TODAY'S VERSE:

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet He did not sin.

In prep school we discussed how you can’t ever say that NO ONE understands what you are going through, because Jesus does. In fact, He faced similar trials that you do. In our verse it says He was tempted “in every way”. That means He was tempted to disobey His parents, get into arguments with His siblings, and even cheat on His tests. See? We ALWAYS have someone who understands exactly how we feel!!

God loves us believers the same as He loves His Son, Jesus Christ! That’s tremendous love!  He doesn’t cause our suffering; He allows it in our lives, just like He allowed it in Jesus’ life. He suffered in His humanity to learn obedience to God the Father, (Hebrews 5:8). Even though Jesus was sinless, He still had to learn obedience! He also suffered so He could relate to us in our sufferings. Jesus Christ understands pain – both physical and mental. He had more pain than any of us will ever have! Jesus Christ went through the worst suffering on the Cross, where He paid the price of salvation to God the Father for all mankind! He suffered for our redemption! His suffering had both purpose and great benefits!

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Jesus was homeless, suffered sadness, was rejected by family and friends, was tempted by Satan, prayed alone before He was arrested, was crowned with thorns, and crucified! We will never be able to relate to His suffering on the Cross; but we can relate to things like homelessness, the death of someone close to us, rejection by family and friends, loneliness, and being tempted. Who and What got Jesus Christ through all of His suffering? He had the power of God the Holy Spirit and the guidelines from Scripture – God’s word!  He had the joyful purpose set before Him of redeeming mankind!

Hebrews 2:17-18 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
 
Jesus tells us that if He suffered, we will also (John 15:20). Why do we suffer? God allows it because He knows it is how we learn to obey and trust Him. When we go through suffering with Jesus Christ, we develop a special bond or closeness with Him; He lives inside of us and is with us all the way! He wants us to know that He experienced what it means to be human and suffer pain! He never despaired; He always obeyed and trusted God, His loving, Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ knows that because of His sufferings we can go to Him; He truly understands us. He has given us the answer for all of our suffering – the power of God the Holy Spirit and God’s Word! When we suffer because of others and we don’t try to get even, a door might be opened in their hearts to hear truth about Jesus. What a joy! There is a definite purpose for all of our suffering.

We are to rely on God and His grace. Jesus did and look where it got Him! He is seated at the right hand of God the Father! The Father sees all believers, members of the body of Christ, right there with Christ! The path with Christ to glory, or seeing God in His magnificence, runs through suffering with Christ. We couldn’t have a better Suffering Companion! And look at what comes at the end of the suffering – seeing more of God’s glory! Thank You, Jesus!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.