Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We are exhorted here to “hold fast” and to “come boldly to obtain mercy”. The first refers to persevering in the struggles of life, no matter how bleak the circumstances become. The second refers to the confidence we can have that GOD will reward them that seek him (1). Put together, this is saying that we can have hope now in this life, and hope for eternity. The motivation for this hope is Jesus Christ; who HE was, and what HE did.
The writer of Hebrews clearly believed that the GOD with whom we have to do (2) is a sympathetic GOD. HE knows our weakness, our sickness, and our temptation. How comforting is it to know that Jesus felt what we feel. Whatever sickness or hurt we experience, Jesus did too. GOD sent HIS own SON to experience our sufferings so that we would have a real demonstration of GOD’s sympathy toward us. It can never be said that GOD is distant or unfeeling. It can never be said that HE is insensitive to our suffering. HE chose to come in the flesh and walk in our shoes to prove otherwise.
The greater our faith the more comfort we will know. Faith comes by hearing (3). If we understand more fully the ways that Jesus has suffered for us, we will in turn understand more of the love and mercy of GOD.
1. Jesus suffered physically.
Isaiah 53:3 KJV
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah prophesied here that the Lord Jesus would have suffering during HIS life. This was an accurate prophecy. HIS afflictions began with HIS birth when HE was born outside (4) because no one would make room. Before HE was two years old HE was taken to Egypt
Of course the apex of HIS physical suffering was in his crucifixion. The fact the HE knew what would come only added to the anguish and stress that HE endured.
Matthew 20:17-19 KJV
And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
HE knew that his future held mocking, beating, and crucifixion. This weighed so heavily on him that in the garden he was sorrowful unto death (8), and prayed in agony until his sweat was like blood (9).
2. Jesus suffers relationally.
John 1:10-11 KJV
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Imagine the pain of coming to your own family and being rejected. Imagine coming to your wife, or husband, or father, or mother, and being denied and discarded. Yet this was the experience of the Lord Jesus. The very people whom HE had created, and whom HE was now coming to redeem, rejected HIM!
Not only did they reject HIM, but they actively persecuted HIM. They picked up rocks to stone HIM (10), accused HIM of working for the devil (11), and would not even receive him into their towns (12).
Luke 13:34 KJV
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem
This text expresses HIS sadness and sorrow at the hardness of men’s hearts. It grieved HIM that they would not make room for HIM. Even when HE was born outside, it was not simply because there was no room left. Rather, it was because no one offered HIM a room. They would not make room for HIM. As they rejected HIM at birth, they rejected HIM in HIS life and at HIS death. As they would not make physical room for HIM at HIS birth, neither would they make room for HIM in their hearts.
3. Jesus suffers sympathetically.
In Acts chapter 9, we find Paul heading to Damascus Jerusalem
Acts 9:3-5 KJV
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus
Paul was persecuting Christians, but Jesus said, “You are persecuting ME”. The Lord Jesus personally felt, and still feels, the slings and arrows that strike HIS body the Church. As Hebrews says, “we have not a high priest who cannot be touched by the feeling of our infirmities”. Because HE has felt what we feel, HE is sympathetic to our suffering.
CONCLUSION
Because of the incarnation, Jesus Christ has experienced our suffering and sorrow. In fact, as the lamb of GOD, the sinless one, HE who knew no sin, Jesus Christ has experienced more suffering than we ever will. He has suffered more than any other. HE has suffered our rejection and the pain of persecution against HIS people. Yet, because of HIS love toward us, HE continues to experience these sufferings. What manner of GOD is HE, that HE would condescend to HIS people and desire to be with us! HE is the friend who will never leave us nor forsake us (13).
Proverbs 18:24 KJV
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Jesus Christ is the friend of sinners (14). And in the unimaginable and unparalleled act of compassion and solidarity, the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us (15) so that the greatest friend could display that HE truly is closer than a brother.
REFERENCES
(1) Hebrews 11:6
(2) Hebrews 4:12-13
(3) Romans 10:17
(4) Luke 2:6-7
(5) Matthew 2:13-16
(6) Matthew 4:1-11
(7) Matthew 8:20
(8) Mark 14:34
(9) Luke 22:44
(10) Luke 4:16-31
(11) Matthew 12:22-37
(12) Luke 9:51-56 (Samaritans), Matthew 8:34 (Gadarenes)
(13) Hebrews 13:5
(14) Luke 15:1-2
(15) John 1:14