With Christmas right around the corner, the fact that the birth of Jesus is celebrated, causes us to consider for a moment the humanity of Christ. Presently, we are going through the book of Hebrews in our mid-week study. The writer wants us to grasp that “inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same” (Hebrews 2:14). Most of us are familiar with the words of John 1:14, which says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” What became flesh? God did, according to John 1:1. Why is this so important to our faith? Why would God do such an act of love?
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted,
He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:18
Of course, Jesus came so that mankind could have the chance for salvation, and I do not want to minimize that at all. Jesus said it plainly, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11). But the writer of Hebrews wants us to go deeper, more personal if you will. His life and death was not simply to save, but to aid us in this life. When He was tempted in the desert by Satan, do you think what He heard was tantalizing to him? (Matthew 4:1-11). How do you think He felt when His own people thought “he was out of His mind” (Mark 3:21). Or when they came to take Him captive and “they all forsook Him and fled” (Mark 14:50). Of course, I could go further, to the event of the cross. The fact that Jesus “did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7); did so, in part, so He could relate to our troubles.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
The birth of Jesus ushered in an aspect of God’s love that is amazing. He wanted to go through the trials and temptations, so on the one hand He could aid us. The word for aid means to run to the cry (of those in danger); hence, to help or bring aid. He also did it so that he could sympathize with us. That word literally means to be affected with the same feeling as another. Our perfect High Priest knows what it is like to be…me. Thank You God for coming not only to save me, but to understand me. What an amazing gift!
Dennis
