Like his brothers in every way except for sin

Question 35 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks. “What does it mean that he ‘was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary’?” The answer it proceeds to give is, “That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit, from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, a truly human nature so that he might become David's true descendant, like his brothers in every way except for sin.”

As I read through Q&A 35, I was struck by the fact that Christ was “like his brothers in every way except for sin.” It is clear that two passages in the book of Hebrews had great influence on this answer:

Hebrews 2:14-18 - Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

and

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What comfort we indeed have in the fact that Jesus is not some far off God, unable to relate to us, but rather has condescended to become like us, sharing in our trials and in our sufferings! A God who now bids us to do what otherwise would be unthinkable: to boldly approach his throne to find grace in our time of need.

There is one other way that Jesus is decidedly not like us. He didn’t just share in our trials and sufferings, he experienced them on our behalf. As such, he is unlike us (at least those of us who have placed our trust in him) in that we will never face the wrath of a just and holy God. This of course is precisely what happened to Jesus on the cross.

It was for our sake that he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)…For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29)…And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Oh how I long for that day when this transformation will be complete! When God not only will see me through the righteousness of Christ, but when that righteousness so fills me and flows from me that I sin no more. In that day I will be truly like my elder brother! Come, Lord Jesus!