He’s Been There

Jesus was fully man but was also fully God. He was not a man who became God, which is impossible. He was God who walked among us as a man.

Romans 8:3 tells us, “So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins” (NLT).

Although Jesus was flesh and blood, He didn’t have the drawback of original sin. He had no sin whatsoever. Therefore, He went from faith to faith, from grace to grace, and from strength to strength. He grew up physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Luke’s gospel says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (2:52 NLT). He had human emotions. He knew joy, deep sorrow, and even loneliness. In fact, on the cross, when He bore the sins of the world, He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” You can be sure that at that time, He was the loneliest man who had ever lived.

The writer of Hebrews said of Jesus, “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people” (2:17 NLT).

When you’re going through some form of hardship, isn’t it great to talk with someone who has already gone through the same thing? On the other hand, how shallow it is when we’re going through a difficult time and someone who knows nothing of what we’re experiencing says, “I know how you feel.”

Jesus has really been where we are now. Our God knows what we’re going through.