Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
JESUS GAVE UP REST
Whether it was because he was healing, teaching, or praying, Jesus often gave up sleep to serve sinners. But from time to time he did get some well needed rest for his body.
Rest for his soul, though, Jesus never had. What I mean is, Jesus never had a respite from the temptations that surrounded him. Every year, day, hour and minute the sinful world around Him was enticing him.
Now, you and I might say that we face that too. That just like Jesus we are tempted to sin constantly. And it's true. Whether we're tempted to say something hurtful, or to do something evil, or to think something that is ugly. But here's the difference: When we find that we have given in to temptation, we can rest in the knowledge that Jesus suffered hell, and died in our place, to take away the punishment for our sins. We can rest in the knowledge that through faith in Christ we stand forgiven before our Father in heaven.
Jesus never had this luxury. If Jesus sinned, there would be no forgiveness for him. He was the Savior. He had to be perfect or the sacrifice wouldn't be acceptable and sinners would be lost forever.
Can you imagine the pressure that weighed on the soul of Jesus? He was truly human after all. One wrong step and it's all over. Every temptation to look at a woman with lust, every temptation to hate someone for their sins against Him, every temptation to greed, every temptation to pride, every temptation to cut some corner--each of these Jesus had to deflect to the ground by thinking, saying, or doing what was absolutely right.
Because Jesus forsook rest, and had no forgiveness to catch Him, we do. Because He had no peace, we do. It is His gift to us.
