Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I was reading this passage yesterday and was struck with the thought that because Jesus was tempted in every way just like we are he knows the feelings that come with every situation we could ever encounter. He has felt every hurt we could ever feel and so he has mercy on us and compassion when we face those situations.
The passage goes on to say that although he faced every situation, he never sinned. Somewhere inside me a little voice has always thought that because he never sinned, just maybe the situations he faced were not the same as mine – they couldn’t have been or he surely would have reacted the same way as me. But no – that is not true at all. In fact, he faced things much harder than things I will ever have to face – like knowing the people surrounding you will be responsible for your death and loving them anyway!
The good news is that because he was righteous enough and powerful enough to resist sin, he now offers me grace to help in time of need something he could not have done if he gave in to sin himself! And because he has been where we are, he knows just how much grace we need for any situation. It is sufficient – and He knows it is because he has been there. Amazing!
He can offer us mercy AND grace!
Posted by Fran Campbell on March 27, 2010 at 1:28 am
Karen, your blog post is so timely. Christ’s mercy and grace are unimaginable. You’re right….he DID experience all the pain we feel or have felt in our lives, yet he quickly forgave and continues to do so. My first reaction to someone treating me badly would be hatred, yet I know that because Jesus lives in me I have only to ask Him for the grace I need to forgive that person. The fact that He could forgive me with all the tragedies of my life and turn my life around to, in a small way for sure, glorify Him……is just amazing. Thank you for your reflections…you bless me with your writings.