Messianic Jews 2:10-13
Letter to the Messianic Jews

In my last post, we began to learn about Yeshua, the Son of Man ~ Part 2 in Messianic Jews 2:5-9. That passage concerned the recovery of humanity’s lost destiny. In this post, we continue to explore Messianic Jews 2:10-13 ~ Yeshua, the Son of Man ~ Part 3. This passage concerns Yeshua’s identity as a real man.

“¹⁰ For in bringing many sons to glory, it was only fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of everything, should bring the Initiator of their deliverance to the goal through sufferings. ¹¹ For both Yeshua, who sets people apart for God, and the ones being set apart have a common origin — this is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers ¹² when He says, “I will proclaim your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” ¹³ Also, “I will put My trust in Him,…” and then it goes on, “Here I am, along with the children God has given Me.” ~ Hebrews 2:10-13 (CJB)

As a man, Yeshua had to suffer like us to fully identify with us. This is what uniquely qualifies Him to be our mediator. By being designated entirely with God and us, He bridges the gap (see Isaiah 59:1-2) and creates for us the unity with God that He Himself has. Verses 12-13 offer two proof-texts from parts of the Tanakh customarily considered to have Messianic import (see Psalm 22:23(22) and Isaiah 8:17).

The writer to the Messianic Jews uses one of the great titles of Yeshua. He calls Him the Initiator of their deliverance (other translations use: pioneer of their salvation). Stern translates Initiator from the Greek word archegos <G747>.  An archegos is one who begins something so that others may enter into it. An archegos is one who blazes a trail for others to follow. Yeshua has blazed the trail to God for us to follow.

So, then, what the writer to the Messianic Jews is saying is that through suffering Yeshua was made fully able for the task of being the Initiator of our deliverance. Why?

According to Barclay: [1]

• It was through His sufferings that He was really identified with men. The writer to the Hebrews quotes three Old Testament texts as forecasts of this identity with men ~ Psalm 22:22; Isaiah 8:17-18. If Jesus had come into this world in a form in which He could never have suffered, He would have been quite different from men and so no Savior for them.
• Through this identity, Jesus Christ sympathizes with man. He literally feels with them. It is almost impossible to understand another person’s sorrows and sufferings unless we have been through them. Before we can have sympathy we must go through the same things as the other person has gone through—and that is precisely what Jesus did.
• Because he sympathizes Jesus can really help. He has met our sorrows; he has faced our temptations. As a result he knows exactly what help we need; and he can give it.

In my next post, we’ll explore Yeshua as humanities true sacrifice in Messianic Jews 2:14-18 ~ Yeshua, the Son of Man ~ Part 4.

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[1] Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT) by William Barclay.