'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.' (Hebrews 4:15)
Do I truly believe this verse?
Sometimes we can feel so despairing of our sin - like no matter how hard we try, we just keep on messing up. Like God sits up there in Heaven, distant and judging.
But this verse...this wonderful verse...
He was tempted in every respect as we are.
Did His unbelieving brothers and the Pharisees tempt him to unrighteous anger?
Did His disciples tempt him to irritation?
Was He tempted to worry about his mother?
What about other sins, ones we might never think of tempting the Christ?
Was He ever tempted to go after earthly love? Was He ever lonely for an earthly companion?
Was He tempted to self-pity as He faced the grim future of the cross? Did doubt try and attack His mind?
I don't know. I only have this verse to go by.
The point is...He knows.
He felt the battering of sin just as we do.
And yet...He never gave in.
'That's all very well', you might say. 'He was God!'
Well, yeah...But He was also fully Man.
And...since Pentecost, who do we have living inside us?
The Holy Spirit. God. He gives us the power to resist sin.
We don't always listen. But each day is a small step of progress. One day, we will be like Him. Sinless.
Until then, He doesn't condemn us for our mistakes. He empathises with our struggle against sin.
'He knows our frame, He remembers we are dust.' (Psalm 103:14) He lived in that frame, after all, for 33 years.
And we can be thankful for our God who loves and knows us so intimately.
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