Jump Start # 124 

Hebrews 4:15-16 “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. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

  Us and Jesus. That is the bottom line. That is demonstrated in this passage. Look at the “us” here: we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize…our weaknesses…as we are…let us draw near…we may receive…find grace to help. Now look at Jesus: high priest…but One who has been tempted…yet without sin. Us and Jesus.

  Jesus is not like the priest of the O.T. He was from a different tribe than they were. In many ways the O.T. priests were sinners offering sacrifices to God. Jesus was sinless. The O.T. priests offered an animal. Jesus offered Himself. The sacrifices once offered were of no value. The sacrificed Jesus continues to live. Jesus understands. He sympathizes with you. He has been tempted as you have. He was offered all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow to Satan. He was challenged to turn stones into bread to feed Himself. Tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN. Jesus is the only person never to have to apologize. He never had to ask God to forgive Him. He never said the wrong thing, lost His cool, misspoke or did something that He later regretted. Not Jesus. Not once. Perfect. Every time. Every situation.

  Such greatness, holiness and perfection is intimidating to all of us. No one comes close to Jesus. No one is like Jesus. He was perfect. With such a presence we may be fearful to be near Him. He is so right and we are so wrong. He is so good and we are so bad. He is perfect and we are sinful. Next to Jesus our wrongs seem magnified. Yet the passage tells us to “draw near with confidence.” Don’t be afraid. Don’t hide. Come to Jesus. Come to the perfect One. Have confidence that He is on your side. Have confidence that He understands. Have confidence that He wants to Help you.

  What does “coming to the throne of grace” mean? How do we do that? I think it is through prayer. It is not in the next life. It is in this life that we need help. It is now that we need our High Priest. We pray, humble. We want with confidence. We pray believing. This is what Jesus wants. He doesn’t want you struggling on your own. He doesn’t say, ‘get your self straightened out and then come to me.’ We come when we need help. We come when we have a problem. We come through faith knowing that God’s will is what’s best.

  The help may be forgiveness. Sometimes we make a mess of things and the first thing we need is forgiveness. It may be guidance. It’s there through His word. It may be encouragement. It may be God to open doors, move on hearts, granting opportunities. The broken, crushed heart realizes it needs help. Jesus is there. Jesus understands. Jesus has been there. Jesus never did wrong. Follow Jesus. He is the example. He got through the dark forest of this world. He left a pathway to follow. He is ahead of us, waiting on us to follow.

  You are never alone, you have Jesus. You are never without help, you have Jesus. You are never without someone who understands, you have Jesus. We sing a song that says, “Jesus is all the world to me…” How true that is.

Roger