Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18
At the memorial service for Charles Schulz (1922-2000), creator of the beloved Peanuts comic strip, friend and fellow cartoonist Cathy Guisewite spoke of his humanity and compassion. "He gave everyone in the world characters who knew exactly how all of us felt, who made us feel we were never alone. And they he gave the cartoonist himself, and he made us feel that we were never alone...He encouraged us. He commiserated with us. He made us feel he was exactly like us."
When we feel that no one understands or can help us, we are reminded that Jesus gave us Himself, and He knows exactly who we are and what we are facing today.
Hebrews 2:9-18 presents the remarkable truth that Jesus fully shared our humanity during His life on earth (verse 14). He "tasted death for everyone" (verse 9), broke the power of Satan (verse 14), and freed "those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (verse 15). Jesus was made like us, "fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God" (verse 17).
Prayer for Today
Thank You, Lord, for sharing our humanity so that we might know Your help today and live in Your presence forever. Amen.