This has been a long and arduous journey through the Word and the life of the Christ. Conviction of my own shortcomings happened with every look at the trials and temptations of our Savior: My response and maybe yours compared to the response of Jesus in His humanity was a lesson in humility. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15b)
He is the living proof that “the measure of trial you have endured directly relates to the measure of HOPE you will offer.” (emphasis mine) Jesus “ Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:7-8)
Jesus cried real tears, prayed without changing the mind of God, had fears, and hurt, but HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE like we must.
Jesus Himself knows “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (I Corinthians 10:13)
“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8)
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ” But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Because He chose to come to earth as a man, He took on flesh and walked our same dusty road where the future trials always loomed on the horizon. He too faced the prosecutor: Satan. This enemy’s “work isn’t ultimately to tempt you, but to try you. Try your past, to try your perseverance in believing you’re worth anything, to try your patience with yourself and your whole bent-up world.
If you let Satan prosecute you, you will ultimately imprison yourself.” (Ann Voskamp, The Broken Way, pg 145-146) In other words, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “It is only because He became like us that we can become like Him.”
Karly asked the question “What’s Your Purpose?” I ask, “Why am I here?” Jesus asked the same questions because “He has been tempted in all points like as we are!” He learned far earlier than we the answer. He learned His purpose among us was this: He was “Here to just be alive: To see it, hear it, feel it,…….ALL of it……….even when it hurts,” (quote from The Young Messiah) and then “He gave His life a ransom for many!” (Matthew 20:28)
Now, “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:15a) He has experienced all of it, even and especially, the pain, the hurt, the sorrow, the challenges, the losses, the frustration, the chains, and the fear! This is why He was chosen to be the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) He alone is worthy! I stand in awe, I barak or kneel in thanksgiving.
When Loves Sees You Mac Powell
