Sympathy
Last night (January 24th, 2010) I had a strange feeling overcome me. The kind of sensation one may feel in dreams, but never knew would truly be felt. It was 3rd & 10, with less than a minute to go in the 4th quarter, of the NFC championship game. The Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre dropped back to pass, rolled to his and right AAAND…threw an interception. Favre’s interception pushed the game into overtime where the Vikings ended up losing to the Saints (divine intervention maybe j/k). Here’s where the strange feeling came into play. If you know me, you know I am HUGE Packer fan. Being a Packer fan automatically means I have a great distaste for the Vikings and hate seeing them win. Yet, as Favre threw the interception, I realized that I can sympathize with Viking fans. As a Packer fan I too have watched Favre throw an interception at the end of a championship game which the Packers ultimately lost. I too have felt excitement build up, only to have it ripped away and replaced with sorrow after a poor choice by Favre.
Although some may think that nothing Christian can be taken from a NFL game, I was immediately hit with Hebrews 4:15-16.
Hebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The book of Hebrews is a work of art. I am not just saying that because Hebrews is in the Bible either. The author of Hebrews masterfully takes Old Testament Scriptures and themes and reveals to us how Christ fulfills the Law, and provides for the elect a “better covenant.” In the preceding passage, one major and unique truth is professed and should be a great comfort to Christians.
All Christians struggle with the very present reality of sin. Whether the struggle is with our personal temptations, or the ramifications of sin (death, depression, poverty, etc) every Christian is or should be aware of the fallen state of the world. In verse 15 the author of Hebrews (speaking about Jesus) informs his listeners that they “do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” Here is where we can take hope!
In the Old Testament sacrificial system we notice that before corporate sacrifices, the priests would have to offer a sacrifice to atone for their own sins. If we were able to go back in time and be present at an Old Testament ceremony we would have seen the priest offer his personal sacrifice and would understand that he can sympathize with us. So even though the priest’s ministry was to be a mediator between man and God, he was still affected by sin. In Hebrews 4:15 we see that Jesus is our priest and therefore works as our mediator with God.
Jesus humbled Himself, came to earth (read previous blog “Immanuel God with us”), and was “tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” Did you read the end of verse 15?!? Jesus was without sin! So what does this mean to us? This means that Jesus does not only sympathize with our temptations, but is able to perfectly mediate man to God. Jesus’ sinless perfection fulfills the law and means he has instant access to God the Father. Since Jesus is our priest he is how we obtain access to the Father and can confidently enter into His presence.
Two things that we NEED to take from the verses above.
1. Anything, I repeat, ANYTHING that we are struggling with, Jesus can sympathize with. Even though we were his enemies (kind of like how Packer fans and Viking fans are enemies; Romans 5:10) he chose to come and experience every form of temptation in order that he may be a sympathetic high priest.
2. Our access to God is not based on our ability to avoid a particular form of sin, but is based on Christ’s sinless life and perfect sacrifice on the cross.
Please brothers and sisters, do not read this blog and then still believe the lie that your relationship with God is based off of your performance. Our access to God is based solely on the finished work of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and verified in His resurrection. Take heart in knowing that Jesus chose to sympathize with us (not angels or animals) and, He is not ashamed to call us brothers (Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.).
This entry was posted on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 4:41 pm and is filed under Theology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
