INTRODUCTION
Imagine you are an Israelite.
You were born in Egypt. Your parents were slaves. You grew up as a slave, long hours in the hot sun making bricks for Egyptian building projects.
Moses came to Pharaoh with a message from God, “Let my people go!”
You lived through the plagues – judgments from God on the Egyptian deities.
When the time came to leave Egypt, you killed a lamb, and put its blood on your doorposts, so the destroying angel would pass over your house and not kill your firstborn.
You walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, protected by a pillar of cloud between you and the Egyptian army.
You were there at Mount Sinai. Thunder, lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, the loud trumpet, an earthquake, and black smoke like a furnace. God spoke the 10 commandments. And you promised to obey.
You were there at the sanctuary dedication. You saw the cloud cover the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
And now, after all that, you have sinned against God. You did not keep your promise. Your guilt weighs heavily on you. God is holy and mighty. How can your relationship with God be restored? How can you rid yourself of your guilt?
But there is a process. You need a lamb. You walk to the outskirts of the camp, and buy a lamb from a shepherd. A lamb with no defects.
And leading the lamb, you walk toward the pillar of cloud over the sanctuary. Past the tents. Women look up from grinding manna. Children pause in their play. More tents. Then crossing the wide, open area around the sanctuary, and finally to the entrance to the sanctuary courtyard. Just you, your guilt, and a lamb.
How can you approach a mighty and holy God? You are not qualified to enter the sanctuary, to cleanse your own sin.
Who will bridge the gulf? Do they understand what you are going through? How will you be received?
APPROACH
Hebrews 4:14 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.
We are well acquainted with the role of the High Priest in the Day of Atonement, how it typifies the cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven. But I’m the one who needs cleansing. Where is the sympathy there?
Desire of Ages p. 165 “The priesthood was established to represent the mediatorial character and work of Christ.”
Not just the high priest. Not just the ordinary priests. The whole priesthood. Every priest represented Christ. When you brought an offering to the sanctuary, the priest who met you at the veil was your mediator, representing the character and work of Christ.
The ordinary priests wore white linen tunics as they performed their daily services. The high priest wore special garments, but they were over the linen tunic as worn by the ordinary priests. Thus the high priest could assist in the daily services, but was also consecrated for a special role. The high priest can handle any priestly work.
How does Jesus sympathize with our weaknesses?
By personal Creation
Gen 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
Psalm 103:14 For He knows our frame, He remembers that we are dust.
Jesus created humanity. That should be enough to sympathize with us.
Knows our thoughts
Psalm 139:1-4 O Lord, You have searched me and known me, You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
Knows me perfectly
That should be enough to sympathize with us.
Became human
At Christmas, we remember Jesus’ incarnation
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.
Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared the same.
Jesus had to be human become a sacrifice for us. But Jesus has two primary roles in the plan of salvation, the perfect sacrifice, and a priest / mediator.
It should be enough that Jesus was human, to remember what it was like, to be able to sympathize with us.
Still human
Does Jesus still have a human body now?
Luke 24:36 (after resurrection) Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
Acts 1:11(at ascension, the angel told disciples) “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven”
1 Timothy 2:3 For there is One God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all…
Mediator represents both parties, God and Man. Jesus is uniquely qualified to mediate between God and man, since Jesus is both God and man.
Ellen White Letter #121, 1897 Jesus became a man that He might mediate between man and God. He clothed His divinity with humanity, He associated with the human race, that with His long human arm He might encircle humanity, and with His divine arm grasp the throne of Divinity.
The Youth's Instructor, October 13, 1898 The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God.
It should be enough that Jesus is still human, to be able to sympathize with us.
Jesus demonstrated sympathy
Lazarus - John 11:32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying, to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw here weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in His spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” Then said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.
Jesus knew that he was about to resurrect his friend Lazarus. And yet He wept with Mary and Martha.
At the triumphal entry into Jerusalem - Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace. “
Jesus sympathized with those who would endure the siege of Jerusalem.
As Paul wrote in Romans 12:15, Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Suffered
But there is a wide range of human experience. Some live a life of privilege and ease. Others have a much harder time. What did Jesus experience?
(This next section adapted from https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/our-sympathetic-high-priest-stephen-wright-sermon-on-compassion-77193)
Examples of suffering
Have you had a tough life? So did Jesus! He was born in a stable and lived the life of a peasant.
Do you have housing problems? Jesus had no place to lay His head. Matthew 8:20
Do family responsibilities weigh you down? There is no mention of Joseph after Jesus’ 12th birthday. Jesus probably had to help support Mary and His half brothers and sisters from an early age. As He died in agony on the cross He even had to think who would take care of His mother.
Do you anticipate bad things in your future? Jesus lived his life in the shadow of the cross. Matt 16:21 from that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Hungry? Jesus fasted 40 days.
Do people undervalue you or put you down? Those who lived in Nazareth saw Him only as the boy who had grown up among them, the son of Joseph and Mary. When He revealed His true identity they tried to stone Him. Mark 6:3; John 6:42
Do people slander you and make unkind remarks? They called Jesus illegitimate – John 8:41, a glutton and a drunkard. Matthew 11:19
Are you tempted to take the easy way out? Satan tempted Jesus, “All these things I will give You if you will fall down and worship me:” Matthew 4:9
Are you misunderstood? He ate with the dregs of society and they said he was just as bad – Matthew 9:11. He healed a paralyzed man and they called Him a blasphemer – Matthew 9:3. He cast out demons and they said He did it by the power of Satan – Matthew 12:24.
Are you under too much pressure? Crowds followed him everywhere, until He was so tired he slept in a little boat in the middle of a storm Matthew 8:24
Are you hated or unjustly treated? The Pharisees saw Jesus as a threat and hated Him so much that they determined to destroy him, arrested Him, rigged His trial and arranged His execution. His judge knew that he was innocent, but condemned him to death anyway – it was politically expedient – Matthew 12:14.
Are you lonely or let you down by your friends? Judas sold Him; Peter denied Him with oaths and curses; His closest friends deserted Him. On the cross He cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
Do you suffer pain? They beat Jesus, made a crown of thorns put it on His head and hit Him on it. They plucked the hairs from His beard, forced Him to carry His own cross, nailed Him to it with jagged iron spikes, leaving Him there to bleed and die of thirst and suffocation under the hot eastern sun. He was the Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3) and has not forgotten.
Do you feel unwanted? And they all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas” Luke 23:18
Do people ridicule you? They laughed at Him and taunted Him as He hung dying on the cross – He saved others himself he cannot save Matthew 9:24
Why did Jesus endure all that?
Hebrews 2:10-18 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory (that’s us), to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies (Jesus) and those who are being sanctified (that’s us) are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:
I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.
And again
I will put My trust in Him
And again,
Here am I and the children whom God has given me.
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed, He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 5:2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
Hebrews 5:8 Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
So why did Jesus endure all that?
To identify with us as humans
To become perfect through suffering
To sympathize with us
To be a merciful and faithful High Priest
To be able to give us aid
Jesus is eminently qualified to mediate between us and God.
CONCLUSION
Come Boldly
But there is more:
Hebrews 4:14-16 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 grace to help in time of need.
What Jesus suffered was not just for the benefit of Jesus, so He could sympathize with us, and know how to help us. The record of His suffering is for our benefit, so we could know that Jesus sympathizes with us. And trusting His sympathy, come boldly to Him when we need mercy and grace.
Jesus wants to be your high Priest.
1 Timothy 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is One God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all…
Would Jesus give himself a ransom for you, if He didn’t you want to come to Him?
Jesus has removed every possible barrier between us and Himself.
Testimonies for the church #6 p. 363 No sooner does the child of God approach the mercy seat than he becomes a client of the great Advocate. At his first utterance of penitence and appeal for pardon Christ espouses his case and makes it His own, presenting the supplication before the Father as His own request.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Christ’s Object Lessons p. 156 Christ has pledged Himself to be our substitute and surety, and He neglects no one. He who could not see human beings exposed to eternal ruin without pouring out His soul unto death in their behalf, will look with pity and compassion upon every soul who realizes he cannot save himself.
He will look upon no trembling suppliant without raising him up. He through His own atonement provided for man an infinite fund of moral power, will not fail to employ this power in our behalf. We may take our sins and sorrows to His feet; for He loves us. His every look and word invites our confidence.
APPEAL
Come boldly to the throne of grace, trusting the sympathy of Jesus.
What is stressing you today? Whatever you are going through, Jesus understands. He sympathizes with you. He wants you to come for sympathy, mercy, grace and aid.
And as we have received sympathy, pity, and forgiveness from Jesus, let us give the same to our fellow man.
Testimonies for the Church #3, p. 93 All who are followers of Christ should deal with one another exactly as we wish the Lord to deal with us in our errors and weaknesses, for we are all erring and need His pity and forgiveness.
