“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession—for we have not a High Priest Who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:14-15
Because of what He went through, we need never wonder if He understands.
“In all points tempted like as we are.”
Those are the words that reach out and grab us in today’s Manna—for they remind us that the things we’re going through are “common to man” (I Cor. 10:13a), i.e., “not unique to us.” And, we should remember the real meaning of the Greek word “peirazo” used here for “tempted” is “to test, scrutinize, assay, examine, prove, etc.”
Simply put, it’s talking about our “fiery furnace” experiences.
Like the three Hebrew teenagers thrown into Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace, heated seven times hotter than normal (Dan. 3:19), we discover “there’s a Fourth One in the flames liken unto the Son of God” (v.25). Hallelujah!!
And, we should particularly remember our Companion in our difficulties isn’t just any ‘ole fellow-struggler.
He’s our “great High Priest Who has passed into the heavens. . .Jesus, the Son of God. . . Who’s been through everything we’ve been through or will ever go through. . .and still emerged without sin.” Glory!!
Think of it:
This One Who endured more suffering than we will ever know even now intercedes for us at the right Hand of the Heavenly Father (Heb. 7:24-25; 12:2c). No ordinary priest is He; instead, He is God’s own, Handpicked High Priest Who both offered and became the Final Sacrifice for our sins. And, instead of remaining aloof from the likes of us, He became “one of us so we could become one of His” (Heb. 2:10-11).
Even now the only One qualified to indict us is interceding for us (Rom. 8:33-34). He knows our weaknesses. He knows our “frailty of flesh and feebleness of faith.” He knows our propensity for waywardness and “Three Achilles’ Tendons” spiritually (I Jn. 2:16) that continually war within and against us.
Yet, instead of condemning us, He comes alongside of us through His Holy Spirit to “convict us of sin, the need of righteousness and judgment to come,” while also “guiding us into all Truth and comforting us in our hour of need” (Jn. 14:16-18, 26; 16:8-11, 13).
Even though He has “passed into the heavens into the celestial Holy of Holies not made with hands” (Heb. 9:11), He still is “a very present Help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). During our times of doubt and discouragement, He is there. During those hours when darkness and despair are threatening to overtake us, He comes to us as “the Light of the world in Whom there is no darkness at all” (Jn. 1:4-5, 9; I Jn. 1:5). Why not pause and give thanks right now?
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated January 23, 2011
