When going through a rough or difficult time, it’s nice to know someone else who has gone through the same thing. They know how you feel, having been through it themselves. Someone who hasn’t been through a similar problem may say words of sympathy, but sometimes those words ring hollow, as they have no comprehension of your problems. If Junior got an excellent paying job at Daddy’s company right out of school, he can’t begin to understand the struggle of unemployment, job interviews, financial struggles, etc. The happily married woman can’t understand the heartbreak of a wife married to an abusive, cheating spouse. To truly understand, one must have walked the same or very similar path. In our Scripture passage today, the author of Hebrews shows us how Jesus, our Great High Priest, can relate to the suffering that we go through, as He went through great suffering Himself.
As the 5th chapter in Hebrews opens, the author describes the Old Testament high priests, and the qualifications they needed to meet (vs. 1-4). These high priests were to offer sacrifices for sins on behalf of the people. They were to have compassion on those who sinned in ignorance, since they, too, were ordinary men. And lastly, these men were called, or appointed high priests by God. No one could just apply for the position of high priest, just deciding that was the job they wanted. They had to be of the lineage of Aaron, and were appointed this position by God.
Jesus, our Great High Priest, met all of these qualifications. He was appointed by God (vs. 5-6). Immediately following His baptism, God spoke out from heaven that Jesus was His Son (Matthew 3:16-17). God also proclaimed Him an eternal priest for His people (Psalm 110:4). Jesus also had compassion on the people (Matthew 9:36). All throughout the Gospels we read of how Jesus had compassion upon the people He ministered to. Jesus also became the perfect sacrifice and offering for the sins of the people when He died upon the cross for us.
Jesus knew what it was like to go through a horrendously agonizing time (vs. 7). He was in agony as He faced His upcoming torture and death while in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-44). Jesus prayed to God to be delivered from what He would go through, as it was only natural that He would not want to endure such torture. However, Jesus also wanted to do God’s will. His obedience to God at all cost is our example to sustain and encourage us in difficult times.
In the dark valley that Jesus went through He was heard by God because of His reverential, godly fear (vs. 7). Jesus was heard in His deepest trial, and so shall we be heard, as well. Though God heard His prayer, Jesus was still obedient to God’s will, and it was not His will that some other way to procure our salvation be found, other than the shedding of His Blood upon the Cross. Being obedient is not difficult when it is not costly. But when it requires sacrifice, that is different. Jesus gave up His glory in heaven to become a man (Philippians 2:5-8), and endured the pain and affliction of a human. He sacrificed and suffered everything for us.
Jesus learned obedience to confirm His humanity and experience its suffering to the fullest (vs. 8). He made the will of God the Father His own. Jesus chose to obey, even though that led to suffering and death. It was necessary so that He could fulfill all righteousness, and thus be the perfect sacrifice to take the place of sinners.
Jesus was made perfect through suffering. Therefore we who are sinful, must not wonder when we are called to pass through suffering, too. Jesus shared our human experience completely. He is now able to offer eternal salvation to those who obey Him (vs. 9). Because Jesus went through suffering, He can have sympathy and compassion on us. Because He obeyed perfectly, He can help us to obey God’s will.
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