The Captain of Our Salvation

Hebrews 2:10,11

"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, IN BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings, 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..."

I experienced captaincy through my high school basketball days. The head coach would select those who he wanted represent the team. Those players would gather at center-court and the referees would explain the prerogative of the game and any oddities of the court. They expected THOSE PLAYERS TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE TEAMMATES. One older referee would even ask the captains just before tip-off IF THEIR TEAM WAS READY TO BEGIN PLAY. Truly, Jesus is the captain, and His example remains and fulfills.

The Father made the captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ, perfect through sufferings. He was able to do so because Jesus wanted nothing more than to be one with His Father, evidenced in that He said only what He heard the Father say; did only what He saw the Father do.

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that THROUGH death (while in flesh and blood), He might destroy him (his works of unrighteousness) who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14,15) The Father, through Jesus Christ, destroyed Satan's stronghold of deception: the temptation to serve self by exalting self above God. Our Father, through Jesus Christ, went deeper than the mind Satan tempts. By the indwelling and increase of the Holy Spirit He saves the souls of man who will allow His sanctification. Death to self, according to the Head of all things to the church, Jesus Christ, results in the Father's understanding of exaltation.

Our Captain has demonstrated His readiness. What about His team?