For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” –Hebrews 2:10-13

This wonderful passage lets us in on something very encouraging. It tells us that Jesus is the older brother of a much larger family and he came to where his siblings are. It’s not like he was coming to a family reunion at a mountain ski resort either. No, he came to where they (we!) were wallowing in a world of sin and death. He identified with us, shared our fate, thereby rescuing us from it.

He’s not the kind of older brother who always gets it right and succeeds at whatever he does. Actually he did always get it right and succeeded at doing everything the Father had for him to do, but he’s not the irritating kind of older brother who succeeds in a way that makes our lives worse. He’s the kind of older brother who gets us out of the mess we’ve made of our lives without a hint of patronizing or looking down his nose at us. In fact, “He is not ashamed to call [us] brothers!” And that’s the gospel!

Come hear it preached and enacted in the Supper this Sunday!