The Verdict Is In: The Sentence of God — Thursday
Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (NLT)
One of the big things my wife Leah and I have been trying to really nail down in our marriage this season is understanding and forgiveness—not toward a specific topic or goal, but in an effort to better communicate our needs, acknowledge and move on from accidental wrongs, and create better empathy. I don’t always know what Leah is going through or how she’s impacted by the things in her day she tells me about, and if I’m not intentional with trying to understand, I can get to a place where I’m sort of listening to her day, but also sort of planning what I want to talk about next. It’s a work in progress for us!
Being human is tough—sometimes I wonder how Jesus made it look so easy. But something in the Bible that recently caught my attention was in Matthew 26:39, where Jesus prays, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” That’s a totally understandable request—Jesus was about to face the most nefarious form of torture the Romans had devised: the cross. But it did sort of shake up the mindset I often have of, “Jesus went to the cross for me and was happy to do it.”
From His interaction with Satan in the wilderness to His final moments on the cross, the Bible gives us many glimpses of Jesus’ humanity—His real, raw emotions and the struggle He experienced when He faced difficulty. Temptation was as prevalent for Him as it is for us! His human nature was like ours, yet He never sinned. His plea before facing the cross, to me, is the ultimate reassurance that Jesus understands our struggles fully, and it’s honestly reminiscent of my prayers in times of trouble. He desperately prays to God asking for help, relief, and provision, and acknowledges that God’s good plan is still the goal even through the suffering. Knowing that one of the last things Jesus did before His crucifixion was wrestling with His own human nature reassures me of His grace, understanding, and love.
Thursday’s Reflection
Do you sometimes feel like you're facing challenges other people don’t understand? Talk to Jesus about it today; He will understand you completely. Additionally, Southland Podcasts cover many topics for men, women, and parents—these conversations are a great reminder that you’re not alone, and we’re all in this together. Tune in at southland.church/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!
