14That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. 15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. 16So 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.
(New Living Translation)
To what or whom do you cling? Who or what gives you security?
In the comic strip Peanuts, Linus is always with his blanket. I remember reading a strip where Linus is pictured sitting on the ground holding blanket and sucking his thumb. He is sound asleep. In the next frame is a picture of Snoopy crouching ready to attack. The next few frames show Snoopy running to Linus and grabbing the blanket to steal it. Much to Snoopy’s dismay, Linus holds on. Snoopy runs all over the yard trying to shack Linus loose from the blanket. In the last frame Snoopy is clutching one end of the blanket and Linus is clinging to the other end. The blanket is stretched across the top of Snoopy’s house dangling Snoopy and Linus on each end. No one could take Linus’ blanket away from him.
We want something or someone to cling to for security. Linus clings to his blanket, what do you cling to?
Clinging to some one or something can be good or bad. It all depends on why we cling.
Clinging is unhealthy when I cling to people or things that hold me back.
Linus has a co-dependent relationship with his blanket. His blanket provides a false sense of security. He expects from the blanket what it cannot deliver.
You know the phrase, "misery loves company." Clinging to miserable people will make you miserable.
This is why we have to have choose our friends carefully. We must be careful who we look to for advice.
Clinging is healthy when I cling to people or things that help me grow.
If someone truly loves you, they will want you to be the best person you can be. They will do whatever they can to help you excel in life.
During our life time, we will cling to many people who will shape us into people of character and integrity: parents, grandparents, teachers, friends.
Healthy relationships are those where I am encouraged, challenged, supported, and loved.
The problem is this. Even healthy, solid people make mistakes. Even the person you admire the most will let you down some time. From time to time even the most wise person will make the wrong decision. We are all sinful human beings.
So, who can I cling to who will never let me down or who never mislead me? Who can I cling to who will help me to grow into a mature spiritual person.
I can cling to Jesus because…
1. He is the Son of God (4:14).
Chapters 1-4 of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is superior to all creation because he created it. Jesus is also superior to the angels. He is not just a good man who excelled in his spirituality. Jesus is the Son of God.
When you have a complaint with the service at a restaurant, who do want to talk to? The manager. You want to talk to someone who has the authority to solve the problem. You want to talk to someone who is in charge.
In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.”
We can cling to Jesus because as the Son of God, he has complete authority to help us with our problems. Jesus has authority over every human, every angel, and over the devil and his demons. There is no one any higher in the chain of command.
I can cling to Jesus because…
2. He understands my weaknesses (4:15).
Even though Jesus is the Son of God, he became a human being so that he could relate with us. He became a human so that he could communicate the Good News of God’s love and God’s forgiveness.
While Jesus was fully human, he experienced life just we do.
* He got hungry.
* He got tired.
* He got frustrated with people.
* He laughed.
* He cried.
* He loved people.
* He was used by people.
* He was hurt by people.
* He was misunderstood by those closest to him.
* He was finite.
* He was limited to time and space just as are.
Jesus understands your limitations and weaknesses because he has been there.
Clinging to someone who understands gives us comfort and encouragement. This is why support groups are so important. When I am struggling with something and need help, I want to talk to someone who has been through it and has overcome or is overcoming the problem. I want to talk with someone who has more wisdom and experience than I have. I want to talk with someone who can help me to objectively see the whole situation.
Jesus understands our weaknesses. But he doesn’t allow us to use our weaknesses as an excuse. We tend to use our weaknesses to excuse ourselves from doing the right or responsible thing. Learning that we have weaknesses can be liberating because we finally understand why we behave the way we do. However, if we’re not careful, we will begin to use our weakness as excuse not to do what God is calling us to do.
So, instead of clinging to the One is greater than our weaknesses, we cling to our weaknesses because we feel safe within them.
I can cling to Jesus because...
3. He was tempted just as I am tempted (4:15).
Jesus not only understands our weaknesses, he understands temptation. Jesus was tempted just as we are.
In Matthew chapter four is the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. There are three temptations that Satan used to entice Jesus:
* To satisfy his hunger by turning stones into bread.
* To test God’s faithfulness by jumping from the highest point of the Temple.
* To have power and control.
There is a temptation that is included in each of these temptations that is at the heart of every temptation we face. The temptation to prove our identity. Satan said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God…”
Every time you and I are tempted, our identity is being challenged. When you asked God to forgive you of your sins, you became one of his children. When you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you gave all authority to him. You submitted yourself to his control and his authority.
When we give in to temptation and sin, we are denying our identity in Christ. We are denying His power to deliver us from temptation. We are denying his wisdom because we think our way is better.
Jesus was tempted just as we are. The night he was arrested, Jesus knelt and prayed, “If there is another way we can do this, Father, please show me.” Jesus knew his death was eminent. He knew it would be very painful. He knew following God’s will would not be pleasant. He went on to pray, “Not that my will be done, but your will be done.”
I can cling to Jesus because…
4. He did not sin (4:15).
Even though he was tempted, Jesus did not give in. He remained true to his identity as the Son of God and did not sin. He knew God better understood the purpose for the suffering than he did. He knew that God’s plan was the best plan for everyone involved.
When temptation comes, we have a choice to make. Who will I depend on? My strength. My wisdom. Will I cling to someone who is fallible and finite. Or will I cling to the One who is superior to all people? Will I cling to the One who understands my weaknesses? Will I cling to the One who has been there, but hasn’t done that?
Verse 16 contains a great promise. Because we cling to Jesus, we can boldly come to him when we need help and we will receive grace, mercy, and the help we need.
Closing
To whom or what will you cling to in 2003? Cling to Jesus. Cling to his every word. For you when you cling to Jesus, you will have life that is filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and the one we need a lot, self-control.
