“You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor,”

Our author is still quoting from Psalm 8. This psalm is general in the sense of mankind and specific in the sense of God’s only begotten Son. The psalmist and the Hebrew writer are both looking at the two parts of God’s plan for mankind and its fulfillment in Jesus.

Man is created at a lower level than angels, but whereas angels cannot change their status, mankind has the potential to change his position in the hierarchy of created beings. This particular idea is now being used by the writer of Hebrews to show the superiority of Jesus in being the messenger of good news. The entire book’s message is pivotal on the second part of the verse.

So we have confirmation that Jesus was flesh and blood; Jesus was human. He was made a little lower than the angels. Philippians 2:6-8 explains the process to us. Jesus, as we know him, was first a part of the Godhead, an equal with God. To accomplish God’s plan, He had to take the form of humanity. Speaking of Him, Paul wrote, “…but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

This was not a permanent arrangement, however, but just a temporary one. In the scheme of things, mankind’s life on earth is short compared to the eternity promised him. This was certainly true of Jesus. He sojourned on earth for a little over thirty years and then went back to heaven, crowned with glory and honor. Jesus was the first but not the last to receive the crown of glory and its honor. All the saints will share that reward. But, our writer is interested in promoting Jesus as superior to mankind and angels. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and thus is able to offer His followers the same inheritance.

Task for Today: Don’t be satisfied with a life a little lower than angels when you can claim a life of glory and honor in heaven with God, creator of the world and the one to come. Acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Master. Become God’s child today if you haven’t done that. It works for you as it did for Jesus, and obedience unto death is the key. God gave us baptism to signify that obedience.