Because Jesus is eternal, there are multi multi multi faceted aspects to who he is and his ministry towards us. One aspect is that Jesus is our Sympathetic High Priest who understands our weaknesses because he lived in this world.
Last year I wrote about how Jesus Understands Trauma. Today my focus is about Jesus understands physical pain and what that means to me.
Living with chronic illness means living with pain. Some days there is less pain and some days there is more pain. I do not remember what it is like to not have pain. That has been the reality of my life for over 25 years.
But I do not like to complain. I share about it in my blog in hopes of encouraging others living with chronic illness, but I do not like to complain.
Instead, I try to give it to Jesus each morning when I start my day. One truth that has helped keep my spirits up is that Jesus understands physical pain. He endured terrible physical pain himself.
Jesus was whipped 40 times with a cat of nine tails. That is a whip with 9 lashes each of them having sharp objects like glass attached.
Jesus had a crown of thorns pushed into his head. Not just placed on his head, but pushed down on it.
Jesus had nails driven through his wrists and feet and then was hoisted up on a cross.
Jesus died of suffocation as his lungs filled with fluid.
Jesus understands physical pain. So when I wake up with pain, I pray to Jesus and let him know about my pain. Then I ask for strength for the day. Some mornings I tell him he will have to carry me through the day.
I have been living with chronic illness for over 25 years, but I have been able to go on 11 ministry trips to other countries, teach classes and have an outreach ministry in my home city. Jesus has given me the strength to do those things.
Even as I write this on Monday morning, scheduling for Wednesday morning, I have pain. On a scale of 1 to 10 this morning is a 7 as in a 7 in multiple places in my body. But I gave it to Jesus this morning and will teach my class this evening.
Because Jesus understands, He is our Sympathetic High Priest. Hebrews 4 says:
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Whatever we go through in this life, Jesus empathizes with us in our weakness. We can go to him in prayer.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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