Immanuel: Experience empathy from Jesus who is truly With Us and understands our weakness. Hebrews pt.5

  • The stories from when Jesus walked this earth with us,
  • show a man who experienced a full range of emotions, and was deeply empathic with those around him.
  • Hebrews encourages us to experience this deep compassion as we engage with him in prayer.

Play Audio:

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself
will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive
and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel.
[God with us|

Question:

  • Why did Jesus have to become a human?
  1. So he could suffer in our place on the cross as a perfect human
  2. So he could show us an example of how we should live in the power of the Spirit
  3. But why be born in such shame, poverty & filth
    and live in such hardship?
  4. So he can truly empathize with us

Matthew 1

  1. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
  2. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
  3. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
  • Nowadays we think of the formal name, but in ancient times your name was more about your character

Goal

To help us to feel the closeness of Jesus
when we pray
and have a deeper sense of his empathy for us
whenever we are struggling.

  • Very simple plan for today:

Plan

  1. Stories of Jesus experiencing the pains of being human
  2. Stories of Jesus showing empathy and compassion
  3. Get a sense of his compassion for us

Hebrews 2 CSB

  1. For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God ​— ​for whom and through whom all things exist ​— ​should make the pioneer of their salvation complete through sufferings.
  2. For the one who dedicates us and those who are dedicated all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
  3. saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;
  4. …Here I am with the children God gave me.
  5. Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil
  6. and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
  7. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
  8. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
  • God’s power is scary, especially that he knows every detail about you.
    • That’s how this passage starts
    • But a key fact changes fear to confidence:

Hebrews 4

  1. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
  2. Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
  3. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
  • Because of this tender compassion, we can come to him when we are broken
  1. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

Hebrews 5 CSB

  1. During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death

Hebrews 12

  1. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
  • God’s tender compassion for human weakness is not unique to the N.T.

Psalm 103

  1. The LORD is compassionate and merciful;
    he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.
  2. He does not always accuse,
    and does not stay angry.
  3. He does not deal with us as our sins deserve;
    he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.
  4. For as the skies are high above the earth,
    so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.
  5. As far as the eastern horizon is from the west,
    so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.
  6. As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers.
  7. For he knows what we are made of;
    he realizes we are made of clay.

based on NET Bible

  • What does it feel like when somebody understands you
    • Two personal examples
  • How much can he empathize with us?
    • What does he truly understand? —after all, he’s God!

Tired, hungry & homeless

Jacob’s well was there, so Jesus, since he was wearied from the journey, sat right down beside the well. It was about noon. John 4:6

  • Do you ever feel “I’m just weary right now, I have to sit down”. Jesus knows exactly how you feel!

He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). Mark 6:31

As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:57–58

Longing

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how I have often longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…” Luke 13:34

  • The deepest pain we feel is relational
    • betrayal, loss, separation
    • personal example

Friendship – John 15

  1. …I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father.
  • Luke 22:
  1. Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him.
  2. And he said to them, “I have passionately desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
  3. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
  • Same word as “lust”. Doubled “with desire I have desired.” (Hebrew)
    • He was fully human and so needed friends
  • When someone understands you, it feels so good, but you can almost feel Jesus’ pain when the disciples didn’t get him:

Not understood - John 14

  1. Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
  2. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
  • His friends left him at the point of his greatest need

Uncared for – Matthew 26

  1. He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”
  2. Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
  3. Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me for one hour?
    …

Deserted – Matthew 26

  1. …Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Denied by close friend – John 13

  1. Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
  2. Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Betrayal – John 13

  1. …But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me’…
  2. When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.”
  • Psalm 41:9:
    Even my close friend whom I trusted,
    he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.
  • Story of David’s close friend Ahithophel

Separated from the Father – Mark 15

  1. Around three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
  • He was abandoned so that we should never be abandoned
  • Jesus suffered in our place
    • The place of everyone who trusts him with their life
  • Very helpful to see what Jesus was quoting:

Psalm 22

  1. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
    I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.
  2. My God, I cry out during the day,
    but you do not answer,
    and during the night my prayers do not let up.
  3. You are holy;
    you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.
  4. In you our ancestors trusted;
    they trusted in you and you rescued them.
  5. To you they cried out, and they were saved;
    in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.
  6. But I am a worm, not a man;
    people insult me and despise me.
  7. All who see me taunt me;
    they mock me and shake their heads.
  8. They say,
    “Commit yourself to the LORD!
    Let the LORD rescue him!
    Let the LORD deliver him, for he delights in him.”
  9. Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb
    and made me feel secure on my mother’s breasts.
  10. I have been dependent on you since birth;
    from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.
  11. Do not remain far away from me,
    for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.
  12. Many bulls surround me;
    powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in.
  13. They open their mouths to devour me
    like a roaring lion that rips its prey.
  14. My strength drains away like water;
    all my bones are dislocated;
    my heart is like wax;
    it melts away inside me.
  15. The roof of my mouth is as dry as a piece of pottery;
    my tongue sticks to my gums.
    You set me in the dust of death.
  16. Yes, wild dogs surround me —
    a gang of evil men crowd around me;
    like a lion they pin my hands and feet.
  17. I can count all my bones;
    my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.
  18. They are dividing up my clothes among themselves;
    they are rolling dice for my garments.
  19. But you, O LORD, do not remain far away!
    You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!
  20. Deliver me from the sword!
    Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!
  21. Rescue me from the mouth of the lion,
    and from the horns of the wild oxen!
    You have answered me!
  22. I will declare your name to my countrymen!
    In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!
  23. You loyal followers of the LORD, praise him!
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
    All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!
  24. For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed;
    he did not ignore him;
    when he cried out to him, he responded.
  25. You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly;

based on NET Bible

  • What about temptation”

Hebrews 4

  1. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
  2. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
  • This is a mystery to an extent, but we have to go with what it says
  • Someone asked me if he felt sexual temptation. He wasn’t human if he didn’t!

Plan

  1. Stories of Jesus experiencing the pains of being human
  2. Stories of Jesus showing empathy and compassion
  3. Get a sense of his compassion for us

Jesus’ Empathy

Matthew

Chapter 9

  1. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Chapter 11

  1. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
  2. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  3. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Chapter 14

  1. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.
  2. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Mark

Chapter 6

  1. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Chapter 8

  1. During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,
  2. “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.
  3. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

Luke

Chapter 7

  1. Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
  2. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
  3. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Chapter 8

  1. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”
  2. Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

Chapter 12

  1. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
  2. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

based on NET Bible

  • Is he with me now?
    • Can he feel what I feel?
    • Close your eyes—what negative emotions are there deep in you
    • Now feel Jesus with you, telling you that he understands
  • Motivation—to share your feelings with Jesus in prayer

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