He's Been There
In the book of Hebrews, the writer paints a vivid portrait of Jesus' humanity:
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence” (Hebrews 5:7-8 ESV).
“In the days of His flesh …”
Picture it: Jesus, fully God and fully human in the flesh, intimately connected with human emotion and experience.
Jesus wasn’t a distant deity untouched by the struggles of human existence while on earth. He lived it. He experienced the deepest joys and sorrows of life.
Maybe today, you find yourself in the depths of sadness or in the middle of a difficult trial. Remember, Jesus has been there, too. The writer of Hebrews wrote this to remind you that Christ wept then the same as you do today and to remind you that you are not alone in your pain, sorrow, and suffering.
Your Savior, who walked the same path you do, yet without sin and with great hope, stands ready to carry your burdens.
So today, what if you allow God to hear your raw emotions, doubts, and fears that you’ve been carrying? What if you bring it all to Him? What if, like Jesus, you trust God to save your soul and tell others how to find salvation?
A Bright Light
Think back to Genesis 1—when God created the world. One of the first things He said was “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Just like God created light to shine upon the earth, Jesus came as a light to all mankind.
Jesus says that He is the light of the world. He also points out that light is necessary for finding our way in this world. Jesus is the light that guides men and women into true life.
Jesus is not only the light that illuminates our path in life, but He is also the one who illuminates everything we see. It is by Jesus’ light that we can look at the rest of the world and make judgments on what is right and good.
Light in the Old Testament is often a symbol of judgment, because it is light that exposes the darkness and evil in the hearts of people. Jesus is the true Judge who comes with the authority of God the Father to judge the hearts of men and women (John 8:13-17).
While Jesus is the true Judge of all humanity, those who follow Him and believe in His ...