Happy Friday, everyone

I, and probably you, have been taught that when Jesus was on Earth, he was 100% God and 100% man.  As a former math teacher, here I will admit to still being on the path to a complete understanding of this concept.  For example, when someone would say they were going to give 110% to some endeavor, I would say that is not possible, because 100% is the maximum one can accomplish.  So I’ve still got some growing to do in this area.  

But today I want to examine Jesus in the 100% man category.  He was born as an infant, exactly like you and I were:  

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” [Luke 2:6-7a]  

He was pressured by other human situations, like temptation:  

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” [Matthew 4:1]  

He felt anger:  

“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” [Matthew 21:12]  

He experienced grief:  “Jesus wept.” [John 11:35]

For one moment, He also felt fear:  

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” [Luke 22:43]  

And, perhaps worst of all, He felt forsaken:  

“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’–which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me’ [Matthew 27:46]  

Jesus completely understands all of our human emotions and temptations, which is what the writer of Hebrews was led to teach us:  

“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.” [4:15]

Feeling tempted, angry, sad, fearful, forsaken, betrayed, hated?  Take it to Jesus, Who knows exactly what you are going through.  

Blessings, 

Keith