Hebrews 4:15-16

“Sympathy”

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

O:  Have you ever been in need?  Have you ever struggled with your sins?  Have you ever wanted to NOT do something that you knew wasn’t “good” and yet….couldn’t resist?  “Fell into”….that deep and dark place of guilt and shame?  

Have you kept secrets because of it?  You know…DIDN’T come clean around others because you were afraid of their judgment or disappointment or you were afraid they would stop being in relationship with you?  So, you put up a front…spun it in your favor….played ignorant just to “save face”?

IF any of that sounds familiar….well…that’s what being human feels like!  Sin is ALWAYS worse than we think in the moment of falling into it!  The lie is….we can “handle it” or that no one will find out.  But here’s the deal with the Devil.  

He tempts you with the carrot, then beats you with the stick of guilt and shame and judgement and condemnation!

Which is why the words of todays reading are so powerful and good and sweet to our ears!

Jesus, understand what it’s like to face what you’ve fallen into!

He knows how the dynamics of sin and temptation works.

And He “sympathizes” with you! 

The word in the Greek we translate “sympathy” is the Greek word: “sympatheo”!  This is one of those Greek words that is very similar to the English!  It means to “have pity”, “have compassion for”or to “suffer with”.  Of course…Jesus “suffered with” us!  Not ONLY and supremely on the cross, but also in all those little ordinary ways of life!  He was hungry, tired, hot, cold, uncomfortable, misunderstood, mistreated, ridiculed, resisted, unfairly and unjustly accused of all manner of false things.  He was betrayed, abandoned and thought poorly of.  There is NO suffering any of us have ever felt that He hasn’t “entered into” with us!  Perhaps there is a connection to “Emmanuel - God WITH us”?  Maybe Emmanuel is just another way of showing and saying…He sympathizes WITH our condition, our circumstance or our situation?   And because He sympathizes with our situation, our sins, our guilt and shame, this is why He invites us to “come” to Him (Matthew 11:28-29) and find grace and “mercy” and “help” in our time of need.

A: What things have you been carrying around that are keeping you locked into shame?  

P: Lord Jesus, You are my High Priest!  At Your invitation and because of Your intercession for me and because of Your sacrifice, I come before You in prayer to bring ALL my sins and guilt and everything I’ve done and left undone.  Help me to trust in Your sacrifice for ALL my sins and help me be free from the guilt and shame!  And, help me to sympathize with others and use my life to bless them.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

Pastor Tim