He Comes Down to Our Level

Written by Jon Spargo

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

We don’t think of the struggle of temptation until we struggle with temptation. We never notice the fight until we start fighting. Temptation is never hard until you fight against it. When we begin to live and walk according to the Spirit, we begin to notice how much of a battle we’re really in.

I am taller than my kids….at least currently, anyway. When they were little, there were times I wanted them to know I was serious about something I said- times I wanted them to understand the significance of my words, and my presence. I would bring them close and get on my knees so we were eye to eye. It’s one thing when dad is way above looking down, and you’re straining your neck to see his face. It’s another thing entirely when dad comes down to your level and looks straight into your eyes.

It’s another thing entirely when dad comes down to your level and looks straight into your eyes.

In the last 3 verses of Hebrews 2 we read what Jesus Christ did for us regarding temptation. Instead of being angelic, He was human. Instead of being distant, He came close. Instead of simply standing over us, it is as if God, through Jesus, got down on His divine knees to look humanity in the eyes and say: “I know what this is like.”

He was tempted just like you and I, in the same areas, and with the same intensity. That word “succour” in verse 18 isn’t a word we really use anymore, but it carries with it the idea of “aid or relief.” In other words, Jesus Christ intentionally subjected Himself to the weight of temptation so we would know we aren’t alone in the battle.

Yes, temptation is tough. Yes, it can often seem overwhelming. But Jesus came and conquered it in every category so we would know through Him that it can be done. The Lord clothed Himself in humanity and qualified Himself to say “I know what this is like.”

Be strong, brothers and sisters. We have a God who walks with us.