cross_erebus “Christ became our Priest by the sacrifice of himself on the cross (Hebrews 9:26). He is our go-between with God. His obedience and suffering were so perfect that God will not turn him away. Therefore, if we go to God through him, God will not turn us away either. But it gets even better. On the way to the cross for thirty years, Christ was tempted like every human is tempted. True, he never sinned. But wise people have pointed out that this means his temptations were stronger than ours, not weaker. If a person gives in to temptation, it never reaches its fullest and longest assault. We capitulate while the pressure is still building. But Jesus never did.  So he endured the full pressure to the end and never caved. [T]he apostle Peter said, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:22-23). Therefore, the Bible says he is able “to sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). This is amazing. The risen Son of God in heaven at God’s right hand with all authority over the universe feels what we feel when we come to him in sorrow or pain— or cornered with the promises of sinful pleasure.  What difference does this make? The Bible answers by making a connection between Jesus’ sympathy and our confidence in prayer. It says that since he is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses . . . [therefore we should] with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).   Evidently the thought goes like this: We are likely to feel unwelcome in the presence of God if we come with struggles. We feel God’s purity and perfection so keenly that everything about us seems unsuitable in his presence. But then we remember that Jesus is “sympathetic.” He feels with us, not against us. This awareness of Christ’s sympathy makes us bold to come. He knows our cry. He tasted our struggle. He bids us come with confidence when we feel our need.”

Reflecting on this  fact strengthens my faith.  I can enter the presence of God through Jesus because he is both God and man.  He’s not a wooden statue or idol of gold, nor a emanation of deity,  but God become man.  He knows me because he made me and he also lived a life of an simple man.  He was not arrayed with riches nor was he seeking power.  He was but a simple son of a carpenter; yet fully God.   He understood human tendencies, weaknesses, sufferings and emotions.  He felt life in much the same way I do.  Thus nothing that I struggle with seems trivial to him.  He is truly my advocate before the Father. 

Questions:   Did you ever consider that Jesus experienced everything it is to be human?  If you needed to select an advocate on your behalf, would you choose one who understood your condition or would you select one who did not?  

Quote from “The 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die”.

Questions and reflections by me.

Picture – The cross at Mount Erebus, Antarctica, commemorating the 1979 Air New Zealand Crash near Mount Erebus.

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