JESUS KNOWS
INTRODUCTION: Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s there was a baseball/football player named Bo Jackson. In 1989/1990 he had a series of commercials where the slogan was Bo knows. They depicted Bo knowing how to do other sports, activities and so on. Today, I switch Bo with Jesus. Jesus knows. But my focus won’t be on what Jesus knows about a variety of sports and activities but rather on what Jesus knows experientially. As we go through life’s hardships and difficulties and we are to be turning to Jesus but you might wonder, can Jesus really relate to what I’m going through? Let’s see what Jesus knows about the various things we go through in our lives.
1) Jesus knows poverty. Luke 9:57-58, “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” At least during his three year ministry, Jesus was homeless. But instead of focusing on that he chose to focus on his mission. His purpose was not to acquire wealth but to be generous. His purpose wasn’t to build up treasures on earth but rather treasures in heaven. Paul understood this and he wanted the Corinthian church to understand it as well. 1st Cor. 4:11, “To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.” In his service to the church Paul dealt with poverty. And he didn’t have a bad attitude about that either. Vs. 12-13. And I guess the Corinthians got it because in his second letter to them we see this in 2nd Cor. 8:7-9, “But just as you excel in everything —in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” This doesn’t mean we will necessarily become rich monetarily. We might, but the greater wealth is spiritual. As James pointed out in James 2:5, “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” Jesus knew poverty and if we are impoverished, hopefully we will have the attitude of Jesus.
2) Jesus knows grief. In John 11 you read about Jesus’ friend Lazarus dying and Jesus going to his “funeral”. John 11:32-36. Jesus had emotions. He experienced sorrow. Knowing that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead didn’t change the fact that he was emotional. Jesus was sensitive to the sorrow of those around him. And he’s still sensitive toward our sorrow. 2nd Cor. 1:3-5. Since Jesus knows what it’s like to be grieved, he is the one who offers us comfort in our grief. And the comfort we receive from him we share with others in their grief.
3) Jesus knows busyness. Mark 1:21-39. Jesus knew busy. He knew hectic. The years he did ministry was like a jam-packed “to-do” list. Often times it seemed there was no breathing room. Jesus got up early, knowing he needed to get away somewhere and have some much needed time with the Father. He didn’t get up while it was still dark because he couldn’t sleep. I’m sure after the busy day he just had that he could’ve slept a lot longer. However, he knew that this was going to be the only time he would have to replenish himself. And sure enough, that proved to be true. “Everyone is looking for you!” He was a wanted man. Jesus was very busy but he still made time to get away. We need to do that too. If Jesus wasn’t too busy to pray than neither are we. If Jesus needed to get away and pray how much more do we need to make sure we don’t neglect it? Mark 6:30-34. I’m sure you’ve had these types of days where it’s so hectic that you don’t have time to take a break. It’s just one thing after another. But look what Jesus did. He made time for rest. There were still people there. We see as soon as Jesus left they just ran ahead and met Jesus at the next shore. And it’s not that they weren’t important to Jesus because it says he had compassion on them. Sometimes, even though there’s more work to be done we will need to take a break. Sometimes it’s hard for me to leave something unfinished. Once I start I don’t want to stop until I’ve completed it. And there have been times because of that mentality that I’ve stayed with something longer than what I should have and I start getting tired and I start making mistakes and then I start getting frustrated and on it goes from there. However, if I had taken a breather and then went back to the project it would’ve gone much smoother. Jesus knew what he was doing. Let’s follow Jesus’ way of doing things. Jesus knew busy and he knew when to take a break.
4) Jesus knows pressure. Luke 22:41-44. Jesus was getting ready to face his crucifixion. He was preparing for the daunting task of taking on the sins of the world. I’d say that would bring some pressure. In fact, there was never a moment in history where a person faced anything greater. The pressure was so great, in fact, that we see Jesus experiencing a rare medical condition known as Hematidrosis. Hematidrosis occurs when a person is suffering extreme levels of stress, anguish or strain. The Amplified version words it as, ‘his sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground’. This is consistent with medical descriptions of hematidrosis. People do different things when they’re under extreme pressure. Some bite their nails, others pace the floor. You might sweat profusely or even hyperventilate. However, I’m sure no one here has ever been under so much pressure that you’ve actually sweat blood. I think Jesus knows what it’s like to be under pressure. I think that may be why Peter wrote in 1st Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
5) Jesus knows temptation. Luke 4:1-13. Jesus was attacked by the devil for forty days straight. I mean, in some way we’re tempted every day so this might not seem like much of a big deal but I can assure you this was an intense all out assault on God’s Son. And talk about pressure! I’m sure Jesus realized what one sin would do to the mission. The salvation of the entire human race of all time hinges on Jesus resisting each and every temptation! Therefore, I think Satan might’ve worked a little bit harder to try to accomplish the destruction of that holy mission. In fact, Jesus actually knows temptation better than anyone ever has. Why? Because no one has ever been tempted to the limited that Jesus has. Think about it. We get tempted and somewhere along the line we’ve given in. And since Satan knows to attack us where we’re weakest, like he did to Jesus when he was hungry, the temptations can become very intense over time. And there comes a time where you say to yourself, “I can’t take it anymore” and you give in. Not that we have to, we choose to. Jesus, however, took it and he took it to the fullest intensity; and won the war. C.S. Lewis once said, “A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is.... A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in.” Jesus knows temptation. Therefore, he is the best one who can understand what we’re going through when we’re tempted. Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Jesus was without sin so he doesn’t know what it’s like to sin but he does know what it’s like to be tempted to sin. And even though he doesn’t know what it’s like to sin, he can relate to sinners. He attracted them and they liked him and they listened to him. Why? Because he related to them. He sympathized with their weaknesses. He identified with their inner struggles. He had compassion on them.
6) Jesus knows hate. John 15:18-21. The Pharisees and religious leaders hated Jesus. They wanted to see him dead. Eventually they succeeded in their quest. Well, sort of. Jesus knew hatred; he knew rejection. He came to the world but the world did not receive him (1:10-11). John 7:7 says that the world hated Jesus because he testified that what the world did was evil. Well guess what? We who will also testify that what the world does is evil will also be hated. And we shouldn’t be surprised. 1st John 3:13, “Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.” When we are dealing with persecution and hatred we can turn to Jesus. He knows what we’re dealing with. He knows it’s tough to endure. The many people who are tortured for their faith in other countries lean on Jesus because they know that he knows what it’s like. When we have someone in our lives who can relate to what we’re going through it is really special. We can talk to them in a different way than we can to someone else who hasn’t been through what we’ve been through. Not that nobody else can sympathize or care but it’s different when someone knows; ya know? Jesus knows what it’s like to be hated.
7) Jesus knows betrayal. Matt. 26:45-50. Hard to believe that Jesus still was willing to refer to Judas as ‘friend’ after what he did. Here is Jesus still willing to show love toward his enemy. Could we be so selfless? Jesus had washed this betrayer’s feet just a short time ago. Jesus knew then that he would be betrayed yet he still served him. Jesus knew betrayal. He knew what it was like to have people turn on him. The very people who were singing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” as he entered Jerusalem were some of the same people who were shouting “crucify him” just a week later. Perhaps you know someone who was disloyal to you. You remember how that made you feel. Perhaps those feelings are just as strong now as they were then. You’re not alone. Jesus knows what it’s like to have someone be unfaithful to him. Jesus knows about betrayal.
8) Jesus knows abandonment. Have you ever felt all alone in the world? Ever feel like there’s no one in the world who cares? Was there ever a time in your life where all the “so-called” friends you thought you had deserted you when you needed them most? Jesus knows what that’s like too. Mark 14:27-31. They all thought they would never desert Jesus. Unfortunately, however, desert him they did. Mark 14:50-52. And Peter too disowned him three times. This must have been a very lonely time for Jesus as he endured these horrific events. And then, the ultimate abandonment for Jesus was when the Father had to turn his back on him when he became sin for us on the cross. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!” Talk about feeling alone. The closest relationship that could ever be had was now torn apart and now there was never a greater distance between two people as there was at this time between the father and his son. No greater extreme from one side to the other could be experienced. Therefore, there could be no greater feeling of desertion or loneliness ever experienced than what Jesus went through, for us, on that cross. Jesus knows.
9) Jesus knows pain and suffering. Jesus was human. He took on our humanly shortcomings like pain and sickness. A lot of people here deal with pain on an ongoing basis. They may wonder if Jesus can relate. Yes, he can. Look at all the pain he went through in the events leading up to and including his crucifixion. And an interesting thing to note: in the event of hematridosis, it states that ‘under conditions of great emotional stress, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can rupture, thus mixing blood with perspiration. This results in the skin becoming extremely tender and fragile. And it also makes the body weak and dehydrated from the severe anxiety along with the blood and sweat loss. Considering the skin sensitivity, the weakness and dehydration, we can see how all this would have made Jesus’ physical pain and suffering much worse than it already was’. People wonder what the purpose to their pain is; why would God allow them to go through all that pain. It might get them to question God’s love for them. Why did the Father allow his Son to be treated the way he was? Why did he allow Jesus to go through all that pain and suffering? Why would he allow his Son to be under so much emotional strain and physical pain that he would be brought to the point of crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Why? To achieve salvation for us. Why does God allow you to suffer? I don’t know specifically except that there is a greater purpose to be served through it. 1st Peter. 1:3-9, 2:19-24. There was a purpose for Jesus’ pain and suffering and there is a purpose for our pain and suffering. And Jesus, who knows pain and suffering, will be with us every step of the way as we faithfully endure to the end. Jesus knows suffering.
CONCLUSION: In stressing the importance of developing an intimate relationship with Jesus it’s important to know that Jesus can relate to anything we’re going through. In talking about the various things that Jesus experienced that allowed him to be able to relate to us better, we realize that knowing these things allow us to be able to relate to Jesus better. When we go through something that Jesus went through there is a deeper connection made. The relationship is closer than it was before because now there is a common experience. This makes for a stronger bond because now we can understand more about what Jesus might’ve felt when he went through it. Having this deeper understanding causes us to love him more. Jesus can relate to our lives.
