Jesus Sympathizes

Jesus Sympathizes Heb 4:14-16 Preached ACCC 5/23/21

Jesus cares/understands and wants us to know that.

Jesus cries/feels our pain and hurts with us.

Jesus comforts us, encourages, and helps.

We should sympathize with our brothers and sisters.

Jesus cares/understands and wants us to know that.

Good morning everyone!

Are you ever tempted to believe that God has abandoned you? Or maybe that God is with you, but doesn't understand what you've gone through? That He is uncaring and unfeeling? Does it seem that you have prayed and asked God for help or for answers, only to find silence and suffering? Do you ever feel like you are tempted beyond what you can resist?

Our key text today comes from Hebrews 4:14-16, which reads,

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The New International Version. (2011). (Heb 4:14–16). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

You might be thinking, “Yeah, but Jesus is God. He can’t know what I’m really going through.” But let me remind you that only two chapters previous, the author of Hebrews wrote in Heb 2:17-18,

17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

The New International Version. (2011). (Heb 2:17–18). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

You are not alone. In fact, you are in good company with folks like:

Biblical characters who struggled with God’s action/inaction and timing:

Sarah vs. Hannah vs. Mary regarding miraculous births.

Sarah:

Abraham was 75 and Sarah 65 when God promised them descendants. They had to wait 25 years for the promise. Sarah got ancy and anxious waiting on God, so she took matters in her own hands.

5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. But he was promised a son at

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 21:5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

decided to take it into her own hands. She gives Abram her maid to sleep with who gets pregnant and looks down on her. So Sarah starts mistreating her and Hagar wants to run off. But that’s when God speaks to Hagar.

Hagar

Not a supernatural birth, but I have to mention her because of what God says to her after Sarah starts mistreating her.

13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Gen 16:8, 13)

Hannah:

1 Sam 1:10-11. Decided to keep crying out to God and then dedicate whatever blessing came to God.

A late answer to prayer is about timing, not about care. Just because God does not answer your prayer and you are in pain does not mean He is indifferent. He has a plan and His own timing. He cares!

Mary was given a difficult scenario and her response is a great example to us.

Mary:

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 1:38). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Job encountered great suffering, but it prepared him for greater blessing.

* Joseph was promised the palace, but first got the pit and the prison.

Sometimes the vision God gives us is delayed so that He can craft us into the kind of person who can handle the weight of the new vision.

2. Jesus cries/feels our pain and hurts with us.

* Mary and Martha loved Jesus and knew that He loved them, but couldn’t understand why He would let Lazarus die or would show up too late for a healing (Jn 11:21). In this instance, Jesus actually shares what the Father was up to with His disciples, but they still don’t get it (Jn 11:11-16). Jesus intentionally waits too late so that Lazarus would die and it would show the glory of God in the situation. But Mary doesn’t know that. She just knows that Jesus could do something, but didn’t (Jn 11:32). But look at what it says about Jesus in verse Jn 11:33-36.

I love those words, “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” and “Jesus wept”.

He knows what you are going through.

Things are not always as they seem.

* For Harry Potter fans, remember that Snape’s love for Harry is only understood at the end. Only then can you understand any of his decisions, excruciating decisions.

* For Lord of the Rings fans, it is not the destination that makes sense of it, it is the journey. They had several destinations that were delayed or abandoned because of obstacles. Only looking at the story as a journey, does it make sense. The obstacles brought them all closer together. Frodo was never abandoned and hopeless.

* For Anne of Green Gables fans, Anne has to experience suffering and loss to appreciate Gilbert’s love and patience.

* For Hunter X Hunter fans, Gon does not realize that the volleyball keep away game was preparing Gon for a much greater test in the future. It seemed to be only a random game. Gon’s partner, Killua quit, because it seemed hopeless and pointless.

* For Star Trek fans, the Kobayashi Maru is a test for starship captains to take. There are no winning scenarios. It is meant to discern the character of the applicants. However, the applicants do not know this. They just assume that they have failed miserably.

For many of us, we are the angry and frustrated Harrys, Gimlis, Annes, Killuas, and James T. Kirk’s that have everything that they need and want in their company, but cannot see it or appreciate it, because we do not have all of the information. We do not know what we do not know.

Whether you have already faced suffering, are in a season of needing to trust, if it seems that God is silent, you need to know that God is good and Jesus understands what you are going through.

3. Jesus comforts us, encourages, and helps.

When we choose to sin, it is a perversion of a legitimate need.

Sexual sin is frequently an illegitimate perversion of the need for intimacy.

Painful experiences can pull us towards food or other substances if we do not seek the comfort that comes from friendship, prayer, and communion with God.

Bitterness is a sense of betrayed justice. We know when we have been wronged and that is a good thing meant to protect us and reflect God in our understandings of right and wrong. We want to feel that we can trust, but when that is betrayed, instead of talking it out with God and others and receiving consolation there, we want vengeance and it brews into unforgiveness and bitterness which can grow into hate and malice.

We all have a desire to be liked and valued, but when that desire outweighs the desire to honor God, we may be tempted to bend the truth, exaggerate, or even recant our supposed deeply held beliefs about God and morality.

When we are tempted, Jesus does not condone, but He does comfort and encourage. He gives us a way of escape and encourages us that we can escape.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus knew what it was like to suffer pain and hunger, betrayal and conspiracy, suffering and humiliation. Isa 53:3 states that He was,

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4. We should sympathize with our brothers and sisters.

Galatians 6:1–2 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Some of the most powerful words in language are, “Me too.” Our struggles are frequently so very similar. And much of the grace and mercy that God wants to bestow comes through prayer and confession with another believer.

Don’t struggle alone, don’t be tempted alone, don’t be in grief alone. That makes you so very vulnerable to the enemy (1 Peter 5:8).

We are the Body of Christ, the hands and feet and mouths of Jesus (1 Cor 12:13).

Stop thinking about God as being far away, or just untouchable or uninterested. Think of God through the filter of Jesus.

Receive His mercy and grace today in prayer and through the ministry of others.

Text someone right now and say, “Can we talk this week?”

Additional Thoughts/Scriptures:

2K He really understands and is really a comfort to us when we really trust Him.

Quote from Mothman Prophecies. You’re more complex than a cockroach, but have you ever tried explaining yourself to one?

2D Stop thinking about God as being far away, or just untouchable or uninterested. Think of God through the filter of Jesus. Receive His mercy and grace today in prayer and through the ministry of others. Text someone right now and say, “Can we talk this week?”

Ps 34:17-19, 34:1, 34:4-5,

4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.

He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

no shadow of shame will darken their faces.1

1 Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ps 34:4–5). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

4  GOD met me more than halfway,

he freed me from my anxious fears.

5  Look at him; give him your warmest smile.

Never hide your feelings from him.1

1 Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Ps 34:4–5). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.In leiu of that, let's read from Mk 15:12–39

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

The New International Version. (2011). (Mk 15:12–39). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The New International Version. (2011). (Heb 4:14–16). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

The New International Version. (2011). (Heb 2:17–18). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.