“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find help in the time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
If you’re like me, you may have read this passage many times, but God has helped me to better understand what it means. And what stands out to me is that Jesus was “in all points tempted as we are”.
In the past I was never really sure if Jesus was really fully a human being; like us. However, the Bible plainly states that Jesus was born with the same flesh we have, yet he never sinned. And if Jesus WASN’T completely human then he couldn’t possibly sympathize with my feelings or the true feelings of any other human.
Since the Bible is completely truthful, Jesus must have dealt with the same temptations we have; like being tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread when he was hungry after fasting 40 days. It must also be true that, at times, Jesus was tempted with human sexual desires, like we have. After all, he was a real man with testosterone flowing through his body. Can you imagine Jesus being tempted to haul off and punch someone in the face for the blasphemous things being said about him; or being tempted to have what Satan offered him, wealth, splendor and earthly glory. Jesus faced real temptations, just like us. And consider this, after Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan left him ONLY to return at another convenient time…(convenient time for whom?…Satan!).
I believe since Jesus was “tempted in all points as we are” that he had the same feelings we have. But the point the scripture brings out is that Jesus NEVER gave into his temptations; He overcame them! And the good news is, we can, too!
This is why we need Christ to live in us. “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27)
God gave the solution in Christ Jesus to our pervasive and insidious human weaknesses. We can boldly approach God’s throne and receive help from our Almighty God, Yahweh, just as Jesus did. Jesus was always praying to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God. (John 20:17) Jesus relied on the only true God to help him remain faithful throughout all of his temptations. (John 17:3) And Jesus is the one who teaches us how to rely on our Holy God to help us to be faithful, too.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
Sinful humans can now enjoy the benefits of all that Jesus has accomplished for us, because we are in Him. And this verse adds another extraordinary aspect. Not only are we “in Christ,” but Christ is also in us: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
God wants to make this known among all the nations: The good news He desires to reveal is glorious and rich: “the riches of the glory of this mystery.” A biblical mystery is something that can only be revealed by God. The mysteries of the Bible cannot be discovered or understood by intellectual investigation or by personal experience. God Himself must make His mysteries known. And here, the great mystery God wants to reveal to all humankind is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
We are grateful that the Son of God is willing to come and dwell within us to assure us of making it to glory (heaven) when he returns. Christ wants to reside at the very core of our being: “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians 3:17) And Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)
As we trust in Jesus, He is living in, and working through, our hearts. And we can have the faith of Jesus. “…the righteousness of God… by [the] faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all those who believe” (Romans 3:22). Jesus has strong faith in his Father, and our God and Father is worthy of our complete confidence. When Christ lives in us, we can overcome sin just as he did. Jesus Christ gives us the power from God and Christ becomes our righteousness!
“Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ, we are made right with God, have been made holy, and have been set free from sin. (1 Corinthians 1:30) Jesus is the only basis of our acceptance by God. God clothes us with the perfect righteousness of His Son. The only way we can conquer sin is for Christ to live in us.
Consider these verses:
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in Me and I in you. (John 14:20)
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“I in them and you in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:23)
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)
“The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in Him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24) ~~ and that Spirit is Christ!
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)
Why not pray this prayer to God ~
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path to everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT)
Loving Yahweh with Heart, Soul and Strength 