«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» (Hebrews 2:10).
CHRIST IS PRESENTED as being truly God in chapter 1 and truly man in chapter 2.
Christ was infinitely higher than the angels. When He became a man, He voluntarily took His place among men without ceasing to be God and never using His divinity for His own benefit. If He had, He would have invalidated His work
He was a spotless Lamb since there was no imperfection in Him. There was nothing to perfect because He was perfect. That suffering was our Lord’s preparation to be like us in order to represent us as a mediator in His priestly ministry before the Father. He did not become infected by sin through use or abuse; He became infected by sin because He took on our burden of sin.
Suffering as a means of correction focused on a disciplinary purpose is different: it produces righteousness and holiness in us. There is also suffering as a retribution, as a requirement of God’s law that is as immovable as any other law of nature.
It was through the first suffering, by his assuming our nature and burden of sin, by facing temptations, that Christ is the Author, Founder, Guide, and Prince of our salvation, titles that were also assigned to heroes. That is why some call Him the Pioneer: He made it possible for sinners to be brought to the glory of God. However, Christ is much more than a pioneer: He is the Savior, and those who follow Him are the redeemed.
Ellen G. White summed it up like this: «Our Redeemer manifested no human weakness or imperfection; yet He died to obtain for us an entrance into the Promised Land” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 480). She added: «The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, and thus qualified to help fallen man just where he needed help» (Lift Him Up (p. 33).
Christ’s suffering was not the result of a disciplinary, corrective action. Nor was it a consequence of a retributive act of justice. Christ’s suffering was because He identified so much with our misery that it led Him to the cross.
«My faith rests not in what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing for me» (C. Spurgeon).
