Bible Verse of the Day Saturday July 9th, 2022

 Hebrews 2:17-18 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Christ Jesus had to be made human in all aspects: His birth, His growth as a human being, and His torment and affliction. Jesus went through every attribute of the human experience, with one exception, sin. Jesus' experience as a human was not something He only identified with; He became human so that He might experience life as we live. If Jesus had not been like us, as humans, He could not have become our High Priest, our representative before the Father. This verse tells us that Jesus is a "merciful and faithful" Hight Priest. Mercy is a crucial requirement for a Priest (Hebrews 4:15). One who shows mercy must be familiar with other people's distress. This verse also tells us that He is faithful to His office as a mediator for us before the Father.

As saved, born-again believers in Christ Jesus, we can enjoy fellowship with God because Jesus covered the sin issue through His sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary (Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10). Although Jesus did not bear the "breastplate of Righteousness" on Himself, the wounds upon His chest on Calvary are a more expressive testimony of His substitutionary work on the Cross on our behalf.

Some contend that Satan did not tempt Jesus. These well-meaning, but inaccurate people claim that His temptation was not confirmed since Jesus could not sin. However, the unknown author of the Book of Hebrews contends that His temptation was real, and he suffered distress during that time.

Our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus suffered for us on the Cross, and He suffered along with us. Jesus is prepared and able to offer us help with our tribulations because He went through the same trials as we are going through right now. Jesus did not yield to the temptation of Satan when He was in the wilderness for forty days. Consequently, we are under no obligation to fall into sin. We will all sin because we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), but Jesus made it possible for us to withstand Satan's solicitations of evil.