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?
Jesus Does The Impossible
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is often taken out of context. Many people have taken this verse to mean that they can do anything they want in life because God can do the impossible. Often this can lead to selfish prayers and a small view of God.
In order to understand what Jesus is saying, we should read the preceding verses. In Matthew 19:16-22, a young man comes to Jesus asking for eternal life. Jesus tells him that he must give up all of his earthly possessions—something the young man is not willing to do. Because he failed the test, the young man failed to inherit eternal life.
Jesus says in Matthew 19:23 that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. The point is that loving Jesus requires everything we are. Our ultimate love cannot be split between Jesus and something else.
The disciples then ask, “Who can be saved?” Jesus responds in Matthew 19:26 that it is impossible for man to save himself—but it is possible with God. God can do the ...