Hey I Know that Guy, Can I Sit Here?
14 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. 15 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. 16 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.
Years ago I flew a couple of times a year for various trips. No matter where I went, one of my favorite parts of the trip was just after the second-to-last flight home. You’d either be in Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago, or Atlanta and surrounded by huge planes and crowds. Then you’d go down some tiny hallway to the little planes where you’d meet up with 50ish people that were all flying to Evansville.
Chances were high that you’d know one of them.
It would probably be the guy your cousin played basketball with or some old neighbor’s girlfriend’s mom that you talked to once while mowing the grass, but sometimes it would be a friend. That 65-minute puddle-jump of a flight would be full of catching up (that was our Facebook) and then you’d be happier than ever to arrive in Evansville.
When we are tempted to sin, we might feel a lot like Adam in the garden of Eden.
“I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
We feel the shame and embarrassment of sin and the devil uses that as a lever. Not only do we feel bad because we sinned, but when we think of God we feel even worse! Not only was my sin bad, but I’m bad! Not only do I feel bad for feeling tempted, but suddenly all the guilt of the last 90 times I gave into that temptation piles on me. What a jerk face I am!
And Jesus looks across terminal 53 B in Atlanta and says, “Hey! Did you play basketball for Harrison in the early 90s?” or “Did you used to live on Monroe by that church?”
And suddenly we’re best friends.
The High Priest is the one that goes between God and humankind to intercede and make sure everything is right. We don’t have to feel any embarrassment about talking to our High Priest Jesus because He knows every temptation we’ve experienced. He doesn’t just know it like He read our diaries – He has experienced it.
He gives us grace and mercy
Every
Single
Time
We need it.
So we never need to be afraid or ashamed to call to Him for help. No matter what it is. No matter how far into the act we’ve traveled. We can draw near to Him with confidence on that flight to Heavensville because He knows us.
–
You can get the Daily Bible Readings to your inbox via email every day by subscribing on our home page. Join the discussion on Facebook or Twitter.