Seeing Jesus

"For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.
But one has testified somewhere, saying,
"WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM?
OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
"YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS;
YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR,
AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET "
For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone."

Hebrews 2:5-9

"Why, at times, does God not answer the cries of these persecuted believers as they are beaten, raped, imprisoned, or killed? Why does he not always answer the prayer for healing, staying the hand of death? Why does he sometimes refuse to respond to our desperate call for help?

"The question here is not whether God answers prayer. He most certainly does! The people of God through faith have 'conquered kingdoms, administered justice . . . gained what was promised; . . . shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword . . .' (Heb 11:33-34). The question is how should we respond when 'we do not see everything submitted to him.' This too has been the experience of God's faithful through the ages: 'Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goat-skins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated' (11:36-37). Although these people, like those earlier mentioned, were commended for their faith, these did not receive what was promised (11:39). So, what is going on when, in our immediate situations, Christ does not seem in control?

"The answer to our dilemma our perception of reality and, specifically, the nature of the Christian faith. In Western Christianity especially, 'we have become committed to relieving the pain behind our problems rather than using our pain to wrestle more passionately with the character and purposes of God. Feeling better has become more important than finding God. And worse, we assume that people who find God always feel better.' To focus on our situations, our problems, our pains as primary (rather than the purposes of God) is to move away from important aspects of following Christ. We must follow Christ in the way of suffering. God's people have always been persecuted as counter to the power systems of this world; the enemy death still walks the highways of the globe, having yet to be put completely out of commission (1 Cor. 15:25-27); this 'in between time' is a time tears and pain (Rev 21:4).

"Yet, in these experiences in the way of Christ, who was persecuted, wept, and died. 'To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps' (1 Peter 2:21). Persecution has always been the normal Christian experience (e.g., Matt. 24:8-10; Mark 13:9-13, Acts 5:29-42; Rom. 8:35-37; 2 Cor. 4:8-12; Phil. 1:29; Col. 1:24). As we look to the example of Jesus in his earthly experiences of persecution, we gain strength for endurance. We see that sometimes what looks to be the darkest hour in this world's perspective is actually the brightest; the feeling of being forsaken by God may even occur at the pinnacle of our mission for him (Matt. 27:45-46). When we see Jesus in his incarnation, we are reminded of the price attached to living as God's person for God's purposes in a fallen world. He often brings glory to himself and 'works for the good' (Rom. 8:28) through our pain. Jesus shows us a trust-God-and-hold-to-it-at-all-costs kind of faith.

"Moreover, as we consider Jesus, the now exalted Lord of the universe,we perceive that the last chapters of our stories have yet to be written. The exaltation heralds the ultimate demise of all powers of persecution, the burial of death, and the wiping away of all tears from our eyes, reunion with loved ones, and the supply of every need. We will not always live in the 'in-between time.' The age of hope looms on the horizon, dwarfing the pains of the present.

"The problem of evil for the Christian lies not in God's abilities, nor even in our perception of his will and timing (cf. Job 42:3-4), but in our perception of Jesus. As a pilot in a dense fog keeps on course by looking to the instruments, Jesus provides a reference point from which to assess the greater realities of any given situation. What we need is to 'see Jesus' (2:8-9), to take a 'double look' at him in his incarnation and exaltation."

~George Guthrie, the NIV Application Commentary: Hebrews.