Hebrews 2:17&18 – 17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Christ was robed in flesh as he walked this earth for some 33 years. Not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of those that would receive the adoption of sonship and become his brethren. We know that the Bible says that he bore all our sins and that he was tempted in all points like we are, yet he was without sin. He overcame the lure of sin, denied the charms of temptation. Hallelujah!
We love to shout about how Christ hath born our sins and paid the debt we could not, and in honesty we do not shout his praises enough. But have we ever stopped to ask why Christ bore the stripes that healed us and overcame the temptations to sin that do so easily beset us? The answer is found in verses 17 & 18. He was fashioned as a man and bore in his body the marks, shame and punishment of the cross so that we could be reconciled to God and become as Christ, joint heirs; and, He suffered all temptation so that he might faithfully and mercifully minister to his newly birthed brethren having known their all manner of their temptations while never succumbing to those temptations. That word succour means: to aid; to help; and to provide assistance that delivers from difficulty or distress. Christ suffered all the pains and temptations of human life so that He could provide the help to deliver YOU from difficult and distressing moments of your life.
Christ knows what it is to have his very body fail Him. Look at the Garden of Gethsemane where his body was imploding from the spiritual warfare he waged for us. Think of all the havoc that inflicted upon him as he was scourged for our sins … then realize that he bore our cross 2 miles uphill AFTER being beaten beyond any resemblance of a human. You think that the Lord cannot succour you through bank pain, failing joints or migraines? He overcame much worse and still fulfilled the will of the Father, all so that he could help you do the same.
Christ knew every heartache and emotional pain. He was betrayed and forsaken by all save the Apostle John and a small group of women as He hung on the cross. He knew the death of friends and he was aquatinted with grief. He also experiences something we can not know, the pain of coming to a world to redeem man only to have those men reject God to the face. Do you not suppose that He, too, and deliver the aid that you need to overcome the pains of your heart? The temptation to quit. The attacks of depression that suck at us like a vacuum. The persistent inner struggle that says we cannot succeed or will never overcome. The ridicule of others. The loneliness of being totally forsaken by everyone and everything in both Heaven and Earth. The avalanche of questions that terrifies us because we do not know how, when or why. Christ overcame it all, to deliver you from the very same struggles that he conquered.
I wonder how often we seek deliverance from our sins and temptations from the only person to ever be undefeated by them. How often do we turn to others, the intellect of the world or to a pill bottle instead of looking towards our great High Priest? His grace is sufficient for us and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Your fellowservant in Christ, Bro. Jordan Foster
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