A Perfect Priest (Jesus Understands Us) Part 4

 

Lesson Three

Jesus Understands Us

Hebrews 2:17-18

 

Theme: Jesus Christ is not inferior to angels because of his humanity.  Christ, through His humanity, secured our great salvation which involves the exaltation of believers, freed us from the fear of death, and affords us the help of a compassionate High Priest in Heaven during temptations.  Christ’s humanity enables Him to understand our needs and challenges fully. 

Introduction:

Jesus was “made like unto His brethren” (vs. 2:17) in that He experienced the sinless infirmities of human nature. But, why?

Lesson: 

Why is Jesus the perfect high priest for us? (Heb. 2:17-18)

A.    His Experience for the Office. Jesus’ humanity enables Him to be a perfect and sympathetic High Priest to His people (2: 17–18).

a.      Being pure spirits who have never suffered, the angels cannot identify with us in our weaknesses and needs.

b.      But Jesus can! While He was here on earth, Jesus was “made like unto His brethren” (vs. 2:17) in that He experienced the sinless infirmities of human nature. He knew what it was to be a helpless baby, a growing child, a maturing adolescent. He knew the experiences of weariness, hunger, and thirst (John 4:6–8). He knew what it was to be despised and rejected, to be lied about and falsely accused. He experienced physical suffering and death. All of this was a part of His “training” for His heavenly ministry as High Priest.

B.     His Execution of the Office. Jesus Christ is both merciful and faithful: He is merciful toward people and faithful toward God. He can never fail in His priestly ministries. He made the necessary sacrifice for our sins so that we might be reconciled to God. He did not need to make a sacrifice for Himself, because He is sinless.

 

Question 7. It might also help the discussion if you ask how Jesus' pain and temptation are different from our own.

8.  In what ways is Jesus able to help us?

A.    Christ Can Run To Our Aid. But what happens when we who have been saved are tempted to sin?

a.      There will still be temptations to fall back into the way of death. But now Christ lives as our faithful High Priest to help us when we are tempted.  We who have been dead are now alive—and now we can hear and respond to the voice of God calling us back to a life of righteousness.

b.      Christ stands ready to help us!

                                                    i.     He was tempted when He was on earth, but no temptation ever conquered Him. Because He has defeated every enemy, He is able to give us the grace that we need to overcome temptation.

                                                  ii.     The word “succour” (Heb. 2:18) literally means “to run to the cry of a child.” It means “to bring help when it is needed.” The Lord promises to help us (Isa. 41:10; Ps. 37:40)!

                                                 iii.     Angels are able to serve us (Heb. 1:14), but they are not able to succour us in our times of temptation. Only Jesus Christ can do that, and He can do it because He became a man and suffered and died.

B.     Christ Can Intercede For Us. It might be good at this point to explain the difference between our Lord’s ministry as High Priest and His ministry as Advocate (1 John 2:1).

a.      As our High Priest, our Lord is able to give us grace to keep us from sinning when we are tempted.

b.      If we do sin, then He as our Advocate represents us before the throne of God and forgives us when we sincerely confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:5–2:2).

c.      Both of these ministries are involved in His present work of intercession; and it is this intercessory ministry that is the guarantee of our eternal salvation (note that in Heb. 7:25 it is “to the uttermost”—i.e., eternally—and not “from the uttermost”).

C.     Christ Can Understand Us. Because he was fully human, Jesus himself was tested by what he suffered (Heb 2:18).

a.      “Tempted” refers to Jesus’ exposure to conflicts, tensions, and suffering. The testing was not to show that he might fail, but to show his real power and strength under fire.

b.      This suffering refers not only to the Cross, but also to the testing Jesus experienced throughout his life—from Satan’s temptations in the wilderness to the drops of blood he shed in prayer before his crucifixion. Having undergone all the tests and temptations of human life, Jesus is able to help us when we are being tested.

c.      Knowing that Christ suffered pain and faced temptation helps us face our trials. Jesus understands our struggles because he faced them as a human being. We can trust Christ to help us survive suffering and overcome temptation.

d.      What are you facing that you need Christ to face with you? When you face trials, go to the Lord for strength and patience. Jesus understands your needs and is able to help (see 4:14-16). –The Life Application Commentary Series

D.    Christ Has Exalted Us. As you review this section, you cannot help but be amazed at the grace and wisdom of God. From a human point of view, it would seem foolish for God to become Man; yet it was this very act of grace that made possible our salvation and all that goes with it. When Jesus Christ became Man, He did not become inferior to the angels, for in His human body He accomplished something that angels could never accomplish. At the same time, He made it possible for us to share in His glory!

He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. Are we ashamed to call Him “Lord”?

 

Inspiration

 

Here is an uplifting thought.

It is an undeniable fact that usually it is those who have suffered most who are best able to comfort others who are passing through suffering. I know of pastors whose ministries have been enriched by suffering. Through their trials they have learned to “live through” the difficulties of the people in their parish. They are able to empathize as well as sympathize with the afflictions of others because of what they have experienced in their own lives.

Our sufferings may be rough and hard to bear, but they teach us lessons which in turn equip and enable us to help others. Our attitude toward suffering should not be, “Grit your teeth and bear it,” hoping it will pass as quickly as possible. Rather, our goal should be to learn all we can from what we are called upon to endure, so that we can fulfill a ministry of comfort—as Jesus did. “For in that he himself suffered being tempted, he is able to succor [help] them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). The sufferer becomes the comforter or helper in the service of the Lord.

By the way, by “enduring” suffering, God led me to my wonderful wife, Ruth, who was His intended one for me. (From Unto the Hills by Billy Graham)

 

Response

 

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

 

 

9.  How is Jesus' pain and temptation relevant to us?

 

 

 

10.  In times of trouble, why do we turn to other people rather than to Jesus?

 

 

 

11.  In what way does God equip us to reach out to others with compassion?

 

 

Prayer

 

Lord, we stand in awe of you for what you have done—you left your throne to live among us, you faced temptation, ridicule, and shame so that you could understand us, and then you died on a cross to save us from our sins. You gave up everything so that we could spend eternity with you. Help us to grasp the depth of your love. And as we experience your great love for us, help us to share it with others.

 

Journaling

 

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

 

 

How has Jesus shown his love for me? How can I thank him?

 

 

Additional Questions

 

 

12.  How should Christians respond to the pain that comes their way?

 

 

 

13.  How has knowing God increased your sensitivity and compassion for others?

 

 

 

14.  What can you do to show God's love to someone who is hurting?

 

 

For more Bible passages about Jesus' ability to help hurting people, see Job 36:15; Psalm 46:1; 121:1, 2; 147:1–5; Isaiah 41:10; 53:3–5; Romans 8:26, 27.

 

To complete the book of Hebrews during this twelve-part study, read Hebrews 1:1–2:18.

Recommended reading material:

Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary.

 

The Burden Bearer

ROMANS 15:1-3

SUBJECT: BUILDING UNITY & FELLOWSHIP

THEME: we are encouraged by the example of our Lord Jesus’ and his servant the Apostle Paul to bear one another's burdens. This kind of consideration for each other and ministry towards one another will forge unity in the church even though it may be ethnically diverse. 

INTRODUCTION:

Sometimes Believers from differing backgrounds find it difficult to respect/relate to each other. This challenge is amplified when their church is comprised of believers from different cultures. The first thirteen verses of Romans 15 continue the subject of the previous chapter—matters of moral indifference–questionable issues. Tensions had arisen between the converts from Judaism and those from paganism, so Paul here pleads for harmonious relations between these Jewish and Gentile Christians, saying, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1).

Those who are strong (that is, they have full liberty regarding things that are morally indifferent) are not to please themselves by selfishly asserting their rights and freedom. Rather, they should treat their weak brothers with kindness and consideration, making full allowance for their excessive scruples—weak conscious. Paul wisely goes on to say in Romans 15:2, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” This type of selflessness will certainly bridge the cultural divides!  

The principle is this: don’t live to please yourself. Live to please your neighbor, to do him good, to build him up in the walk of faith. This is the Christian approach; we should seek to help, build-up, comfort, and strengthen each other. If we do this, we will forge unity and cooperation in the church regardless of our ethnic backgrounds and cultural moorings. Kindness and consideration will begat the like; other believers in the church will reciprocate!

LESSON:

CONSIDER THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST, THE BURDEN BEARER  

When we catch the heartbeat of Christ and Paul for bearing the burdens of others it will not be long before their example must be translated into our own actions. Our Lord Jesus Christ “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). His whole life was characterized by helping others and by bearing their burdens. Paul was perhaps the greatest of the apostles. He was so because he had learned to follow Christ, especially in sharing the weaknesses, pains and personal sorrows of others. May the examples left by our Lord and His apostle teach us what it means to truly bear one another’s burdens.

CHRIST FOCUSED ON OTHERS, NOT HIMSELF (Rom. 15:1-3).

Romans 15:3, For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Christ’s attitude of humility was constantly and consistently expressed in his willingness to forfeit his pleasures or advantages. Our Lord suffered because of his loyalty and commitment to the Father. So much so that those who resented the Father lashed out at Christ who was loyal to Him. Jesus did not live for Himself, but to please His Father. Instead of securing his own advantages or declaring his rights, He bore the reproaches of another. Ultimately our Savior took our complete sin burden on Himself at the cross of Calvary. Note these references to this very matter:

Matt. 8:17, That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

1 Pet. 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

2 Cor. 8:9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Jesus is the Burden Bearer like no other! It is Christ who took upon himself the sicknesses and physical infirmities of Israel, He bore the sins of the entire world at Calvary, Jesus sacrifice all and every advantage he had to secure a wealthy redemption for you and me! Aren’t you glad he willingly focused on our needs instead of his personal interests? Let us now consider and ponder astutely these simple observations. As a Burden Bearer, Jesus is…

The Supreme Example  

Paul points us to Christ's example in verse 3, “For even Christ pleased not Himself . . .”   And in Verse 5 says’ “be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.”  Again, in verse 7, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us….”

Christ has given us the highest example. He lived to please His Father, not Himself. He said, “The reproaches [Criticism] of them that reproached Thee fell on Me” (Ps. 69:9).

This means that He was so completely taken up with God's honor that when men insulted God He took it as a personal insult to Himself.  Christ loved the Father so much that when people cursed God, Jesus felt the pain! Jesus paid a tremendous price to minister to sinful humanity and to satisfy His Father’s will.  It would have been much easier to adopt His own will!  But, he didn’t; He went to Calvary any way! (W. MacDonald)

Paul is appealing to the stronger or mature saints to sacrifice their liberties for the benefit of their weaker brother in Christ. The stronger saint may feel like God is requiring too much and that the sacrifice he is being asked to make is too great.  But here Paul reminds us all that no sacrifice is great in comparison to Calvary where the Son of Glory died for a sinful undeserving world!  The next time you curtail your lifestyle because your actions could be offensive to a weaker Christian, remember the Example of our Lord and sacrifice your liberty to save your brother or sister from a fall.

The Sound Exhortation 

Paul instructs us now to follow our Lord’s Example of unselfishness in Verse 1. When he tells us “to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves,” we began to see how Jesus’ model can shape our behaviors and motives. While anyone can be self-absorbed, consumed with personal interests, and too busy to be bothered with others, Christians are called upon to weave ourselves into the lives of others. The stronger believers are to sense discipleship and mentoring opportunities and seize them unto a fellow believer’s edification. Yes, like a mother must put up with some things to raise her infant properly, so the mentor must put up with the weaknesses of the younger believer to aid his growth. Those who consider themselves strong in faith are to help weaker Christians with their burdens.

True Christian Love Is Not Selfish; Rather it Seeks to Share with Others, and it Seeks the Happiness of Others. It is even willing to carry the younger believer, to help them along with their spiritual development. We should not be merely enduring or tolerating them, we should be encouraging them! Remember anybody can criticize the new convert because they are novice indeed. What are you doing to help them grow and become stronger?  

A Christian’s Spiritual Maturity is Revealed by His Ability to Discern God’s Will, and the Sacrifices He is Willing to Makes for the Benefit of Others. Is he or she willing to temporarily give up his Christian Liberties and Spiritual Rights that others might be helped? Does he/she do this as a blessing and not a burden? Does he/she give up or quit and become cross and impatient with the younger believer?  If we answered these questions honestly, then we know if we are mature or if we are more like babies in the Lord.

    

Think about it…. Just as loving parents make sacrifices for their children, so must the mature believer sacrifice their liberties to help younger Christians grow in the faith. A good father will never tell his hungry young child to go out and earn some money so that he can have bread to eat.  He doesn’t say, “I have a right to eat because I worked for what I have.”  No, he gladly provides for his children the things they need even at his own expense. Often parents will forfeit their higher education, so their children can go to college. They may even be convinced a degree or a higher degree what help them professionally, but instead they opt for their children's future. Good parents may even wear simple inexpensive clothing to ensure their children are properly clothed. Some parents work two jobs to meet their children’s most basic needs. In addition, the children may not even appreciate it until they grow-up themselves, but a good parent will deny themselves certain privileges and rights to help their children. Beloved, the same is true regarding the way mature saint’s treat younger believers. They understand the younger believer needs time and opportunity to grow. 

The Serious Emergency 

There is not a person on earth today who is not hurting or needy in some way. Everyone you and I know has a burden—a heartfelt need. Behind every plastic smile there is a world of burdens that we are struggling and straining to cover up. We don’t want anyone to know our pain…we want to appear strong so that we don’t cause others to stumble. Remember, every set of eyes you will ever gaze into have shed hundreds of tears in secret when no one else but God was watching. That lady who is always smiling at church will one day need a shoulder to cry on. That guy who loves to laugh, cut up, and tell jokes will need encouraging one day.  Our world is in a state of emergency and the disease is “an overdose of hurts and burdens,” and the medicine they need is someone unselfish enough to help when they hurt. Someone to love them and reassure them of God’s great love for them!

Trials and Temptations are the Universal Lot of Us All, and Only Christ Can Give That Measure of Strength Necessary to Overcome Them. (See 1 Cor. 10:13)

1 Cor. 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Look to the Lord for that way of escape and the power to endure until the temptation pass. Be assured He will never lead you into a scenario that is more than you can deal with. His grace is sufficient for you and me.

Christians Desperately Need to be Sensitive to the Needs of Others and to Help Bear Another’s Burdens (Rom. 15:1). This is a repeated instruction in the Word.

Gal 6:2, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

1Thes 5:14, Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Gal 5:13-14, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Because We All Face Similar Trials We May Be Used of God to Help Another overcome a Challenge We Have Previously Experienced Ourselves. That is one reason why God allows us to suffer hardships. We learn to accept His help, strength, and comfort and as a result we can be of aid to someone else. (See 2 Cor. 1:3, 4.)

2 Cor. 1:3-4, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; [4] Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

God Himself comforts us when life hurts, and He provides fellow comforters among the brethren as we receive His comfort through our personal trials. All of this says that God cares about what hurts you. Many of you know exactly what I mean when I say, “The pain can overwhelm us at times….” We can become confused, perplexed, and our souls ache beyond our ability to express…. We can become lost in our sorrows were it not for the sweet Savior, the Lord Jesus.

So, what is your burden today?

What are some weighty challenges you must bear? Does anyone really care about your burdens? What can we do for each other to assist one another with our various burdens? Does God really care about our problems? 

Consider a bit of encouragement from Mr. Max Lucado,

 “When it comes to the major-league difficulties like death, disease, sin and disaster—you already know that God deeply cares.But what about the smaller things? What about grouchy bosses or flat tires or lost dogs? What about broken dishes, late flights, toothaches, or a crashed hard drive? Do these matter to God? John [the Apostle] added this phrase for you (1Jn. 3:2).
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God,” We really are His children!
As a result, if something is important to you, it's important to God.…  God wants to share your burden . . . .  He wants to Lift Your Burden . . . .
    
Heb. 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

Heb. 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

 So, go ahead. Tell God what hurts. Talk to him. He won’t turn you away. He won’t think it’s silly. For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When he lived on earth, he was tempted in every way that we are, but He did not sin. Let us, then, with full assurance come before God’s throne where we can secure grace to help in our time of need . . . when the burden is too heavy to bare alone. . .  When no one else will understand . . . . when your secret is a dark one . . .  Take it to Him who cares and understands.
Does God care about the burdens and little things in our lives? You better believe it.If it matters to you, it matters to him.” (From He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado)

I have had times when I could not help myself much less anybody else, but in those instances God Himself was faithful to comfort and encourage me when I needed it most. He has used His Word, afforded grace, imparted peace, provided relief, and met the needs! As my Pastor, Dr. Baldwin, says of Jesus, “He is a burden Bearer, and he is a heavy-load Sharer!” Like you, I have also been comforted by precious believers whom God had touched with His encouraging hands. I praise God for my precious wife, Patrice, God has used her repeatedly to comfort and encourage this preacher! Nothing knits people together like enduring painful times together. So, why not become a burden bearer like our Lord for the benefit of the brethren?

Say, I Know this Great High Priest….

As a Christian, do you feel something is missing or incomplete? Are you willing to admit that the modern version of Christianity appears impotent to address the multiple complications people are grappling with? Have you privately, but officially, concluded that ‘faith’ and ‘trusting God’ seems a bit trite? After all, real problems require viable solutions…right? Yes, these are rather intrusive questions, but if you answered ‘yes’ to any or all of them, then the rest of this article is for you. What I really want to do is introduce you to an expert in your very area of concern. Without any exaggeration, he truly understands and can give viable help. Literally millions claim he has made all the difference for them. First, let me tell you about him….

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Hebrews 4:14-16, invites our attention to the reality that Jesus Christ is the believer’s “Great High Priest.” It is imperative that He arrests our attention in order that He may secure our confidence. He is far superior to all the Old and New Testament priests and orders! Furthermore, no modern priest can even remotely compare to Him. Also this biblical paragraph concludes with an invitation to approach the “Throne of Grace” to “find grace to help in time of need.” In some respects we are quite aware of numerous private needs. Others sense deep within that something is not quite right…their Christian experience is so grossly incomplete that they are spiritually crippled. Too many are oblivious to exactly what it is. They just know that something is missing…something invaluable and vital…there must be more…. Whether we identify it or not, the needs still persist as a longing for relief in the soul. A heavy conscience together with multiple failures is breeding regrets, enslavements, and more disappoint in our minds. Feeling ill equipped, an inner weakness persists and we have come to believe that this is just the way it is. Some have grown bitter because of disillusionment with God.  Apparently, He routinely disregarded their expectations, but He constantly asserts His own. There appears to be little hope or no prospect of change for something better on this side of eternity. We just need to endure to the end…right?

Although this line of thinking has become normal, it is still blatantly abnormal in God redemptive economy. In our text, Christ Jesus is portrayed as our “Great High Priest”—God’s answer to our pronounced spiritual needs as Believers. Yes, Christ occupies an office and position that enables Him to pray for—intercede (Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34), service, advocate for—defend, minister to, represent, and perennially compensate for us throughout our lives. As our Priest, He sacrificed Himself (Heb. 9:26; 7:27; 9:12) for our sins to sanctify us unto God forever (Heb. 9:24). Christ simultaneously provides all these blessings for all Believers all the time! His work is so comprehensive that He actually eliminates the need for any other high priests for this entire age (Heb. 6:19-20; 10:19-22). But, what spiritual needs are so great that we Christians require this tremendous provision? Certainly it is logical to assume this God-given provision is proportionate to the deficiencies we feel deeply and admittedly yearn for in our honest private moments. If Christ is great in this context, it must be partly because He definitely addresses a tremendous inadequacy in Believers’ experiences.

This observation then raises several pertinent questions. As believers, what is our great need? What is the greatness of Christ, our Priest? How can we personally realize His greatness? What are our obligations in the light of this provision? It is needful at this point to consider each of these separately.

What Is the Christian’s Great Need?

Earlier in Hebrews chapter four the author addressed repeatedly the need for “rest” and the requirement to enter into spiritual rest (Heb. 4:1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11). He assures us there is still a “rest” for the people of God and through faith it can be realized. The need here is for spiritual peace, assurance, and tranquility of soul based on confidence in the finished work of Christ and His current role as High Priest. The promised “rest” answers the longing of the soul for abiding inner peace. Peace is part of what is missing.

Then according to verse fourteen there is an urgent need to “hold fast our profession.” As Believers we must steadfastly confess Christ while resisting all temptations to disown, renounce or deny Him in order to avoid some form of discrimination. Expediency, convenience, and self-preservation are powerful impulses, especially to our generation. Still our prescribed response is commitment, courage, and loyalty to Christ above all else. Yes, Christ must be preeminent. Faithfulness and allegiance to Him in the form of an unblemished profession of faith in our Savior and High Priest is the acceptable recourse.

Accordingly, in verse sixteen there is a “time of need” in which we can “find grace to help.” Life’s unscheduled trials, alluring temptations, and hard circumstances are the issues that constitute our times of need. These apply tremendous pressure and generate extraordinary tension in our personal and collaborative experiences. God graciously obligates Himself to supply strengthening and empowering grace to cope with these often perplexing challenges. Bear in mind that grace does not mean God will give explanations, answers, or reasons; He promises strength to handle what we are facing as we are facing it (2Cor. 12:9). Not a moment too soon and not an ounce more than required, but completely adequate and sufficient. The word “help” (Heb. 4:16) conveys something of God’s paternal loving response to the cries of His beloved children. He actually hastens to our aid with the urgency of a good mother responding to her endangered child’s squeals for help. This is a huge help to us if we have ever wondered if God really cares! 

So what is the great need of Christians? Because Christians are sinners saved by grace, we still have a frightening capacity to sin. To heighten our complications, we are weak, vulnerable, crippled, tempted, anxious, conflicted within, and hazarded. We often sense deep within our inner most self the need for supernatural help and aid. God’s provision is a highly capable and understanding Priest interceding for us and affording assistance to us. Larry Richards (The Teacher’s Commentary) recognizing this need observed, “In the Old Testament the high priest was the man appointed to represent the people before God. He was the man who dealt with sins and weaknesses by offering the necessary sacrifices for sins (Heb. 5:3).” Hebrews 4:14, rightly affirms that in our Lord Jesus “we have a great High Priest.” Because He is both God and Man, He is the fully adequate link between us Believers and our holy Heavenly Father. So the Scriptures declare, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (v. 16). Richards also recommended that when we fail and are gripped by the ensuing shame, or when we are overwhelmed and need help desperately, we are never to give up or quit on God. Since the Lord Jesus is human like us, He does understand us. And since the Lord Jesus is God like the Father, He is able to give 360 degree help to His people all the time.

In addition, it is important when we have heard the voice of God calling us to act, but still we feel inadequate, that we turn to Jesus our High Priest for help. It is our part to realize all that He is able to do in us and for us. Yes, we Christians need our Priest; not just any priest, but our “Great High Priest” providing assistance to us from Heaven and representing us before the very Presence of His Royal Majesty.