Who doesn’t like to find themselves in a picture? It has become a significant feature of Facebook . . . to be “tagged” (aka identified or called out) in a photo. Whether it’s finding your familiar face in a large crowd or being called out among a small group of friends or identified in the background of a photo focused on another, there’s something we like about having a place in the picture. This morning I was “tagged” in my reading in Hebrews 2:10-18.

Now the picture in this passage is really not about me . . . but in some ways it’s all about me. The Son of God fills the photo . . . it is a portrait of Him. He is the captain (NKJV) or author (NIV) of salvation made perfect through sufferings. He is the one who has partaken of flesh and blood so that He might experience death and, through death, destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (2:14-15). He is the One made like His brethren so that He might be a “merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God” . . . that He might “make propitiation for the sins of the people” (2:17) . . . i.e. that he might pay the price . . . or make appeasement for the debt owed . . . that He might make atonement for those with a debt of sin they could not pay. It is this portrait’s focal who “Himself has suffered, being tempted” so that He might be able to aid those who suffer as well and are also tempted (2:18).

So, the picture is really about Him . . . but even in the portrait described above do you see others “tagged?” Those called His “brethren” . . . those who have been released from a bondage of fear . . . those who are interceded for by a faithful High Priest . . . those who have had their sins paid for . . . those who are helped in their temptation . . . that’s me!

I’m tagged all over this portrait of Jesus. As I marvel at the Person and work of the Son of God, I’m overwhelmed, as again I recognize the degree to which I am a recipient of that work’s eternal blessings . . . a recipient of the manifold benefits of salvation. Forgiven . . . sins debt paid for . . . released from the bondage of fear of death . . . upheld by a High Priest who knows my condition and experiences inside and out . . . strengthened in temptation.

And over-riding all this is the objective of the Artist . . . the Designer of this grand portrait . . . “Him, for whom are all thing and by whom are all things” . . . that objective being the “bringing of many sons to glory” (2:10). Tagged again!!!

Yup . . . there I am . . . one of many people being brought to glory! The Author of Salvation having being sent by the great Designer of Salvation to bring many of us to glory. That we might be with Him . . . that we might be where He resides in unapproachable light . . . that the impediments of sin and death might be destroyed in order for us to take our place as His brothers and sisters and join Him and His grand assembly in singing praise to the Father (2:11-12).

Oh how I love reading about Jesus . . . how I marvel at the reminder of His self-sacrificing work . . . but oh, how I also love being tagged!!!

Let it be for His glory alone . . . amen!