Hebrews 2:18 AMP
“Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.”
Besides the salvation Christ gave Himself to offer to mankind, Jesus came to this earth to also help us live a godly life, despite the many odds under the sun. The Scripture says, “…the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham” (Heb 2:16-17 NLT). The holy angels of God have no sin and thus need no salvation. It is mankind, the descendants of Abraham (both by blood and adoption), that Christ came to help. ‘Couldn’t Christ help us from heaven? After all, He is God. Why did He have to come live among us in this sinful world?’ one may inquire.
Thankfully, Scripture has a response to that inquiry. The Word says, “…it was necessary for him [Christ] to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people” (Heb 2:17 NLT). Hallelujah! As our “merciful and faithful High Priest before God”, the Lord Jesus understands every single thing we go through, because He not only knows all things, but He was here on earth in person to experience it all. There is nothing we have endured, are presently enduring, or will ever endure that is unfamiliar to the Lord Jesus.
To drive the whole point home, the Apostle concludes (in our reference text) that “Because He [Christ] Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.” Hallelujah! ‘How, then, can I access the immediate assistance?’, one may ask. Firstly, decide to “cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psa 55:22 BSB)! Secondly, continue to “…pray at all times and not lose heart” (Luk 18:1 BSB). Remember, our “…Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give[s] good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!” (Mat 7:11 AMPC).
Pst. Emmanuel