A Priest Who Understands

For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16, WEB)

One of the loneliest parts of this struggle is the assumption that no one who matters could possibly understand it, least of all a holy God who has never felt what you feel. So you imagine approaching him the way you would approach someone who would only be disgusted, someone who would listen with a tightening jaw, and you stay away rather than watch his face change. Hebrews describes a different figure at the throne. We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, the writer says, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus knows the pull. He was tempted in every respect, which means the specific ache you feel, the wanting that seems too strong to refuse, is not foreign to him. He felt desire's full force and did not give in, and holding out did not make him cold toward those who buckle under it. He understands the fight from the inside, as someone who stood in the same storm and knows exactly how hard the wind blows, not as a distant judge reading a report.

And because of that, the writer says to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Confidence is a strange word to attach to a man who just failed, but there it is. You come with confidence, not because you performed well enough to deserve the audience, but because the one on the throne sympathizes and is holding out mercy before you have said a word. The priest who meets you there is not surprised by what you bring, and he is not repelled by it, because he has felt the same weight bearing down and knows from the inside how heavy it gets.

Lord Jesus, you know the weakness I am ashamed of. Thank you that I can come to you without pretending. I draw near now, and I ask for mercy and for help.