Today is Wednesday the middle of another week with an opportunity once more I suggest for an hour to take time out to reflect and pray at 7:30-8:30pm or whatever time is suitable for you in the midst of your daily schedule. There are also pointers for prayer to assist us in our intercessions to God for other people <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are seven statements attributed to our Lord from the cross. The first three are centred on other people: firstly his enemies\u00a0Father forgive them\u2026<\/em>, secondly a dying criminal\u00a0today you will be with Me\u2026;\u00a0<\/em>thirdly to Mary and to John\u00a0here is your son\u2026here is your mother<\/em>. In the middle is the cry to His Father concerning the temporary loss of their special relationship that had existed from eternity past\u00a0why have You forsaken Me?<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last three sayings as the time prior to His physical death was drawing near were about the circumstances of Jesus focussed on His humanity. This is clear particularly first of all in the words of John 19:28:\u00a0I am thirsty.\u00a0<\/em>It was the only statement that was centred on His physical suffering on the cross. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Often we can be guilty of minimising Christ\u2019s physical sufferings that somehow it was easier for Him than for other people who had been crucified,\u00a0in fact the truth is that it was harder for Him. His dignified manner was covering the agonies He went through. The separation from the Father was what he struggled with most on Calvary, more than the awful agonies of the physical trauma of such a death. In His case he could have spoken a word and asked to come down from the cross but His taking of a human nature and flesh was a real and true unity with humankind and so he refused to take any easy options.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The New Testament does not downplay His humanity. The Gospels record His birth like any other human as a baby, in His case at Bethlehem. He passed through all the natural and normal stages of child development. Luke 2:52 records that:\u00a0Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men. \u00a0<\/em> As a twelve-year-old Jesus was asking the religious leaders genuine questions and His understanding increased with age and study. As a man John records (John 4) that Jesus was exhausted and sat down by a well at Sychar in Samaria. His disciples who were less tired went to by some lunch in the town, leaving Jesus alone \u2013time for some peace and quiet that He\u00a0needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus was hungry in the desert when tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:2). He slept in a boat (Mark 4:38), his head on a cushion when exhausted. Even a serious storm that had waves crashing over the boat which must have soaked His clothes did not cause Him to wake up,\u00a0how tired was that! He was astonished at the level of unbelief, their lack of faith in Him and in God in His home town of Nazareth following a preaching engagement (Mark 6:6); <\/p>\n\n\n\n He was angry with the traders in the temple (John 2:16-17) and wept over the unbelief of the citizens of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42). He also wept at the grave of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and groaned within His spirit (John 11:38) at the pain caused by the separation of loved ones in a bereavement. He also rejoiced with His disciples when they came back following a successful time of mission (Luke 10:21) and took pleasure in the company of little children (Mark 10:13-16). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet He felt a great need for time in prayer (Mark 1:35). At the time of choosing His twelve disciples Luke 6:12 records:\u00a0One of those days Jesus went out into the hills to pray and spent the night praying to God.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hebrews places a significant focus on the humanity and suffering of Jesus. Hebrews 2:9-10 states:\u00a09<\/sup>\u00a0But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.10<\/sup>\u00a0In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation\u00a0<\/em>perfect through suffering<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong>That same chapter goes on to say in verses 17-18:\u00a0For this reason<\/em>\u00a0He had to be made like His brothers in every way<\/em><\/strong>, 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.18<\/sup>Because\u00a0<\/em>He Himself<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>suffered<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0when He was\u00a0<\/em>tempted<\/em><\/strong>, He is able to help those who are being tempted.\u00a0<\/em>Can we have confidence in knowing that He truly understands our weaknesses and problems? Hebrews 4:15-16 provides the assurance we need:\u00a0For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been\u00a0<\/em>tempted in every way, just as we are<\/em><\/strong>\u2014 yet was without sin.16<\/sup>\u00a0Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of us in the last\u00a0few weeks will have struggled with our emotions. \u00a0Our mental and emotional health may have taken a battering and we long for a normality that may be a while yet in coming? Others fears for the future concerning our health, particularly if treatment has been delayed at this time; yet others with real concerns about getting back to school or going to university or whether returning to the workplace you left will even be possible? Whatever your questions \u2013 Jesus understands and cares because of what He has endured as a human being. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Out song for reflection as we come to prayer is: Jesus paid it all<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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