My head was stuck to the pillow that morning. Any hope for energy had vanished with the dawn of a new day. The sanguine in me wanted to jump out of bed and start the day as usual – study my Bible, prepare the kids for school, get ready, run out of the house to face Atlanta traffic. But my body answered quickly: “No, ma’am. Not today. We’re not getting up.” (Sigh.) As I lay in bed, half conscious, I started muttering a prayer: “Jesus… I need you to be the wind beneath my wings.” In the quietness of the moment, when a prayer is said and an answer is anticipated, I heard His tender voice whisper to my soul: “I’ve been there.” It seemed like a strange answer to me. I was hoping to hear something more like: “get up, take thy bed and walk!” But His answer was clear: “I’ve been there.” Suddenly images from Jesus’ life on earth came to my mind – moments depicted in epic movies such as the Passion of the Christ and Jesus: the painful, unforgettable images of my Savior, as He suffered on his flesh more than any man or woman ever has or ever will.

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 – NLT)

I did make it out of bed that day… eventually.

As I opened my Bible the next day to continue my study on Hebrews, the Lord’s answer from the day before still resounded on my mind. As I read the end of Chapter 4, God’s answer to me started to make sense with Paul’s comments to His countrymen regarding the nature of our High Priest.

The book of Hebrews was written for the first century messianic Jews. These men and women perfectly understood the establishment of priesthood. They knew that the High Priests of the Old Testament had to be men appointed by God and consecrated for Him. After Christ’s death and resurrection, there are no mentions to the title “High Priest” in the New Testament in reference to ministers within the church. This title became Christ’s alone. His atoning sacrifice on Calvary ended once and for all the Jewish priesthood, demonstrating that priests or animal sacrifices are no longer required.

Jesus – our Sympathetic High Priest

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.” Isaiah 53:4-6 (Amplified)

The greek word “astheneia” (transliteration) translated as “weaknesses” or “infirmities” in most texts, refers to both bodily infirmities, such as disease and also the general weaknesses of human nature. Jesus has suffered all our infirmities, both physically and emotionally. If it were not so, our King would not have been the perfect mediator between us and Holy God, for He would not be able to sympathize with our shortcomings… or our sufferings.

Our Savior’s unparalleled greatness as God, the Son, does not by any means make Him incapable of sympathy. Although He is indeed the Son of God, He has a human soul – a soul actually, intensely human – which went through a complete array of trials and tribulations and reached Its glory through suffering. Although He was without sin (v.15), He lived a life of constant temptation and sorrow because of the sin that assails mankind. Therefore, we understand the meaning of the prophetic voice of Isaiah as He foretold of our Great High Priest that He would “bear our griefs” – of sickness, disloyalty, irritations, loneliness and death.

[bctt tweet=”Jesus knows the precise force of every evil or weakness that has ever tried or tempted mankind.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

All Things Considered

“For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18 – NASB)

So… you are facing a trial. A very difficult one.

Sickness…

Stress…

Financial need…

Loneliness…

Overwhelming temptation…

Betrayal…

Death…

Go to your High Priest. He’s been there! No matter where you look and what you are facing, there’s not a facet of our humanity that Jesus did not experience. Except sin.

[bctt tweet=”When I think of my trials in light of eternity, of my wants in light of the surpassing riches of knowing my Savior, they pale in contrast.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

When I think that my Jesus is seated on the High Heavens, at God’s right hand and interceding for me, I am filled with the assurance that every trial I go through must be allowed by a loving God who is molding me, making me more like His Son. And in the process of doing so, He gives me glimpses of His amazing grace, eternal and unfailing love.

And yes, He even sends me that wind to lift my wings up when I am too weak to fly.

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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP PARTY is open! Jesus understands every pain & temptation that assail the human soul. Share yours with Him. He cares! Join us & share your post! ” username=”PatHolbrook”]