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NASB | Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. |
Bible Question:
Thanks, Robert -- that's the one I was looking for! Something I've been wondering about, though... There are certain weaknesses and needs He couldn't know about, aren't there? What about the feeling of having misjudged somebody, or trying to make a decision? He was betrayed, but He was never blindsided by the betrayal. Or, was His human nature still capable of being surprised by someone? The Bible says several times that He "marveled" at people's unbelief, for example... Any thoughts or insights are welcome! --Cheryl |
Bible Answer: Cheryl: I think we have to remember that Jesus was truly man and truly God. However, we should not try to divide him into two persons, he was the man Christ Jesus a man amongst men. When we think of him as a child who did not suffer any of the restrictions of sin. In a natural sense what an intellect was his. As he grew up in a carpenters shop he would know what it was to learn a trade. Imagine the Creator of the world making a bench out of the trees his hands had made. At a very young age we find him among the doctors and teachers both asking them questions and teaching them. As he grew into manhood, no one noticed a difference in him, because he "made himself of no reputation" Phil 2 It was not until his baptism that the Spirit of God decends and rest upon him and the Father announces "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. This was the public declaration of his earthly ministry. He was immediately tested in the desert and for 40 days went without food and in his weakened state was tested by Satan. This test was not to prove who he was, but simply to show to satan that he had lost the battle, he could not trip up the Son of God. As we watch him in his earthly journey, he had no home of his own "he said the foxes have holes and the birds of the air there nests, but the Son of Man hath nowhere to lie his head" His poverty was show further when they were testing him on whether one should pay taxes, he had to ask "show me a penny". As his earthly ministry increase he knew what it was to be rejected and dispised by his own people, they hated him without a cause. With his disciples and his friends he experienced their joys and sorrows. At the marriage feast he rejoiced with them, at the grace of Lazarus he wept. Within him the cross was always before him, he knew his hour was coming when he would endure suffering never known to man. He experience worship of the people as he rode into the city on what is called palm Sunday, and yet he knew that these same people would soon be "crying crucify him, crucify him". He knew that even within his own 12, that one who was his friend would sell him out for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave. We read of his goodbyes to his diciples as he tried to explain to them what he must endure. In John 17 we are given a picture of his care for them as he prays to his father for them. What sorrow was his as in the garden of Gethsemane alone with God and as he sweat great drops of blood like sweat falling to the ground he could pray "Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. This was not a sign of weakness but his intimate communication with his father who sent an angel to strengthen him. When we consider what he suffered as a man at the hand of man, the ridicule, the spitting, the beating, the false reports, the crown of thorns and then to be taken out to the ultimate place of shame and be lifted up on the cross in the place of the curse between two sinners. In those 3 hours when God laid on him our sins, the sense was clothed in total darksness. No one can understand or even speculate the sufferings which were his when he was made sin for us. I may have missed many things, however, it provides us an overview of what the Lord Jesus went through experiencially that he might become our faithful high priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Remember, the hairs of our heads are numbered, he sees the sparrow fall and he looks after the lilys of the field, how much more does he love and care for those he has redeemed by his precious blood. Just a few thoughts. Robert |