for he chose to suffer for us. And notice 51, the curtain that separated God from the people, was torn in two. Jesus Christ made a way to God. And we know God was satisfied with his sacrifice, because three days later, we read, Matthew 28:5b–6a,
[5] “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Jesus conquered death. He has risen.
Fifth, Jesus is able to help - As John Lennon wrote those famous words, “Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody.” Jesus is not just anybody but he is one who is able and willing to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:17–18
[17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Jesus knows you are frail and weak. He knows your frame and remembers that you are but dust. He knows what you are facing and what you need. Many people think of God as the Divine Game Master who is just waiting for you to break the rules so he can disqualify you from salvation. Jesus is not out to punish but to save you. He is gentle and lowly; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench. (Isaiah 42:3a) He came to seek and to save the lost. He came for the sick and those who are spiritually unwell.
Jesus comes to all who cry out, HELP! He is not only willing, he is able. Mark 1:40–42 gives a perfect example of the heart and power of Jesus,
[40] And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” [41] Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” [42] And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
Friends, Jesus knows your every weakness. He knows every failure. He knows how you are being tempted to sin in disbelief, to sin in greed, to sin in impatience, to sin in doubt and being tempted to sin in your love for pleasure. He knows. And the amazing thing is, he not only knows but he knew, and still came for you. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Christ came to be made like us knowing what we have done and with joy died for you as our faithful and merciful high priest.
If you are in need of help today, call out to God, ask him for help, and he will make you clean. Christmas can intensify your pain, but it also can intensify your joy. Today you can experience God’s presence and his power to make you clean and all you have to do is cry out for Help! Jesus was made like us in every respect, and since he was willing to suffer as a faithful and merciful high priest, he is able to help those who are weak and need help.
God sent Jesus to save all who would repent of their sins and believe. It is interesting that when Jesus was born he chose first to come to the shepherds. Men who were known as thieves and dangerous, men who were known as sinners, and it was to them that God announced through his angels,
[10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (“Luke 2:10–11)
Hear it again, what did the angel say to those sinners, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” Fear not, God is here to help! Friends, I do not know what is going on in your heart today, but I know that since Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem, and lived as a merciful and faithful high priest, I know you will receive help in your time of need.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth
And let us join that refrain,
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"