So what is this all about anyway?
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"In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and
supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was
able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his
reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned
obedience through what he suffered; and having been made
perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all
who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest
according to the order of Melchizedek."
-Hebrews 5: 7-10
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So what is this all about anyway? In short, the
author is trying to tell a bunch of ignoramuses who
Jesus is, (about this we have much to say that is
hard to explain, since you have become dull in
understanding. v.11). So who is Jesus? Well, he is
somebody who understands our problems. In 4:15 it is
written, "for we do not have a high priest who is
unable to sympathize with us in our weaknesses."
Jesus was tempted as we are, yet unlike us, did not
sin. Jesus remained holy and perfect, but like all
other high priests before him who made sacrifices on
behalf of the sinful, he did not do so in a haughty
way, but as someone who truly understood the purpose
of sacrifice and the need for atonement before God.
In Jesus' humanity we know that he understands our
problems. That's why you shouldn't ever let anybody
tell you the guy wasn't fully human. He was.
So what does this mean for you? Plenty. It means
Jesus gets it. You got angry at work. Jesus
understands. You made a mistake at the bar last
weekend. Jesus understands. You kept you mouth shut
when someone needed help. Jesus understands. Jesus
doesn't necessarily approve, but he understands how
hard things are for us here in this life. And that
is what we want and need in a savior, someone who's
been through it all before, who gets the challenges
of this life and doesn't abandon us to them, but
calls us to transcend them just as he did. Jesus
understands what is happening to you. This is the
good news.
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Prayer: Holy God, I am sorry for the sins I have committed today. I
am sorry for failing you, sorry for abandoning you, sorry for
ignoring you. I need your help. Please give me the strength to
follow you. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
[Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian Church] |