{"id":1065,"date":"2018-10-07T14:37:18","date_gmt":"2018-10-07T21:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1065"},"modified":"2018-10-07T14:42:14","modified_gmt":"2018-10-07T21:42:14","slug":"the-best-big-brother-of-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/07\/the-best-big-brother-of-all\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best &quot;Big Brother&quot; of All!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:11.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\"; \tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1065-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-20-10-07-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-20-10-07-18.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-20-10-07-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">October 7, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Hebrews 2:9-11<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of All!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoBodyText\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Did any of you grow up with a big brother?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I did!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Having a big brother can be a great experience.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone is picking on you\u2014 you can have your big brother tell them to leave you alone!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If Mom or Dad want something done around the house like mowing the lawn or washing the car\u2014 who better to do it than your big brother!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, however, having a big brother can sometimes be not so much fun.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There is this little thing called a \u201cpecking order.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Mom or Dad might tell your big brother to do something while they are gone and then as soon as they leave your big brother might turn to you and say, \u201cYou\u2019d better get that finished before they get back.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then there are the times when you are not allowed to do something that your big brother is allowed to do\u2014 simply because he is older than you!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For a little brother or a little sister that just doesn\u2019t seem fair.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The picture of having a big brother kept going through my mind as I was studying our sermon text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The reason for that is because of what I saw as \u201cbookends\u201d on this portion of Scripture.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our text begins with the words <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBut we see Jesus\u2026.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our text then ends with the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSo Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Bookends!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since Jesus is clearly the focus of this text let\u2019s look at this portion of Scripture under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The Best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of All!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are three points that we want to consider today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And, since our text for today has \u201cbookends\u201d I tried to put \u201cbookends\u201d on each of these three points.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Point #1\u2014 Our Brother Jesus was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing <\/i>to be humbled and is now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy <\/i>of being exalted.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Point #2\u2014 Our Brother Jesus was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to suffer and is now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy<\/i> of being the author of our salvation.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Point #3\u2014 Our Brother Jesus was<i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> willing<\/i> to become a part of our family so that <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">we<\/i> would now be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy<\/i> of being a part of His family.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were being pressured to renounce their faith in Jesus as the Promised Messiah and go back to the faith and to the traditions of their ancestors.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This entire letter is designed to remind these Jewish Christians that there is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">nothing<\/b> to go back to!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">fulfillment<\/b> of all the Messianic prophesies that the Lord had made to their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, Christianity is the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">fulfillment<\/b> of Judaism.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The difficulty\u2014 both for these Jewish Christians living back when this letter was first written as well as for us today\u2014 the difficulty is that the reality of our day-to-day life doesn\u2019t always <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">look<\/i> as victorious as it actually is!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our life is often punctuated by pain and persecution.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of basking in the thrill of victory we often feel like we are languishing in the agony of what appears to be defeat.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That, my friends, is exactly why this letter and why this text clearly focuses our attention on Jesus\u2014 the best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of all!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now let\u2019s turn to our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We read, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBut we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This one verse of Scripture beautifully summarizes both Jesus\u2019 State of Humiliation as well as Jesus\u2019 State of Exaltation. In His State of Humiliation the eternal Son of God, our Brother Jesus, was willing to set aside the full use of His divine power, majesty and glory. In His state of humiliation the eternal Son of God, our Brother Jesus, was willing to be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cmade a little lower than the angels\u201d<\/i>\u2014 the angels whom He Himself had created.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In His State of Humiliation the eternal Son of God, our Brother Jesus, was willing to be beaten, spit on, mocked, ridiculed and scourged.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In His State of Humiliation the eternal Son of God, our Brother Jesus, was even willing to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csuffer death\u201d<\/i> itself.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">But is that how we see our Brother Jesus now\u2014 hanging on a cross beaten and bloodied by mortal human beings?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No way!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now, we see our Brother Jesus in His State of Exaltation\u2014 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccrowned with glory and honor.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now we see our Brother Jesus in His State of Exaltation sitting at the right hand of our heavenly Father, draped in the eternal glory, power and majesty that is rightfully His and surrounded by all the saints and all the angels of heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And when we look at our Brother Jesus who was willing to be humbled and is now worthy of being exalted why is it so glorious to know that this is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">our<\/i><\/b> \u201cBig Brother\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of what we are told here in our text, my friends\u2014 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cso that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone\u201d<\/i>!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Do we have any reason whatsoever to be afraid of death?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because our Brother Jesus not only <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ctasted death\u201d<\/i> for us but He also conquered death by physically rising from the grave on the third day!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do we have reason to hope even when someone we love has died?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because our Brother Jesus who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ctasted death for everyone,\u201d<\/i> our Brother Jesus who is <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cnow crowned with glory and honor,\u201d<\/i> our Brother Jesus has promised us on oath, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI am the resurrection and the life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He who believes in me will live, even though he dies\u201d <\/i>(John 11:25); <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIn my Father\u2019s house are many rooms\u2026I am going to prepare a place for you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am\u201d<\/i> (John 14:2-3).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, my friends, when we see Jesus we see the best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to be humbled and is now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy <\/i>of being exalted.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The second point that we want to emphasize is that Jesus is the best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of all in that He was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to suffer and is now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy<\/i> of being the author of our salvation.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 10, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIn bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Since the Lord our God is the almighty Creator of heaven and earth, since the Lord our God is the One <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfor whom and through whom everything exists\u201d<\/i> the Lord our God has both the power and the right to determine who will live in the eternal joy and perfection of His heavenly home and who will not.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s standard of justice, my friends, God\u2019s requirements for living with Him in His home are holiness and perfection.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Anything less than perfection, anything short of holiness is sin\u2014 and God considers every sin as being worthy of death.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time the Lord our God did not want us to die\u2014 especially eternally.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, in His grace the Lord our God freely provided salvation for all of mankind.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And as the writer to the Hebrews brings out here in our text God\u2019s plan for our salvation centered on making the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cauthor,\u201d<\/i> or the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201coriginator\u201d<\/i> of our salvation <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cperfect\u201d<\/i> or <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccomplete\u201d\u2014\u201cthrough suffering.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What this means, my friends, is two-fold.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First of all it means that in order for Jesus to reach His goal of being the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cauthor of salvation\u201d<\/i> for the entire world He had to be willing to suffer the punishment that we deserve for our sins.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He had to be willing to suffer and die on the cross in our place.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Secondly, the fact that Jesus <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">did<\/b> willingly suffer and die on the cross for us now means that our salvation <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">is<\/b> <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cperfect,\u201d<\/i> our salvation <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">is<\/b> <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccomplete,\u201d<\/i> <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all <\/b>of our sins <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are completely<\/b> paid for\u2014 in full!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There is nothing that we need to do in order to be saved because the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cauthor of our salvation\u201d<\/i> has been <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cmade perfect through suffering.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There is no accusation that Satan can bring against us because the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cauthor of our salvation\u201d<\/i> has been <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cmade perfect through suffering.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We have the free gift of eternal life because the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cauthor of our salvation\u201d<\/i> has been made <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cperfect through suffering.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>With that truth clearly before our eyes we can indeed see and say that Jesus is the best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to suffer as our Substitute and is now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy<\/i> of being the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cauthor of our salvation.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That brings us to the final verse of our text as well as the final point we want to take home with us today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is the best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of all because He was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to become a part of our earthly family so that we would now be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy<\/i> of being a part of His heavenly family\u2014 His dear brothers and sisters.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 11, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBoth the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">These verses again bring out important truths that we will want to remember.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, the writer to the Hebrews once again reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas\u2014 the eternal Son of God became one of us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The eternal Son of God took on a true human nature.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He became \u201cfully human\u201d as we confess in our creed.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The eternal Son of God became a part of our earthly human family.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And the reason Jesus became a part of our family was so that that He could make us <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201choly\u201d<\/i> in the eyes of our heavenly Father thereby making us <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cworthy\u201d<\/i> of being an adopted child of God.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Yes, my friends, because of what our Brother Jesus has done for us our status before God has now been changed!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of the heavenly Father seeing us as wretched sinners who deserve His punishment both now and in eternity, as a result of what Jesus has done for us the heavenly Father now see us as Jesus\u2019 dearly beloved brothers and sisters.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So always remember, my friends, always remember that because your Brother Jesus was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to become a part of our family you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are<\/b> not only a special member of God\u2019s family here on this earth, but you <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">will be<\/b> a spectacular member of God\u2019s family forever in heaven!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Those of us who have a big brother know that sometimes having a big brother can be a mixed blessing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are days when the support and the protection of a big brother is just the greatest thing ever.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then there are those days when we might wish our big brother wasn\u2019t so big.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those of us who are a big brother also know that this can be a mixed blessing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are days when we enjoy being there for our little brother or our little sister.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then there are the days when we don\u2019t relish the responsibility that often comes with being a big brother.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Thank God, my friends, that as Christians we know that Jesus is the best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of all!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Thank God that because our \u201cBig Brother\u201d was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing <\/i>to be humbled He is now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy<\/i> of being exalted.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Thank God that because our \u201cBig Brother\u201d was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to suffer He is now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy<\/i> of being the author of our salvation!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Thank God that because our \u201cBig Brother\u201d was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">willing<\/i> to become a part of our family we are now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">worthy <\/i>of being a part of His family\u2014 forever!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, thank God that Jesus is the best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of all!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-20-10-07-18.mp3\">Pentecost-20-10-07-18.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost October 7, 2018 Hebrews 2:9-11 The Best \u201cBig Brother\u201d of All! &nbsp; But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.&nbsp; In bringing many sons [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1065\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}