November 25

Hebrews 2:18
“For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted” —Hebrews 2:1818For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18).
THE perfection of Christ’s humanity was demonstrated by His temptation as it could not have been manifested in any other way. Adam, the first, was tested in a garden of beauty surrounded by every blessing, and he fell by yielding to the tempter’s voice. Adam, the second, was tried in a wilderness among the wild beasts, with all nature apparently arrayed against Him, yet He stood like a rock—invulnerable and impeccable—because He was God manifest in flesh. His temptation was like exposing the gold to the acid test—not to find out if it is a precious metal, but to prove that it is really gold and not base metal gilded. Yet the temptation was very real to Jesus. “He... suffered being tempted” (Heb. 2:1818For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)). To be brought into such close contact with sin was so revolting it caused Him keenest suffering, because of the purity of His human nature, undefiled by Adamic corruption. We suffer as we resist temptation and so cease from sin (1 Peter 4:11Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (1 Peter 4:1)). In this we may see the contrast between ourselves and Him. But having thus been exposed to all that has wrought such havoc in our frail humanity, He, our ever faithful High Priest, is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and stands ready to render help in every hour of need. We are not left to fight our battles alone. He lives to be our victory.
“With joy we meditate the grace
Of God’s High-Priest above;
His heart is filled with tenderness.
His very name is Love.
Touched with a sympathy within.
He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sorest trials mean,
For He has felt the same.”
―Isaac Watts.