Christ Sitting with Us In It (Isaiah 63:9, Hebrews 4:14-16)

In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them THROUGH all the years. (Isaiah 63:9, prophesying about Christ)

How do you picture this verse? Where is Jesus? Where are you? What is happening? How is Jesus helping you?

Therefore, since we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ the Son of God, who has passed through the heavens from death into new life with God, we must keep tenaciously clinging in faith to all we know to be true and real. For we do not have a divine Go-between Who is incapable of understanding and empathizing with the realities of our weak and flawed humanity. Our divine Go-between fully entered our afflictions. As a Man our magnificent King-Priest was tempted and tested and pressurized in every way just as we are and He emerged sinless and victorious. What this means is we can keep coming openly and boldly to the place where loving grace is enthroned, so that we can receive mercy’s kiss and discover the divine enablement we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

How do you picture this passage? Where is Jesus? Where are you? What is happening? How is Jesus helping you?

Brene Brown, research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, offers this insight: “I thought faith would say, ‘I’ll take away the pain and discomfort,’ but what it ended up saying was, ‘I’ll sit with you in it.’ I never thought, until I found it, that it would be enough, but it’s perfect…I don’t feel alone in it anymore.”

Jesus suffers with us and rescues us and redeems us and lifts us and carries us primarily through our faith relationships.

…1 Corinthians 12:26 (The Passion Translation) …whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices.

…Galatians 6:2 (The Passion Translation) Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles.

How are you experiencing Christ sitting with you in “it”? In what specific ways are your faith brothers and sisters embodying Christ to you?

Grace and peace,

Rick Jordan (www.rickcarlajordan.com, rickjordankcmo@gmisl.com)