10.29.02

…Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. - Hebrews 2:9.

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood. He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like his brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. - Hebrews 2:14-18.

My Dad and I were not very close when I was growing up. I think this was because my Dad was so busy trying to make a living. My Dad farmed but most of the time he was farming, he worked a full-time job to support his farming. As the years have passed, I have grown closer to my father because I’ve realized going through the milestones of life that he had already experienced what I was experiencing.

After I was married, I found a new respect for my father because he had kept his marriage together even when it would have been easier to walk away. I began to remember that after the honeymoon was over in my marriage. When our youngest son was born with Downs Syndrome, we made some difficult choices. It was then that I remembered that my father and mother had made a difficult choice after my sister was born. Before I could be born my mother had to have surgery to make my birth possible. Understanding that my father had been through many of the circumstances of life that I have faced has created a bond and brought love to our relationship. I now understand that one of the reasons he worked so hard when I was a child was because he loved me and wanted life to be better for me than it was for him. I found that if I need help I can always count on him to help because he loves me.

As I’ve walked with my Lord Jesus, I found in much the same way as I did with my father that Jesus has been there and knows exactly what I am going through. He knows what it is like to be a human being living on Planet Earth because He has been here too. Jesus knows what it is like to be sad. He knows what it is like to experience pain. He knows what it like to be tempted and to endure those temptations. Jesus knows what it is like to be persecuted and to suffer an unjust death.

Because Jesus has shared in the tribulations of being “flesh and blood” we know that He understands whatever we are going through because in some way He has been there. Knowing that Jesus went through all that He did because He loves us gives us the confidence to turn to Him when we are hurting and in need of help.

Whatever you may be going through remember that Jesus loves you and is ready, willing, and able to help you. Jesus demonstrated all of that some two thousand years ago when He came down from the glories of Heaven to walk among us.