Thursday, December 3, 2009

A Real Savior - John 4:6

“And Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey,
was sitting thus by the well.”
(vs 6)
There is just something special about talking with a friend who really understands what you are going through. Perhaps they’ve faced a similar situation to yours. Perhaps they’ve faced the exact same thing at the exact same moment that you have. There is a kindredness when one has walked in your shoes. Well, Christ - the Friend of friends has walked in our shoes!

In the book of Hebrews we are told that “we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” (He 4:15). Here in John 4 we have a tangible example of just how much like us Jesus - our wondrous Emmanuel - was.

Christ was weary from His journey. He’d has a long walk and a long day and He was tired, so He sat. Have you ever been weary and worn out? Christ understands! He’s been there and even now is there with you. Throughout the pages of Scripture we see times when our Lord was hungry, thirsty, lonely, tearful, sleepy, righteously indignant, in physical pain, and in spiritual anguish. Oh how greatly He humbled Himself to come to this fallen world and walk with us, among us, as one of us!! This is God incarnate! This is amazing love – sent by the Father – for the sole purpose of saving sinners from the wrath to come!

“The truth before us is full of comfort for all who are true Christians. He to whom sinners are bid to come for pardon and peace, is One who is man as well as God. He had a real human nature when He was upon earth. He took a real human nature with Him, when He ascended up into heaven. We have at the right hand of God a High Priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because He has suffered Himself being tempted.

“ When we cry to Him in the hour of bodily pain and weakness, He knows well what we mean. When our prayers and praises are feeble through bodily weariness, He can understand our condition. He knows our frame. He has learned by experience what it is to be a man. The poor, the sick, and the suffering, have in heaven One who is not only an Almighty Savior, but a most feeling friend.” (Ryle)

Oh hear these words. Let them soak in. The Lord Jesus Christ is that friend who understands – better than any other friend ever will. He is the Friend of sinners. He is the sympathizing High Priest. No wonder the writer of Hebrews goes on in verse 16 of chapter 4 to encourage us to flee to this understanding One. “Let us therefore [because He sympathizes] draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

Are you weary? Christ understands and He is a Friend who can not only supply you with an understanding ear but with all the strength you so desperately need. “Hallelujah, what a Savior. Hallelujah, what a Friend. Saving, helping, keeping, loving – He is with me to the end!”

Thankful for an understanding and enabling Friend,
Lori

No comments:

Post a Comment