God Understands

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18



“Stop breathing so fast! You’re panicking!” the doctor ordered and informed me during the delivery of my third child. In a brief moment of reprieve, I replied (nicely, I’m sure), “I’m not panicking! I’m in pain! You’ve helped deliver lots of babies, but you’ve never had one!”


Some things must be experienced to be understood. Childbirth is one. Temptation is another.


“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”(Heb. 4:15). What a relief! What a comfort! What a profound disclosure! God knows and God understands. He really, really does. He knows what it’s like to be tempted. He understands the struggle of sin. Jesus felt the lure of lust and the appeal of pride. He experienced the desire to be selfish and the enticement of power. His body yearned; His heart ached; His mind wondered and wanted to wander. If you’ve felt it, so has He. If you’ve been baited, so has He. He’s been through it all—the gentle tug, the burning attraction, and the constant coaxing. He’s heard it all—“You know this would feel good.” “Everyone deserves a little fun.” “Come on! Prove you’re really the man!”


And it wasn’t easy. “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Temptation is hard, and it was hard on Jesus. He endured temptation bigger and badder than we ever will, and it hurt. “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted…” Staying strong and saying no was painful, but Jesus can relate to our anguish because His agony was real. Because He hurt, He can help us. And He will. He knows we are weak, and though He did not sin, He understands. He gives strength(Ps. 20:2), provides a way out(1 Cor. 10:13), and offers grace when we fall(Heb. 4:16).


And lest you think the scope of God’s empathy extends only to being tempted, not to the guilt of giving in, remember the cross. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities”(Is. 53:5). Jesus has experienced the pain of consequences and the sorrow of sin in an extreme and unfathomable way which, praise God, we will never have to face. Jesus knows. Jesus understands. And Jesus will help.


He’s been there and done that.
And He did it for you.