Jesus became human to regain man’s lost dominion

We find in Hebrews 2: 5-18 that Jesus is not inferior to the angels because of His humanity. The fact that angels are “ministering spirits” without human bodies would seem to indicate that they are superior to Jesus who had a human body when He was here on earth. Of course, we know that after His resurrection Jesus has a glorified body that knows no boundaries.

It is remarkable to note that the writer of Hebrews gave some important reasons why Jesus humanity was a blessing to all and not a sign of inferiority to the angels: First, Jesus humanity enabled Him to regain man’s lost dominion. How? This is clear in Heb.2:5-9 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,

Or the son of man that You take care of him?

7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;

You have crowned him with glory and honor,

And set him over the works of Your hands.

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Most of these verses was quoted from Psalm 8: 4-6 (good reading). When God created the first man and woman He gave them a mandate over the whole creation-to have ‘dominion’ over creation (Gen. 1:26-31).

David the Psalmist expressed his amazement that God would share His glory and power to man. It says that man was created “a little lower than the angels” which strongly indicates that man is inferior to the angels. However, man was given the honour and privileges far superior than the angels. Amazing! Furthermore, we will reign with Christ in the world to come-during the millennium. But this promise was never given to the angels (Heb.2:5).

Is there any serious issue that we need to consider? Our problem today is that man is not exercising the control over God’s creation. Instead we abuse our environment. It is obvious that man cannot control the animals, the birds and the fowls etc. In fact man has a bigger problem--he cannot even control or has difficulty controlling himself. Heb.2:8b says “…But now we do not yet see all things put under him.” That was the problem. But do not lose hope. The writer says in verse 9 “But we see Jesus.” Hallelujah! We see Jesus!

Jesus is the answer to our dilemma! Jesus left the glory of heaven for a time to become man that He might suffer and die for man’s sin and also regain that dominion that was originally lost in the Garden of Eden because of sin. Do we have any evidence in the Gospel that Jesus exercised dominion over creation? Here are the examples:

He had control over the fish (Lk 5:1-11; Matt. 17:24-27)

He had dominion over the fowls (Lk.22:34, 60)

He had control over wild animals (Mk 1:12-13)

He had control over the wind, turning water into wine etc. Jesus Christ is known as the last Adam (1Cor. 15:45) and He was able to regain man’s lost dominion. Everything is under His control and one day every knee shall bow both in heaven and on earth (Eph. 1:20-23; Phil 2:9-11). You see, God wants His masterpiece to be beautiful again, to have that dominion. It will come!

Now, if you proceed reading you will notice verse 7b says that man has been “crowned with glory and honour.” Did man lose that glory and honour? Yes, because of sin. But because Jesus came, He restored that glory and honour and every real believer in Christ shares Christ’s kingly dominion according to Rev.1:5-6 “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

There will be a day that Christ will establish His kingdom upon this earth and the real believers will reign with Him. Our loving Saviour Jesus did everything for us in spite of our depravity. Why? Because of “the grace of God” (Heb.2:9). All by grace and by grace alone.

The fact is, if Jesus did not become a man (did not become flesh), He could not have died (not experienced death) for everyone. Angels cannot die, they are ministering spirits; they are not flesh. Therefore, angels cannot save lost sinners. Only Jesus can save and only Jesus can restore man’s lost dominion.