Hebrews 4 says that we have a high priest who sympathizes with us in our weakness because He has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet He did not sin. And then it says, therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace. But we often get this almost exactly backwards. We think because Christ is perfect and sinless, we cannot draw near to Him, and we think He cannot possibly understand our situation since He never committed the sins we have committed. But the text says exactly the opposite. It says that because He did not sin, He can sympathize with us. There are some things you understand better from the outside.
Think about the panic that can set in if you get a cramp or get disoriented in deep water. The panic can lead to drowning. But someone outside the water can see where you are and where you need to go; they can give you good instructions and save you. This applies to Christ and to good friends. Sometimes, we think the best counselor or friend is someone who is in the same trouble we are in. Of course there can be some help in that, but frequently that’s like wishing there was someone else out in the water with you just as lost and scared. There’s no guarantee that a second person who is lost and scared will help. What you want is someone who is not your situation who can help.
So this is the good news of our sinless Christ. He understands your situation perfectly because He has not fallen in. So above all of the voices, all the shouting, all the panic, listen to the voice of Jesus. Drawn near to Him with confidence because in Him you will always find mercy and grace to help in your time of need. Are you in need? Then come.
Come and welcome to Jesus Christ.
Photo by Janosch Diggelmann on Unsplash
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