Devotional: The Example

The Example

Jesus was the epitome of faith. You and I know the trials of being human. There are many oppositions to our flesh, including weariness. We tire easily, we get frustrated with inability, sometimes the smallest thing irritates us - and that's just daily living, not including monumental trials. And as a man, Jesus experienced all these things. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). In other words, because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who has the power of death (New Living Translation).

The Bible tells us Jesus was the Son of God, yet He did not come in the power of God, but instead took on the nature of a man. "For although [He was] essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], He did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, but [instead] stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:6-8, Amplified).

Jesus stripped Himself of all God-like qualities and walked the earth as a human, with all its struggles. It was faith personified. And it wasn't an easy task either. At one point He said to His disciples, "Now My soul is troubled and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour?...'" (John 12:27a). As God's Son, He could have called upon heaven to rescue Him. But remember, He chose to strip Himself of that privilege. So in His fight of faith, He instead said, "...for this purpose I came..." (John 12:27b).

Jesus never lost focus, although the Bible indicates He experienced every temptation known to man (Luke 4:13). If we barely scratch the surface of our imagination, it's hard to picture Him suffering the same things we have fallen prey to. Yet, because Jesus succeeded in conquering sin and death on the cross by remaining a pure and spotless sacrifice, He is now able to help those who believe in Him. The writer of Hebrews says, "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).

And there is the point I want to make: Jesus is able to help those who believe. He lowered Himself to the rank of human for the shear purpose of defeating the power of the enemy and to give aid to those who "...were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15). If He had remained in the form of God, it would be understandable that we would waver in faith. As humans, we would be unable to identify with Deity (God-like with no limitations of being human). But that's why Jesus is the epitome of faith. He laid that all aside so we could identify with Him. So much so, the scriptures tell us, "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17b). We are actually encouraged to identify with Jesus.

By faith, He lived as a human, giving us an example of how to do the same. But we have more than just His example: He also gave us a Helper, known as the Holy Spirit, who would be our counselor, our comforter, our teacher, and advocate. He also gave us His written Word to expand our understanding of these things. And most importantly, we have personally have Him as an aid to this life because the heart of every believer has become His home.

But unless we choose to believe, we are without help.

"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin [and doubt]. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest [and receiving help], let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to [others before us]; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it" (Hebrews 3:12-13, 4:1-2).

Did you hear that? "The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith..." So many times, Jesus said to those around Him, "Oh you of little faith..." because He was both stunned and grieved by their unbelief. For unless we choose to believe the scriptures, we will not profit from all He came to do for us. You see, our problems are not really all that big; it's just that (at the moment) we are small in faith.

Jesus understands. This is why He gave us an example to identify with. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16). Let's take the mercy and accept the help from the One who came for this purpose.