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Oh the Humanity!

So we've all heard the songs and sermons about how Jesus understands us because he was God AND HUMAN. But do we really stop and think about the second part of that? Sure we really focus on the fact that he is God (which he is) and that he lived a sinless life (which he did), but sometimes I think by not talking about the fact that he was, in fact, human just like you and me (minus the sinning part) we limit our view of him. 

 Let's look at Jesus the man for a moment. The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in EVERY WAY that we are. Not SOME of the ways or MOST of the ways EVERY WAY! 

For we do not have a high preist who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 
Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

The Message says it this way: 
We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin.  Hebrews 4:15 (The Message)
 Jesus has been through the same trials we're going through. He's experienced the same fears, doubts, temptations, but he overcame them. One of the most beautiful things I think about Jesus, for me anyway, is that he understands me 100%  because he's BEEN THERE! He understands how hard it can be to stand up when facing a trial or tempation because he's done it. One of the great things about Jesus is that he not only EXPERIENCED the same things we do, he TRIUMPHED over them. So if anyone can help us overcome things in our lives its him. 

 Another really great thing, is not only does he know what its like to go through something, he knows US. His human side allowed him to go through the human experiences that we all face everyday. But his God side lets him know us and our hearts so much better than we know ourselves. He created our hearts, he was there when they were formed in our mother's womb. He knows our likes, dreams, interests, hobbies, what we dislike, what brings us joy, sadness, what makes us afraid or brave. He knows how we react to things.  He can understand the complexity of my emotions. And he also knows what's coming next. 

 How awesome is that?! I mean Jesus isn't an absent King who sits in a walled palace eating cake and drinking tea all day. He is out among the people talking to them, rolling his sleeves up and working with us. Like the Message translation says he is not "out of touch with our reality". 

 Later on in that same chapter in Hebrews it says:
"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."
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Because Jesus has "been through our weakness and testing, experienced it all---but the sin." we can approach his throne confident that our King understands us. Our every thought, fear, shortcoming, doubt, anxiety, hope, dream, wish, prayer...ALL OF IT! King Jesus gets it. And if you need further encouragement, King Jesus WANTS us to come to him. He loves talking to us and listening to us talk to him. And guess what, there isn't a dress code in his throne room, you don't have to be cleaned up and have everything together to come to him. And his throne room never closes it is open 24/7. 



King Jesus, 
  Sometimes its hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that you faced every single fear, temptation, doubt (etc) that I have faced/am facing/will face. I forget that you understand me better than anyone else in all creation. Please help me never be afraid or intimidated to come to your throne room. No matter what condition I'm in or how late the hour, never let me forget that you understand me and you love me. Your throne room is always open. Thnak you, Jesus, thank you.  I love you Jesus. 

Your Daughter, 

 Princess Andrea :) 
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] 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.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

16-18 It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.
Hebrews 2:16-18 (The Message)


 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.
Psalm 139:13-16 (The Message)

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