The Perfection Of Suffering

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
–Hebrews 2:10

Let’s look at the perfection that comes from suffering. Hebrews 2:10 says, “For it was fitting for Him [God] for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”

This is a hard verse to understand, so let’s look at it in the New Living Translation. In that translation, the verse says, “God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.” Jesus, as unique as He was, was not the only child God would ever have. God’s plan was to have not just one child but many sons and daughters who would be just like Jesus. Who are those sons and daughters? It is you–those who are trusting in Christ are Christ’s brethren. You are fellow heirs with Christ. That is what the writer was saying. He said God did not just want to perfect His plan for Jesus; He wanted to perfect His plan and bring into glory all of us who are brethren of Jesus by faith.

How did Jesus become the leader of all of us who would come to eternal life? It was through His suffering that God perfected Jesus and made Him the leader that He is.

I know that raises a lot of questions: “What does the writer mean by perfecting Jesus? I thought Jesus was already perfect! He was sinless, wasn’t He? How could somebody who was perfect be made even more perfect?” That word “perfect” is the Greek word “teleios,” which literally means “complete” or “mature.” It is used in Greek to refer to an animal that is full-grown. It means “to bring to completion,” “to bring to maturity.” The writer was saying that God used suffering in Jesus’ life to complete God’s plan for Him.

In the same way, God uses suffering in your life to complete God’s plan for you. We see that in James 1:2-4. James said, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” That is the meaning of “perfect”–it means “complete, having reached its purpose.”

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “For Those Who Hurt” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2018.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.