I was just reading one of today's devotionals and the scripture at the end to ponder was this one:
Hebrews 2:14-18, "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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." (NIV)
I know I always try to remember that Jesus was human... all human (although still all God)... and it made me feel better to see that he faced temptation. Right? That gives us solace, comfort, and help when we face temptations. He faced Satan in the desert, and He resisted Satan's ploys, and overcame.
But I began to consider... what was His biggest temptation??
And then I thought... He limited Himself FULLY as human... and FULLY experienced the pain of being human and being tortured, crucified, slashed, beaten, tormented...
And I got this flash of Him on the cross... total pain and torture and agony, and as it brings tears to my eyes... I contemplate... perhaps His - Jesus, as both limited human and yet still wholly God - BIGGEST temptation was at that very moment... because if I was a person in that very situation, would I have EVER lasted even THAT long?
Why, on the cross, did He not just decide it was time to use His power? Why, on the cross in that agony, did He not say enough is enough, I'm through with this. Why, in that pain that none of us will ever be able to describe, did He not pull from His power as ALMIGHTY LORD and just numb Himself to His pain??? Talk about temptation... and I believe that had to be possibly the worst moment of temptation He faced. And yet... in lieu of all He was fully capable of... He gained more power, and showed more love... in remaining completely human at that moment. And so He spit in the face of temptation. If that isn't the ultimate resistance, I don't know what is.
It kind of reminds me of the people who die in the name of Christ, who are confronted "choose Christ and death or reject Him and live"... and choose Christ. Although, not to do injustice to what any of those individuals went through... it still pales in comparison to what Jesus went through on the cross.
Wow. So He spit in the face of temptation... for us. Just another little facet of the amazing loving God we have...
Maybe this will make it a little easier for me to resist temptation. I can hope!
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Thoughts... Just thoughts, inspirations, revelations...
About Me
- Julie
- Fountain Inn, SC, United States
- I don't have too much to say here. Mainly I'm starting this blog space so that I can keep track of some of my thoughts, revelations, and more...
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2 comments:
i can wholeheartedly relate to this. I'm still in that still "spiritual infancy" stage, where I find myself faltering and I waivering so much and feel I must be the ultimate disappointment to God for failing to stand up so many times, but it's not how good we are that makes us worthy of that saving grace, it is our faith in God and Jesus and our trust that, "...He who began a good work in you will carry it on until completion.." (Phillipians 1:6).
Jesus was faced with temptation and is the prime example that a human CAN stand up to it and resist the devil and cause him to flee. But even so, there will be times where we mess up. The point is to be quick to catch it and confess and make sure to not deliberately allow it next time. Look at Paul, who even after being filled with the Spirit still boasted in pride for suffering for Christ, until God sent him a spiritual thorn in his side and Jesus stepped in and said, "my grace is sufficient unto thee. My strength is made perfect in your weakness."
I love that line myself:
"My strength is made perfect in your weakness."
And yet we try and try to be perfect by being strong, by puffing out our chest and saying "I can handle this"... and that's not it. We have to remember to say "I can't handle this alone... the ONLY way I can survive it is with Christ".
Awesome stuff.
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