The Sympathy of Christ

“4:14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 4:15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 4:16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

“5:1 For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 5:2 He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness, 5:3 and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. 5:4 And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was. 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,” 5:6 as also in another place God says, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 5:7 During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion. 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered. 5:9 And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 5:10 and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 4:14-5:10)

The book of Hebrews is awesome scripture. Christ's humanity is affirmed, and enforced, in this work of an unknown author. Let me trace out for you a brief outline of Hebrews to the point where the above passage begins.

Chapter 1 begins with an introduction that summarizes where this letter is going: God revealed in a son, through whom he created the world, his glory. This son atoned for sin, was exalted above the heavens, is all powerful, and ultimately represents the essence of God himself. The author then moves onto showing how this son is superior to the angels (the other heavenly beings). God appointed the son to his position as "son", while the angels worship him. The author quotes from Psalm 45 and Psalm 102 to prove the point that the son is greater than any other heavenly being.

Chapter 2 begins with a warning: because of what was previously written, do not fall away from the message of the son, which was first communicated through the Lord, then his apostles, and was confirmed with signs and wonders. The message is so firmly proved that even one violation or rejection of the message equates to damnation. The author continues by saying that the world was not put under the control of angels. He quotes Psalm 8 to show that God, instead, put all things under the son's control. The author now mentions Jesus' name for the first time, naming him the one who was made a little lower than the angels, but is now crowned with glory and honor because of his suffering. By God's grace, Jesus suffered unto death for the sake of the world (he experienced death on everyone's behalf). Jesus could do this because his origin on earth is the same as any other human: he was born in the flesh from a woman. Because Jesus' origin is the same as those who believe in him, he is not ashamed to call believer's “brothers and sisters”. The author writes that since Jesus was like us, he was able to destroy the one who holds the power of death and set free those who fear death. Jesus isn't concerned about the angels, but about the children of Abraham, so he was made like them so he could be their high priest, merciful and faithful, to make atonement for sin. Jesus suffered when he was tempted, so in turn, he can help those who are tempted.

Chapter 3 begins with a short comparison of Jesus to Moses. Essentially, Jesus is a better Moses. As God appointed Moses to lead his people; so God appointed Jesus to preside over his people. Moses was faithful in serving in God's house; so Jesus is faithful in serving in God's house. He states in fact, that God's new community is his house, if his readers hold firmly to their confidence. The author then exegete's Psalm 95, exhorting those in the community of faith to not repeat the unfaithfulness of the Israelites in the wilderness wanderings. He warns his readers: do not let go of Jesus! Obedience leads to life, blessings, and rest. Obey, so you may enter God's rest.

Chapter 4 takes off from where Chapter 3 ends, expounding on those who rest in God. God promised a future rest for those who remained faithful and obedient to his message (the Gospel). Those who were disobedient did not enter his rest. Taking over the Promised Land did not give God's people their "rest". God's intended Sabbath "rest" still existed afar off. In God's rest, his people can rest from their works just as God rested from his works on the seventh day of creation. Therefore, his people must make every effort to enter that rest so they do not fall into the same pattern of disobedience (as the Israelites). God's word, his message, is living and active. His message is able to divide to the heart, discerning the intentions of the heart. No one can escape God's word – all are exposed as either obedient or disobedient.

At this point, the former passage begins. The author continues with “therefore”, since we have such a great high priest (argued from Chapter 2), Jesus the Son of God (the connection is explicitly made here, saying Jesus is the “son” of God argued from Chapters 1 and 2), his readers should hold fast to their belief in the message. Their high priest is able to sympathize with their weakness because he too was tempted in every way; yet with him, he did not sin. With Jesus' obedience on their behalf, they can approach the throne of grace with boldness, finding mercy and grace whenever they need help.

Chapter 5 continues on with the author's review of the Old Covenant priesthood, where a priest was first called by God from among the people. The priest, being of the people, understood the weaknesses they possessed because he too was weak. In fact, he had to first offer sacrifices for his own sins before offering sacrifices for the sins of the people. Jesus, too, was called by God to be a high priest. While on earth, Jesus too offered requests and supplications on behalf of the people (as argued in Chapter 2, Jesus has the same origin as the people, and therefore legitimately represents the people). Since Jesus was totally obedient to God, God heard his prayers. Jesus himself learned obedience through his sufferings. Jesus, therefore, became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. In the priesthood, God ordained Jesus as a priest in the order of Melchizedek.

The doctrine of Christ's deity is important today, especially with all of the various claims that Jesus is not God – or even existed! Surely, we must defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ, affirming that Jesus was not a mere human being, but he was indeed God in the flesh who died for sins, paving the way for eternal salvation for all who believe. However, the doctrine of Christ's humanity is fearfully neglected. We are so focused on Jesus as God that we've forgotten that Jesus was a man, too. “Fully God, fully man” is the affirmation of the Athenasion Creed. Here's a radical statement: Jesus was a human being. Jesus knows what it is to suffer. In the Greek, the word “sympathy” (“sumpatheo”) in 4:15 means “to be affected with the same feeling as another, to sympathize with”. The root words are “sun” (“with”) and “pascho” (“suffer”). Literally, Jesus “suffers with” us in our temptation.

This truth nearly brings me to tears just thinking about it. He suffers with me when I'm bombarded with evil. I fall into sin ten seconds after the pressure is put on me; Jesus endured, “suffered” if you will, through that same temptation his entire life, even unto death! Jesus knows what I'm going through because he himself had to deal with these things, yet in himself he did not falter. Jesus didn't need to sin to know the pressures sin brings into the life of a person. Jesus bore the weight of all sin, so he knows pressure. The regular priests could sympathize, but they too faltered and sinned. Jesus sympathizes, but he doesn't falter, he doesn't sin. He is the perfect high priest. He is the only priest who could fully atone for the sins of the world, saving the elect unto salvation, while not having to atone for his own sins. He did not sin! What a glorious thought: a high priest who knows the weight of sin while not sinning himself. How awesome is that? I am comforted beyond words knowing and feeling his sympathy. I pray earnestly, faithfully, trusting in his ability to give me comfort. When I sin, he forgives me, showing mercy instead of justice. When I need help, I approach boldly the throne of God because Jesus Christ himself paved the way. Jesus did what I cannot possibly do. I owe all I have to him.

Christ, my faithful God. You suffered as human being for my sake. You voluntarily condescended to empty yourself into a human body, becoming nothing for my sake. You suffered ridicule for my sake. You obeyed the Father's word perfectly for my sake. You were crucified for my sake. You prayed for me for my sake. You chose me for my sake. Christ, you did all these things and more, for my sake. I owe all I have - my faith, my life, my existence – to you. Jesus, may I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you, holy and acceptable. I pray that you continue to conform me to your image. Rid me, Jesus, of those evil thoughts, those evil patterns of sinful flesh, so your light may shine out from my clay vessel. Jesus, you gave me this jar of clay to prove that the power you exhibit in me comes from you and not from me. May I never boast in myself; Christ, may I boast in you alone! May you be my satisfaction. May you be my rest. To you, Christ, be all the power, all the glory, all the honor, forever and ever. Amen.