Posted on 12/07/2021 6:39:46 AM PST by rebuildus
I must confess that I have often doubted that Jesus could somehow relate to us.
I mean–with my “descent into Hell” as I’ve described–how could he relate to THAT?
…Of course, he did descend into Hell, didn’t he? So he certainly knows what Hell is like!
But more to the point, Jesus did not sin, so how could he relate to the sinner?
All this has been on my mind for some time. A few days ago, I was reading the Bible and saw the passage where–on the night of his betrayal–Jesus took his disciples to the garden so that he could pray.
Can you imagine what he must have been feeling, knowing his imminent fate, with all of the immense suffering that would entail?
“Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”
Matthew 26:38 (King James Version) “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death…”
Consider that. Therefore, it’s tough to think that Jesus did not feel what it was like to be a human being.
The next passage lets us know that he had the same fear of imminent torture and death that we would have, and the same desire to avoid it if at all possible…
“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Matthew 26:39 (KJV) Yet, through all of this anguish, Jesus still realized that if necessary, “Thy will be done.” This applies to us too.
After praying, Jesus walked back to his disciples, found them asleep, and asked them why they couldn’t stay awake with him for one hour. But it’s what he said after that that caught my attention as I was reading the passage…
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 (KJV) …Except I was reading a different translation–one that I like quite a bit, The New Jerusalem Bible, Standard Edition. (Note: I’m providing this link for your convenience–I make no money from it. I really like this translation–it is easy to read, yet purportedly accurate. It also contains the “apocrypha” books, which I find quite enlightening. They are included in Catholic versions of the Bible).
So reading the above passage in the NJB version, it says…
“…the spirit is willing enough, but human nature is weak.”
It’s really the same thing, isn’t it? (“the flesh” and “human nature”)
But there’s something about the term “human nature” that hit me–Jesus came to the earth, born of a woman, in human form. He experienced life as we do! He was subject to the same temptations as we are, though it was his mission and destiny to overcome these temptations for our sake.
Jesus was and is the son of God, yet when he was on this earth, he referred to himself as the son of man!
He was–and is–relatable.
Heroes When we watch a good movie, it usually features a hero who we can relate to, and yet who overcomes. This is what Jesus did for us.
I don’t pretend to know the depths of his mission and purpose. But I do know that he is the only mediator between ourselves and God. It is hard to relate to God, in a way, because He did not go through what we go through. He did not suffer like we suffer. Jesus did.
Jesus understands us and can advocate on our behalf, perhaps like a good attorney! (But one with a heart 🙂 )
The biggest mistake of my life (as I’ve chronicled on this blog) was allowing another man–not Jesus–to be my advocate between myself and my Father. This is the same mistake almost everybody makes.
No one can–or should attempt to–take Jesus’ place as our advocate. Great suffering will ensue.
“Why have You forsaken me?” In the final moments of Jesus’ life here on earth, after agonizing on the cross for hours in undoubtedly excruciating pain, he cried out to his Father…
“…Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46 (KJV) In other words, Jesus felt ALONE–just like we all have. I believe that this was necessary so that he would understand EXACTLY what it is like to be us. I now believe that–while he lived on this earth–Jesus fully understood what it was like to be one of us.
Marching orders What did Jesus instruct his disciples to DO once he left this earth?
This is known as the “Great Commission”… (Matthew 28:19-20)
#1: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (i.e.: Love and help others).
#2: Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. I don’t fully understand baptism–except that I know it has at much more to do with cleansing our spirit as it does cleaning our bodies.
#3. Teaching them to observe ALL things (no “cherry picking” of scriptures) whatsoever I have commanded you.
#4. And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
This last part (#4) should bring us the most comfort of all. Jesus–our advocate–has promised to be with us until the end of the world. Just as his Father seemed to have pulled away from his son while he was on the cross–yet He never truly left him.
Jesus will never pull away from those who believe in him, even if we do not always feel his presence.
Patrick Rooney is the Founder of OldSchoolUs.com. He communicates clearly and fearlessly during perilous times about natural health, success, and freedom. To reach Patrick, email him at info@oldschoolus.com.
Jesus is YOU.
Jesus is ME.
Jesus is US.
He was heard to ask, on the cross, why God had forsaken him. That sounds just like a sin of despair. So I guess Jesus passed the human test right there.
What I’d like to know is why God, having been disappointed by Adam, did not subsequently make everyone else as good as Jesus. There’d have been only two people in need of salvation and that would’ve been the end of it.
“ Hebrews 2:16–17: For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect”
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make His way home
Like a holly Rolling Stone
Back up to Heaven all alone
Just trying to make His way home
Nobody callin’ on the phone
‘Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome
Imagine for a moment being an all knowing fully omniscient entity.
You know the outcome of every singe event in advance. You are never surprised, never amazed, never caught off guard by the punchline of a joke, or a plot twist in a movie.
Sounds pretty boring.
What is the signature difference between Man and a host of Angels?
We have free will. We do that most precious of all things. We do the unexpected.
Jesus was quoting Psalm 22
1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.[b]
3
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.[c]
4
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5
To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6
But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9
Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10
From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12
Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13
Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15
My mouth[d] is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16
Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce[e] my hands and my feet.
17
All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18
They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
19
But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20
Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21
Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22
I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23
You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24
For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you[f] I will fulfill my vows.
26
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27
All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28
for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.
29
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31
They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Maybe you already believe what follows and I misunderstood your question/statement but I believe that’s what God is doing right now through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. If we come to God in repentance, accept the shed blood of his son to pay our sin debt, he will forgive us. At the same time he gives us his Holy Spirit to indwell us and to lead us into all righteousness. The right standing that Jesus has with the Father is imputed to us, i.e., God gives us the righteousness of his son. He declares us righteous positionally and then sets about to make us righteous experientially in our everyday life. That’s called sanctification. It’s a process and a relationship. It’s not easy. That’s why many drop out and don’t continue. We become love slaves to the Master. Our lives should be surrendered to his will - whatever that will may be. We are bought with a price and we are not our own any longer. We belong to him now. We will fall into sin occasionally but it should no longer be a lifestyle as before. Others will see the change and take note, being drawn or repulsed. We will be the sweet aroma of Christ to those who are coming to faith or the smell of death to those who reject God’s Son.
What if we were one of Jesus’.
That’s all very well but does not address my concerns at all. I put it as plainly as I could. However, I realize no one can answer the implicit question and I don’t expect it. Have a blessed day!
I understand. The choice of a quote, particularly when one is dying, is of special significance. I am thankful nobody edited out such evidence of the humanity of Jesus.
You can’t be good without consciously and deliberately rejecting evil, which requires free will. If you have no choice but to do good, it isn’t good. It’s only animal instinct at best. Likewise, we can’t even define good without a knowledge of evil. Preserving man’s free will to choose between good and evil was the highest purpose of our creation as God will force no man to heaven.
God owns us. He always has, and always will.
He made us, therefore He owns us.
I have often wondered what Jesus thoughts were as He was sacrificing Himself for us.
I don’t try to relate to God or Jesus- I can’t, how is that even possible?
We live by God’s Commandments and Jesus’ teachings. I try to do that, but being a sinner, all I can do is try harder every day and not repeat past mistakes.
Well, nothing is unexpected by the Lord, and yet I don’t think he’d be bored if everyone were Jesus-level good.
As to free will, the angels have it, obviously. Jesus had it, and plainly referred to it just before his arrest. Mary had it, consenting to God’s plan before the angel who visited her.
Clearly free will is not the reason God didn’t roll out an improved model after Adam fell.
With the mind He gave me, I’d love to know the reason. :)
See post 15. Jesus had free will, as did Mary, as do angels. They’re not robots.
I purposely did not raise the issue as a direct question. There is no answer or we’d have found it by now.
Faith is essential.
Post 15.
Hardly an expert, so I cannot support my view with scripture. But my belief is that if we are made in His image, and we feel sorrow and suffering, there must be some value to those experiences that cannot be obtained otherwise.
I think about what we learn from those feelings, and it is primarily how we develop compassion for the suffering of others. Could we have been created with compassion and empathy from the outset? Perhaps, but emotional pain is so often connected with our love for others that the process itself deepens the feeling. As with metals that undergo a physical change as the result of extreme heat, we are changed as people after we have gone through grief and sorrow.
And it is our own sinfulness that opens our heart to the forgiveness of others. I guess the point could be made that if there were no sin, there would not be a need to forgive others. But then, there would be no opportunity for us to feel the joy of when we are forgiven.
Surprised it took 5 posts.
Well said. I merely wonder why we flawed and easily tempted people were created in the first place. It’s not like the Creator was stuck with us and couldn’t make numerous better people who wouldn’t blow up the engine with the free will He gave them.
There’s an explanation in Heaven, but none here.
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