Hebrews 2.17-18 17 For
this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order
that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and
that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself
suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Sometimes a verse or two can be a mouthful – the above is
a perfect example of a mouthful. Our theology needn’t be volumes of
explanations and words; our theology ought to convince us with simple truths
to drive home the point of the magnitude of God’s plan.
For this reason.
The reason is: in order for Jesus to really be who He really was and do what He
really did, He had to be really like us in every way. That is why He is the
God-man.
Now, just because that is a hard concept for some doesn’t
mean it isn’t true, or that Jesus didn’t accomplish the things He came to do.
But to truly be a High Priest, He couldn’t do that as God, but had to do that
as man because the people He came to minister to were people who had human high
priests. It was only the High Priest who could make atonement for the people.
Fully human in
every way. People like to entertain the thought that Jesus had a divine
advantage that isn’t available to them: He
can do it because He is God, but I can’t because I am not. That’s where our
theology needs some adjustment. Jesus was fully human in every way and was tempted just like we are, in every way. If Jesus did anything at all, it was because of His
relationship with the Father. Jesus knew God but had to learn of God at an early
age. If Jesus had any advantage at all, it is the same advantage that is
available to us: relationship with God
and alignment to His ways.
Because He Himself
was tempted. Jesus suffered temptation. Jesus had a human nature. But He
learned He also had a God-nature. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. But
Jesus had human eyes. Jesus was tempted just like we are but used His
relationship with God the Father to fight temptation. Just like we’re supposed to do. Believing that Jesus played the
God-card is not believing in Who He really was. That’s sin. Because Jesus knows
our temptation, He helps us in our temptation. Do we accept His help?
It is hard, on a one page document, to even scratch the
surface of the theology in Hebrews 2.17-18. But simply, it is this: Jesus knows me in every way because He was
like me in every way. The only difference was His relationship with God the
Father and God the Spirit. He knew them, accepted them, and lived in accordance
to their wishes and direction. If you think that wasn’t a battle at times;
think again.
My calling is to live like Jesus. My calling starts again
today. If He lived and served God with all of His might, so should I. If He
suffered temptation and suffered under it, I do too. God was His rescue; God is
to be mine as well. When I accept Jesus as anything other than fully human, I
rob Him of His relationship with the Father, which is fully available to me as well.
Jesus did what He did with the Resources He had: God. That same Resource is
mine, in Him.
Father, may I make
full use of the resource of Your power and presence today, and live as Jesus
lived: wholly and solely dependent upon You - Amen
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