Hebrews 4:15-16, “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.”
Do you have loved ones that have passed away recently? A time of raw feelings then emerge and set in which are grief and mourning. Or what about feeling the rejection of a plan you had in motion and didn’t get? Or have you felt slighted or hurt that someone isn’t for you? Or could it be a value you hold dear, recently, is not equally held in high esteem with someone you were in conversation? Jesus understands your grief, as Isaiah 53:3a declares, “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Then Verse 4a states, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion. The feeling of rejection can derail our dreams, and self-confidence. It gives me comfort to know Jesus understands. He has experienced it, too, and is carrying my grief when it suddenly appears out of nowhere.
As the writer of Hebrews calls attention to our high priest, who passed through the heavens and is the Son of God and ministers there for our (my) sake, this shows us the character of Jesus. Jesus sympathizes and is compassionate with you and me, unlike any other human being on this earth. He knows and feels what I feel. When I regret something, I have done and wonder why I did that? That was stupid! He knows what I am going through. He understands and is interceding for me as Romans 8:26 states, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” So, we have both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit’s intercessory ministry going on in our behalf, which gives us (me) hope in the details of outcomes we cannot currently see or know in our lives. What is Jesus ministering to you about today?
David Guzik says in his commentary on Hebrews 4:16, “Sometimes we think that because Jesus is God, He could never know temptation the way we do. In part, that is true; Jesus faced temptation much more severely than we ever have or ever will. The Sinless One knows temptation in ways we don’t, because only the one who never gives into temptation knows the full strength of temptation. It is true that Jesus never faced temptation in an inner sense the way we do, because there was never a sinful nature pulling Him to sin from the inside. But He knew the strength and fury of external temptation in a way and to a degree that we can never know. He knows what we go through, and He has faced worse.”
May this be of comfort to you in whatever you are going through. Jesus can sympathize with our weakness and temptation, but Jesus cannot sympathize with our sin. That is the difference. He is our great high priest that we need to come to in reverence and with confidence and bold assurance that Jehovah Jireh will provide. Jehovah Shammah is the LORD our peace. Just as Jesus calmed the storm at sea (Matthew 8:23-27), the winds and sea obeyed Him, so call on Jesus’s name with boldness, and ask Him to deliver His almighty and divine peace to your heart and mind. Then, with faith, receive it.
Ask God to enable you and project Jesus, in the mind of truth, so you can proclaim the Word of truth in your circumstance. Pray, “God want do you want me to do so I can be used to be the answer in this situation?” Pause to remember who He is. May you abide and rest in God’s mercy and grace today as He has gone before you and is walking through with you whatever you are going through. Nothing is hidden from His sight.
The Message states Hebrews 4:15-16 this way, “We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all – all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Jesus understands your true reality.
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