“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.” – Hebrews 5:15
Thank you God for your word, and our great high priest Jesus. I am so thankful that Jesus came to earth as a human being, born of a virgin, and lived, was crucified, died and rose to life.
From his birth, we see he came not as the royalty to which he was accustomed, but was born in a lowly manger surrounded by livestock.
The fact that Jesus lived as we live, experiencing all the heartache and battles with our own sin and the sin of others makes us take comfort in his presence. He understands that the insults and the pain and the jeering of others were something he encountered each day.
Looking to Jesus, we find that we are not condemned for speaking what we feel to him about our struggles. He understands and stands with us.
Our weaknesses, finding anger with the injustice around us leads us to him. What do we get when we go to him? Empathy…he’s been there, felt that. If we sin in our anger, he knows our weaknesses, he does not condemn us.
To tangle with the devil in the wilderness and not sin means Jesus is indeed our great high priest. He did not fail the test, as we do.
Imagine living for God in a world that condemns people who live godly lives. As a woman, Jesus is very aware of my struggles.
The world is geared toward couples and the way in which woman are expected to center their lives around men in place of Jesus. Our great high priest Jesus totally feels the way women in our society are treated.
Because of his dependence on his Father, Jesus was condemned to die by the Pharisees. Women who look to Jesus as Jesus looked to his Father are also treated unfairly.
Nowadays, women view femininity as physical beauty and not the quiet, gentle spirit that the bible says is beauty.
Walking with our great high priest Jesus also gives us joy, We find joy in his empathy, his unending love for us, his presence when we feel like giving up. To know there is nothing I can do to make him leave me; he is totally committed to me.
As high as he is above us, he is also down with us when we cry out to him for help. He has wept for Lazarus, and he weeps for us.
To think of Jesus as your great high priest, but also your best friend and the one whom you love also brings joy. There is happiness in knowing that he knows you, and tells you when he is pleased with what you have done.
Nothing gives greater happiness than knowing God is pleased with you.
To believe our great high priest Jesus feels our physical limitations is an endearing thought. To falter after being severely beaten and made to carry his own cross, Jesus felt the pain of physical torture and severe fatigue.
A man named Simon was then told to carry his cross for part of the way. Many people are not able to move physically. Some are home bound or move around in wheelchairs or walkers.
Getting older brings about physical decay for most people, and Jesus is there to show us that our Simon may someday carry our cross part of the way.
To be obedient to death on a cross also makes Jesus our great high priest. Whenever I struggle with being obedient, I remember just how much it took for Jesus to obey.
The bible says he struggled with his Father’s will. He was in such agony, he sweated drops of blood. In the end though, he agreed and did his Father’s will. In my struggles with obedience, I agonize over my Father’s will but not yet to the point of death.. Jesus is there though as my great high priest providing me with the best example ever.
Thank you Lord Jesus for being my great high priest. Amen.
