Jesus’ Slightly Different “Been There” T-Shirt
Therefore, since 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 cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14–16 NASB Read More
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.
And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.
And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ’Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ” When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Each of Jesus’ temptations were aimed at the core of His identity. Every time the Devil came to Him, he said “If you are _____” and then tempted Him prove His identity.
We have the same temptation every day, don’t we? Depending on the current movement, tone, atmosphere, or event, we try to size up who we are and how to act in that setting. Some of us “Don’t care what anybody thinks.” And even that, in some ways, is a temptation to react differently from the current sway of people.
Jesus was tempted at His two weakest moments. He was tempted at various other times, probably, by His own flesh and person…Like when Peter got called Satan…or when Jesus was so angry at the hard-heartedness of the Pharisees. But the main times He was tempted the most was after a 40 day fast and in a desperate and alone place in the garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus knows our struggles.
Jesus knows what kind of horrible questions we ask ourselves when we’re weakened, tired, alone.
In all of those times, He wants to retell us who we are. Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. That means that even when we wonder and wander from obeying Him, we are still in Him. His death on the cross took away all sin now and forever by one sacrifice, so we can call on a sympathetic helper in out worst time of need. When we feel helpless and defenseless against sin (our own or the world’s) He answers us and says “Shew, I know, right?!”
That is the God we serve. That is the Savior that has saved us. We can draw near to Him boldly and see what kind of new grace He has for us, because every temptation is old repetitive news to Him.
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