S) "14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASB)
O) The writer is establishing, a little ahead of himself, that Jesus is a great high priest. He will actually break that down further just a little bit later (chapter 5), but for now it is presented as a given fact. The writer is balancing the deity of Christ with the humanity of Christ, because understanding that duality is critical to understanding grace. While Jesus is a perfect high priest, and he has indeed passed through the heavens, this is still the same Jesus who was tempted in the desert. It's notable that He was actually tempted. This was not a hypothetical temptation. This was not a staged play. To say that Jesus was tempted in all things, I don't think means that He faced every temptation in a literal sense. It seems more accurate to understand that He was completely tempted. That is, the temptation was full, it was real, it was maximum strength, it was a temptation in all the ways a person could define temptation. Jesus is God, in every way, so it would be foolish to think that Jesus would be unable to sympathize with our weakness if He was not tempted. However, that fact is not really so that Jesus is able, but so that we understand that He understands. We cannot question whether or not Jesus really knows temptation like we do. We cannot entertain doubts about whether or not He really gets how hard our struggles are. Because He does, and because we do know that He does, then we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. Confidence in what? Confidence in knowing that He knows how hard our fight is! Confidence that He knows what it takes to persevere and overcome! We are given the grace and mercy, because of what Jesus did on the cross and in the grave. We are given confidence because of what Jesus endured in the wilderness while fasting, in Gethsemane while praying, and in the Praetorium while suffering.
A) There can be no doubt about my faith. The more I read and understand Jesus, the more I understand His character and His love, the more I am able to hold fast to the confession of my faith. Reading this passage fills me with such gratitude and joy, that my only response could be humble thanksgiving, prayer, and worship. I will draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, whether I need a present mercy because I have sinned, or grace because I am tempted. I need to remember who Jesus is, and focus less on who I am. It must be less of me and more of Him.
P) Father, thank You so much, Lord. I could never fully understand the grace at work in my life, in the faith I have that was authored so long ago in Christ. I will never fully see how much You have done to bring me to this place, right here and now, in my relationship with You. Even so, every time I glimpse a little more, every time I get a slightly bigger perspective on what You have done, on what Jesus has done, I am so filled with awe and thanksgiving, God. You truly are, in every way, good. Thank You for the grace and mercy that are mine in Christ. Thank You for the confidence I have, because of the temptation of Jesus. Thank You for the promises I have, sealed with the Holy Spirit. I pray You are honored and glorified in my life, in every way possible. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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