Good morning my precious friends.

Hebrews 4 verses 15-16 says, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things 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.”

Have you ever wished there was someone you could really talk to? Someone who understands the challenges you face at any given moment? As you think of all your friends and family, and perhaps even your church elder/pastor, it seems that there is no such person. Sure, there are plenty who are compassionate and wise who will give you a hug or share an encouraging word, but there’s no one with whom you can have that intimate talk – or cry – that your heart desires.

I felt like that a few times in my early life. There was no one I could go to who would really understand what I was going through. After all, it’s my life, so how could an outsider really understand? I’m sure that I’m not the only one who’s ever felt that way.

Hebrews 4 verses 15-16 offer fantastic news.

In the Old Testament the high priest was appointed by God to represent man to God – for sinful man cannot approach a holy God so needs a mediator to stand in the gap. The high priest is the one that stands between God and man, to offer sacrifices to Him - in order to pay for man’s many sins - and every high priest from Aaron onward, was a representative of the final and ultimate High Priest - our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our great High Priest is the eternal Son of God, He laid aside His glory and became the Incarnate Word of God so that as the perfect Son of Man He could identify with the human race in every way– for He was tempted like as we are yet He did not sin.

Because of His earthly walk, the Lord Jesus is able to sympathise with all our weakness, all our disappointments – all our rejection and all our temptations. He identified so closely with us all that He was made sin for us and paid the terrible price that we so rightly deserve.

Hebrews 10:19, tells us that because of the blood of Jesus, we can approach God with boldness. Without the blood of Jesus, we are all sinners doomed to eternal separation from God. When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and allow His cleansing blood to wash over us, we are made perfect in God’s eyes, and are worthy to be in His presence. Jesus blood gives us this ultimate privilege.

Hebrews 4:15-16, tells us that because Jesus was in all points tempted as we are, He can sympathize with our weaknesses, therefore we can approach God with boldness, knowing He will meet us with mercy and grace. Wow, think about that. The Hebrews 10 verses give us the right to come to the throne; the Hebrews 4 verses give us the reason to come to the throne.

To become the perfect example for humanity (Hebrews 2:10), and our true High Priest (Hebrews 2:17), Jesus had to experience all of the struggles and suffering of mankind (Hebrews 2:14-18).

When He walked along the road, He was hungry and tired. Our Great High Priest was not exempt from the human emotions of hope and fear, of joy and pain, of anger and grief, nor was He free from suffering and sorrow but lived a life of humble obedience to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit.

We truly can say that we DO have a great High Priest Who understands ALL our weaknesses, for He faced the same testing’s that we do, but He did not sin – and He is with us today and lives inside us as we face our own troubles and trials.

The sinless Son of Man did not need to die – for sin is the reason for death – yet He chose to die and willingly gave up His perfect life so that our punishment was paid - and also that we might receive His life in us – the new life in Christ, and that we might have it more abundantly.

We can’t easily approach President Ramaphosa. If someone gave us “a free pass” to get to him, that is great. He is in a totally different place in life than you and me, and he has many things going on. He might listen with the best of intentions, but he’s probably not going to be able to personally help us.

With Jesus’ blood, we have that “free pass” to get to God, our Father in heaven. But what would be the real value of that if we only found God to be some high and mighty king who reigned from a distance, who couldn’t directly connect with His children? It would be an honour to be in His presence, but it wouldn’t be an intimate encounter.

When we come before the throne of God, He is thrilled. He has extended an invitation: come, draw near. He has told us to come boldly, with confidence. He understands what we are going through – because He Himself has endured everything we will ever face and He can relate first-hand! How comforting it is to know that Jesus relates to us on such a real level. No one can compare to that.

He understands what we’re talking about when we come to His throne aching from our trials and heartache. God gives us the right to come boldly. He understands our needs. And He will respond with love and compassion.

Keep that in mind the next time you pray. See if it doesn’t change the way you talk to God.

Let us pray:

Thank You Lord Jesus for coming to earth to live and die as a man so that You understand all the trials and troubles that all Your children face in this world of sin. Thank You that we can bring all our cares to You, knowing that You understand everything that we are facing – thank You for being my Saviour, AMEN.

Much love from Maurice and Margaret.