Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing God Through His Works & Ways (VERBS)

God Identifies (God Understands Us)

To Study and Ponder

• Jesus identifies with us in the incarnation (his birth) – taking on our humanity.

• Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. Heb. 2:17-18

• This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

• Jesus was a real Jewish child - escaping persecution by becoming a refugee in Egypt, his parents leaving behind home, livelihood, and family support. He was a real young man who learned obedience to his parents and was trained as a carpenter. As an adult Jesus experienced hunger & temptation (in the desert 40 days), he was tired (slept on the boat, went to quiet places for refreshing), experienced human emotions (had compassion on the crowds, wept at news of Lazarus’ death), felt injustice (falsely accused), and agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane before experiencing the excruciating pain of death on a cross.

• Jesus identifies with us in the atonement (his death) – taking on the punishment of our sin.

• For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. .... For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ 2Co 5:19a, 21

• He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24

• Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:4-5

• Jesus calls himself “the Son of Man” throughout the Gospels, highlighting his humanity. He also called us his friends (John 15:15) and said “Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35)

• God’s compassionate identification with and care for his people is spoken of throughout Scripture. Note the deep emotions and tender affection in God’s words as he reaches out to his wayward people in the Hosea passage:

• When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. Hos.11:1-4

• ...God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

• For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Is.49:13b

• Knowing that God identifies with us & understands our pain helps us trust him in suffering. Read experts from the following two pastors:- Max Lucado (“He Chose the Nails”) and Tim Keller ("Sermon of Remembrance and Peace for 9-11 Victim's Families").

Meditation/Memory:

Lower Grades:  Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

  Luke 2:52  (NLT) 

Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.  Hebrews 2:18 (NLT)

Middle Grades: So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16  (NLT)

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.   2 Corinthians 1:3b-4   (NLT)

Upper Grades: He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.   Isaiah 53:3-5  (NLT)

Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.  Hebrews 2:17-18 (NLT)