Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”—Hebrews 2:17-18
Indeed, God understands with absolute certainty. To empathize with our predicament, Jesus Christ subjected Himself to the human experience. Having endured life in the flesh, Jesus is the intercessor who understands first hand, humanity’s desperate need for intercession. Jesus is the face of humanity who stands before God on our behalf; not only as our Savior, but as one who has walked in our shoes, literally.
Today’s passage recalls Jesus’ role as our High Priest. Human High Priests presented the blood of the sacrifice before the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement as penitence for his own sin and the sins of the nation. Jesus surpassed all other High Priests by having no need to atone for His own sin, He had none. As such, He gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice in a single act to obliterate sin once and for all.
Beyond freeing us from the penalty for sin, Jesus comes to our rescue, time and again to aid us in our moments of utter despair and temptations, to strengthen us through every struggle. As He was perfected through His suffering and death, He perfects us into the image of God with every trial and challenge we face. He alone can say truthfully, “I understand what you’re going through.”
Not only is there someone who truly understands how we feel. Now we have someone who can do something about our situation.
Lesson to Remember: Jesus became one of us to save us. He’s the only one who truly understands everything we experience.
“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
