2003-03-30 - Passages Related to Jesus' Ability to Understand Us

Sometimes we have the feeling that Christ can't really understand our pain, our desires, our fears, our temptations. But that is bad theology. Today we will read passages related to the fact that Christ not only empathizes with us, but He shared many of our own emotions and experienced similar temptations.

John 11:32-35 (NRSV) When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

Matthew 26:36-39 (NRSV) Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples: "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me."  And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want, but what you want."

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NRSV) Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mark 4:1-13 (NRSV) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, One does not live by bread alone. "Then the devil led him up and showed him, in an instant, all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. " Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you, and On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. " Jesus answered him, "It is said, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. " When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Jan

 jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org