The Captain of Our Salvation

When I was a young chef in the British Merchant Navy, I quickly learned that the Head Chef in the galley was not my ultimate boss on the ship. That right belonged to one man, and one man only - the Captain! Of course, he was also charged with being responsible for the ship, the whole ship's company, and the passengers that we carried!

The writer of the letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus refers to the Saviour by this title. He writes: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him (the Father), for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation (the Son) perfect through sufferings." (2:9-10; KJV).

Looking at alternative versions, we discover that the Greek word "archēgon" may be translated in a number of ways, e.g. "pioneer"; "initiator"; "author"; "originator"; "founder"; "source"; "leader". All of these words convey the idea of one who is at the front; first in line; the leader. So, the Lord Jesus is seen to be the first in line of an endless procession of the true people of God, in every age, resurrected from the grave, and marching to the ultimate realisation of their salvation - to the heavenly Zion prepared for them by God. 

The word "archēgon" is used on only three other occasions in the Scriptures of the Second (New) Testament. On each occasion, it is used within a context of resurrection and glorification. Peter, addressing the crowd after the miraculous healing of the man who had been lame from birth" (Acts 3:2),states that they: "... killed the Author of life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." (v.15; emphasis added).

Later on, as the apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin, they responded to the High Priest's questioning (v.28) by saying: "The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We must obey God rather than men." (vs.29-31; emphasis added).

The only way by which we sinners could ever share in His glory was for Him to suffer and die. Indeed, for Him "to be sin" (II Cor.5:21) - the very epitome of sin; sin personified in Him; sin in all its vileness. I firmly believe that it was at that moment in human time that the Son uttered what is often referred to as "the cry of dereliction" as the Father, Who cannot bear to even look upon sin, turned His eyes away from the beloved Son. “Eli, Eli, la′ma sabach-tha′ni?” that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”. (Matt.27:46).

As a result of what our "Captain" has done, on our behalf, ought we not to be "looking to Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."? (Heb.12:2; emphasis added).

The song may not apply, in every sense, to the above - but it was the first one that came to my mind as I prepared the text! It was also a favourite at the meetings of the FGBMFI in Stirling, when my dear wife and I led the praise with guitar and piano-accordion. Happy memories!