He comes to my aid
This month I started reading through Hebrews. This morning I read through the end of Hebrews chapter 2 and I just couldn't get enough of it. In this Lenten season, and just in this season of my life in general, I've been thinking a lot about the sacrifice of Jesus and what that means to me. I am restless. Much like what I said in my post yesterday, I desire to see Jesus move mightily in my life. I want a deeper understanding of what He's done for me and I want to live my life in willful obedience to Him in response to what He's done for me. As I read through Hebrews 2:9-18 this morning I was so overwhelmed by the sacrifice of Jesus.
“But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those we are sanctified are all from one Father, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM THY NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING THY PRAISE,” and again, “BEHOLD, KI AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”
Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, taht through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and mighty deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
For assuredly He does not give help to angels but He gives help to the decendants of Abraham.
Therefore He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
THIS PASSAGE. So much richness here. A few things really stuck out to me this morning. First, I was blown away by the reminder of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. "...by the grace of God that He might taste death for everyone." Jesus tasted a death for me that I will never have to experience. I will never ever never have to experience the wrath of God like Jesus experienced on the cross. Something that God is really impressing upon my heart is that even though the physical beatings and death of Jesus was brutal and ugly and painful, Jesus experiencing the full wrath of God and separation from Him was so much bigger. My sin, our sin, brought the WRATH OF GOD upon Jesus. The full wrath of God that I completely deserved, was poured out on Jesus. This reminds of of Isaiah 53:10 that says "But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief..." It PLEASED the Father to crush the Son. This was God's plan all along. THIS IS REDEMPTION. The Father's great love for us is displayed all throughout the Old Testament as every single word points the coming of Jesus. Every story, every person, was working to bring about the greatest redemption story. Even the stories that show the depravity of humanity- Pharaoh keeping the Israelites enslaved or Joseph being sold by his brothers- shows the ultimate sovereignty of God. He used imperfect people to write the story of our perfect Savior. Oh, what grace. In the gap between the depths of my depravity and the heights of His sacrifice is an ocean of grace. Grace upon amazing grace. GRACE UPON AMAZING GRACE. It is because of the love of the Father and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus that I can be in over my head in this ocean of grace. His grace bridges the gap between my sinfulness and His greatness. The father lovedPraise you, Father, for your pursuit of us.
As I was getting into my quiet time this morning I was texting with my friend Megan and she was just encouraging me in some of my struggles. I talked with her about how I was a little bit frustrated with struggling. I WANT SOMETHING TO BE EASY. As I was talking with her, I read through this passage. By time time I was reading the last two verses, I had tears in my eyes.
JESUS KNOWS. He knows every single temptation I feel. And He comes to my aid. His humanity was of upmost importance. His humanity makes Him the perfect High Priest who reconciles us to God. He knows me, He understands me, He has compassion for me. As I read those last two verses I was immediately convicted. I should seek to be like Jesus. I should use my own painful circumstances and seasons to give me compassion for others. I should come to the aid of those who are struggling. I should listen, I should love, I should ultimately point to Jesus as the only one who can heal our broken hearts. I want to use these painful seasons of my life to point to help build compassion in my heart and love like Jesus.
Today, let's praise the Father for sending His Son to be the ultimate sacrifice. Hallelujah that we do not have to taste death! Wherever you're struggling today, know that the grace of Jesus covers. "If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking." He knows you. He knows your heart. He gets your pain. He knows every single aspect of every single struggle. Let's run hard after His heart.