We find in Hebrews 2:11 an interesting and assuring statement: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” At first glance this might not seem too extraordinary. After all, we are part of God’s family; therefore, why shouldn’t Christ call us brethren? However, that is exactly what should be so amazing to us. The Book of Hebrews has much to say about the divinity of Jesus. In the very beginning of the Book, the author wrote that God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of his person…” (1:2-3).
Notice that it is said that Jesus made the world. Jesus was there at the beginning! Jesus has all the power and the majesty of God the Father. Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory. This is not a reflected glory, like the moon reflects the light from the sun, but the brightness comes from the deity that is essentially His. Jesus is also the express image of God. This is the only time this phrase occurs in the Bible, and it means that Jesus is the exact representation of God. He is not similar to God; He is exactly like God!
Now think about who we are. We are sinful creatures who fall far short of what God expects of His people. We might think that someone as exalted and pure as Jesus would be ashamed of being associated with lowly man. Normally, we are proud of those who achieve something extraordinary or who live exemplary lives. However, they are exemplary by man’s standard, which is not really all that high. However, when Jesus becomes proud of us, He is judging by God’s standard. How can that be? How can He be proud of us, when we have achieved nothing worthy of such respect? It is because both we and Jesus are all of one. What this means is difficult to determine. Most believe it either means Jesus became flesh and blood like us, or that we are all children of God. Both would be true. The important thing is that through the suffering of Jesus we become children of God (2:14), and therefore, Jesus is not ashamed of us. The One who made the world is proud of me as His believer, not because of what I have achieved, but merely because in faith, I have made a commitment to follow His Word (Hebrews 5:9).
Indeed, this should amaze us when we think about it. The exalted Jesus is not ashamed to be associated with a lowly human as myself! Truly astounding!
