But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person.
Hebrews 2:9, AMPC
Sometimes we lose the reality of the meaning of Scripture when we read certain “Christianese” words or phrases, like “propitiation,” “sanctification,” and concepts related to Jesus suffering death, experiencing death for us, and so on.
All those things sound spiritual and good, but what do they really mean? Today, I want to take a brief look at what it means for Jesus to “taste death” for us.
The Holy Spirit, speaking of Jesus in Hebrews 2:9, says:
But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person.
My goal is to give you a real-life perspective on this verse that will stick with you throughout your day and week; something that will strengthen your relationship and awareness of the Lord Jesus and what He did for YOU!
Let’s home in on the fact that Jesus experienced death for every individual person. In the King James Version, this part of Hebrews 2:9 is stated like this:
…that he [Jesus] by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Jesus tasted death for every man. That means you and me. That means the unbeliever that lives in your neighborhood. That means your boss, your colleagues, your professors, your kids’ teachers. Everyone. Jesus tasted death for every single person that would ever breathe air on this planet.
So what does it mean for Him to “taste death” for all of us? And more importantly, how does that really affect our day-to-day lives?
Tasted here is the Greek word geuomai, which means more than to simply “taste.” This word carries the idea of tasting, perceiving the flavor of through experience, partaking of, enjoying, feeling, making trial of, experiencing, and being nourished by something.
Death simply means separation. When Jesus tasted death, He felt, partook of, and really experienced the full force of separation from God for you and me. He experienced separation from perfect health that comes from being created in God’s image. He experienced separation from mental clarity and health–assault, anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide–all forms of separation from the healthy mind that God created us to have.
On the Cross, Jesus experienced separation from the presence and the goodness of God. He experienced separation from God’s protection from Satan and his demonic forces. Jesus experienced death and separation from God in every sense of the word!
When Jesus felt, partook of, and fully experienced death for you and me, He did it so that you and I would not have to carry that burden nor go through the same experience He did. He did it so you and I don’t have to.
That’s the point of this message today. Whatever level of separation from God’s perfect goodness you are experiencing today, Jesus took that upon Himself.
He tasted and felt that thing–that very thing you may be dealing with right now–on the Cross so that you don’t have to walk through life carrying that burden or living with that separation right now.
What are you dealing with today that Jesus has already tasted for you?
Let’s engage with the Lord about this. Pray with me!
Holy Father, I praise you and come to you in the precious Name of Jesus. I’m so thankful that You placed upon Jesus all the sin of the world, especially my sin! Thank you for causing Your Son, Jesus, to taste and experience the fullness of sin and death so that I don’t have to experience separation from You or any of Your goodness. I am so grateful for Your provision from sickness, depression, anxiety, and all of the other things of sin that seeks to come in and ravage my life. Because of Jesus, I have been redeemed from the power of sin, so that I don’t have to experience death!
Holy Spirit, show me where I can lean into Jesus and receive the benefits of what He has done on the Cross for ME. Show me how Jesus’ work on the Cross can bring life to my day TODAY, and what You want to do in my heart right now. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for bringing me into a deeper level of revelation and relationship with Jesus. Thank you for changing my life right now!
I pray these things in the precious Name of Jesus!
May this word encourage you and strengthen you as you step into deeper levels of life and peace in Christ Jesus!
Photo by Timeo Buehrer on Unsplash