“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
When the double negative of this verse is eliminated, the wonderful declaration is: We do have a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses.
Like a survivor of stage four cancer whose feelings of compassionate tenderness and empathy toward others afflicted with cancer is not based upon a theoretical study but on personal experience, so Jesus knows the full force of temptation. He had the same physical limitations we have. He understands the incredible tenacity required to hold on to the truth that He is the Christ, the Son of God and to be faithful unto death for it.
Because of this, His understanding of human nature and spiritual conflict is experiential, not theoretical. When we feel in desperate need of God’s mercy and grace because of human weakness, Jesus does much more than understand. He has compassionate tenderness and empathy for us because He entered into our world of suffering and weakness.
