Grace and Mercy

There are some passages that just bring the maximum amount of encouragement, peace, blessing, and joy. All of the Bible, of course, is inspired and sufficient. Each passage fits within the whole to help teach us, admonish us, correct us, and train us. Yet, over time, some passages bring greater amounts of personal joy and help. Today, we will consider one of those – especially good because it points our attention to Jesus.

Grace and Mercy

In today’s texts, we read of Jesus and the help He provides for us in daily living. What an incredible treat this passage is for all of us who follow Him.

¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

The author of Hebrews mentions in both texts that Jesus was tempted like we are. One of the key items in this text to understand is the meaning of Jesus being tempted. What does that mean? Does it mean tempted to sin like you and me are?

The idea of tempted here means that Jesus walked through the exact same pressure-filled circumstances as we do. The word is in the periasmos family and literally means, pressure-filled circumstance. Jesus walked through every type of pressure-filled circumstance, just as we do. Because His heart responded in complete obedience to the will of the Father, completely holy, and without any sin, we could translate this term as “trial” here in reference to Jesus.

He Himself has suffered, being tempted.

…was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus walked as you do and suffered as you do.

Image all the struggles of living in the first century. No running water as we know it. No indoor plumbing. Electricity? Nope. Vehicles? No. Hospitals? Not those either. Yet, they still had all the problems we have today too. People still were sick. They still needed to use clean up every day, use the rest room, cook meals, get from place to place, and manage the middle eastern climate. Jesus and all his contemporaries faced greater struggles daily than we do. But, here’s the catch. He did. He walked, washed, cooked, and everything else that people had to do in order to live.

In addition to the daily struggles of life in Israel during the first century, remember Jesus went through three specific temptations (or the pressure-filled circumstance) by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). In this moment, Jesus was tempted in the same way as Adam and Eve, and each one of us (1 John 2:15-16). Jesus was offered the best the devil had to offer: “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). In a perfect response, Jesus turned down all of these offers by the devil and demonstrated His righteousness. As such, the author of Hebrews can say Jesus went through every temptation or style of pressure-filled circumstance just like we do, yet without sin.

The real good news – grace and mercy!

Here is the good news. Jesus Christ provides grace for us and for all those who love Him as necessary for life and godliness. Because He was a person, Jesus understands us as humans and provides what we need for life and godliness. As a merciful and faithful High Priest, Jesus provides us mercy and grace in our time of need as we come boldly before the throne of grace. We go to Him in prayer; Jesus graciously provides grace and mercy for us.

Let me leave you with three questions today:

Question 1: Are you in the midst of struggles, pressures, and heartache? Then go to Jesus in prayer so that He can provide for you in His abundant grace and mercy.

Question 2: Do you marvel at the thought of Jesus walking the same streets as one of us? He faced the same weather, the same storms physically and metaphorically, faced hunger, worked tired, and the rest. Jesus understands you because you are made in His image, plus, He came as a person and knows what it means to live on this earth as a person.

Question 3: How do you process in your heart the fact that Jesus was tempted in every way just as you are? Jesus understands. Because He understands, today, He offers you grace and mercy from and through the throne of grace. You can simply pray to Him right now and He will hear you in your struggle. In fact, not only hear you, but understand you, and minister grace to you.