Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers.
A call to worship.
Themes
God becomes human • Flesh and blood • New life • Christ as head • Christ as Bridegroom • Flesh of his flesh • Bone of his bone • Hope • Our glorious inheritance
It is hard to comprehend that God’s desire to be with us is so great, that He actually came to us in human flesh. He took on what He did not have to give to us all that He is. All Christ is He has given to us, so that all God has He can share with us.
Scripture reading
Hebrews 2:10–15
This call to worship1 is from the book of Hebrews, chapter two.
It was fitting that God, in bringing us — his many sons — to glory, should make the founder of our salvation — Jesus — perfect through suffering. So Jesus, and those who he makes holy — us — have one source — one Father. This is why Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers. We — God’s children — share in flesh and blood. And so Jesus himself also became flesh and blood. Only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he destroy the one who has the power of death, and deliver all those who live as slaves from the fear dying.
Prayer
God of heaven, you have come so that you can be with us. It is hard to comprehend that your desire to be with us is so great, that you actually came to us in human flesh. You took on what you did not have to give to us all that you are. Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. Thank you that he assumed all… ALL… of what we are. He took on our flesh and blood. He took on our skin and muscle and bone and blood, our organs, our brain, our face, our hair, our hands and our feet. He took on all that we are in order to heal it all of its sin. He took it all through death and into new life and brought it all back to you. He took on all of our humanity, so that you could share all of your life with us. He came to give us new life in you — not just reanimated human life. Father, as a human, Christ is now our head — the head of a new humanity. And he’s not ashamed to call us his brothers. You didn’t create a new race out of the dust of the ground and leave us entirely unaffected. Although, you could have done this. Instead, your son made himself human. He made himself a closer friend to us than any other. In fact, the bridegroom has made himself one with his dear bride — one flesh. We are now flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. All he is he has given to us, so that all you have you can share with us. Father, this morning, reacquaint us to this life we have in you. We confess that we really need that. We confess that we don’t live as though all that you have has been shared with us. Sometimes we’re feeling and living like we’re still dead to it all. This morning father, give us the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation. Here in this very meeting, grow our knowledge of him so that the eyes of our hearts are enlightened, so that we may know again what is the hope to which you have called us, so that we may know again what are the riches of your glorious inheritance, so that we may know again what is the immeasurable greatness of your power toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ whom you raised from the dead and seated at your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Amen
Inspiring resources
A call to worship creates wonderment, amazement, curiosity, yearning, captivation, provocation, hopefulness, thankfulness, affection, rapture, delight. As these mix together, the response is worship.
If this call to worship leaves you wondering or curious or provoked or hopeful, consider diving into this awesome book that inspired me.
1
This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, Sunday, November 21, 2021.