Hebrews 4:14-16 –Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Before Jesus came along “high priest” was just a role that someone filled. If you needed an answer, you made your way to the person in the role and asked your question. If this high priest was otherwise occupied, you just had to wait. However, Jesus took this system and changed everything. As the great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus became available for everyone, everywhere, all the time. Jesus is fundamentally different from the people who came before who just did their best to fill a job.
This truth binds Christians together to a unified belief in OUR confession: that Jesus came to sacrifice himself on the cross so that we may know eternal life. To do this, he took on flesh, he became a human just like us. He knew God’s perfect plan and had perfect faith, but he also had to live with all the struggle of having a human body that we have today. Jesus got thirsty. Jesus got tired. There were times when Jesus felt impatient. There were times that Jesus ate something, and it hurt his tummy. In Matthew 4 you can read about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness, being offered the whole world, and turning it down because fulfilling his purpose was more important.
Jesus knows what it’s like to be in your shoes. He can sympathize and understand the troubles and questions that you bring to him. And though his perfect love never fails, he can be with us when we do. Jesus is always there waiting for us to turn to him. No matter how many times we mess up, or give in to temptation, or have a moment of weakness he is there to encourage us.
“Hey there champ, that’s a pretty nasty spill you took there. I know it hurts now, but let’s get you dusted off and try again.” Even when you feel far away, he loves you completely. Sometimes we just need to accept his grace and mercy.