Flesh and blood...

Week 27:

Hebrews 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

I have to be reminded from time to time that Jesus not only was the son of God but also fully human. The verses prior to this passage speak about Jesus becoming flesh and blood like his brothers in every way in order to become the perfect high priest on our behalf.

It is so hard to grasp that Jesus was fully human. But he had to be. Adam did not fulfill the job. Jesus is the model that Adam was to be. God not only sent Jesus to redeem us from the sin set in motion from the beginning, but also to show us the true man Adam was meant to be.

 

To understand Jesus suffering when tempted we have to understand he was flesh and blood. Jesus had emotion. He felt compassion, happiness, joy, disappointment, anger, sadness, grief, peace, love, etc. He wept with those in pain. He righted wrongs with anger and authority. He had a sense of humor. He was obedient to his parents. He ate, he drank, he worked, he sang, he tired, he slept, and he taught. He was fully human.

Because he was fully human, he felt the suffering of temptation. Not only did the devil tempt him in the wilderness…he tempted him while he was physically weak from fasting. Jesus endured the devil’s temptation and past the test while at his weakest.

Jesus also faced the same type of tempting Adam had faced. Scholars break the temptation of both Adam and Jesus into three types; lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. It really does not matter whether or not one buys into the scholars attempt to categorize the temptations. When one reads the temptation in the garden and compares it to the temptation of Jesus in the gospel accounts; one can see the similarities between the two. Satan uses the same type of deception. Be reminded that he is the father of lies and has been lying since the beginning.

If you look at any temptation we face today, we can relate to both the garden and the wilderness temptations. Adam and Eve failed, Jesus did not. Jesus faced what we face as temptation. As the verse tells us, he can help us with temptation because he’s been there! I really believe that I as well as many around me down play the power of using Jesus’ name to fight off temptation. Calling on his name always has helped me fight off temptation, without fail. Why do I not do it more? I need to draw on the fact that Jesus lived and walked this earth and faced what I faced. That will remind me that I am not alone and that I have a Son of God who knows what I face. HE WILL HELP ME!

Questions/challenges:

1. Which of the three types of temptations are you weakest at facing?
2. Have you ever called on the name of Jesus in the midst of temptation? How did it work for you?
3. List some ways you know that Jesus was fully human.
4. What does the knowledge of knowing Jesus was flesh and blood do for you?
5. This week, be aware temptations as they arise. Call on the name of Jesus to combat those temptations. Work this into your daily life.

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