Hebrews 4:15 is one of the most amazing and almost preposterous statements of all time. Speaking of Jesus it reads, “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.” Sinning and being human are basically synonyms. Yet we have this one spectacular exception. Of all the billions of humans who have breathed earth’s atmosphere there is Jesus of Nazareth, a poor man by human standards. He was 100% human. He was tempted in every way as we are. And He never yielded!!
Therefore unlike us, He never felt remorse. He never had to say, “I’m sorry.” He never had to repent. He never shed tears as He contemplated His behavior. He suffered like us but not for His own failures. Yet, like us there were times when He needed reassurance. At His baptism the Father tells Him how pleased He is with Him. On the Mountain of Transfiguration He is reinforced. Tuesday afternoon prior to the cross the Father once again spoke to Him giving Him the confidence to continue on. He must have, like us, experienced moments of self-doubt.
He was a moral miracle. This is not mentioned in the lists of His miracles. It should be at the top. This is greater than feeding the multitudes or even greater than raising Lazarus from the dead. This Jesus of Nazareth is the only man ever who could have divided history into before and after. Now He says to us, “Come and follow me.” He said, “I am the way.” The way where? Into eternity.
Written by Roger Bothwell on Feb. 5, 2015
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
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