Day 25 - Overcoming Temptation
- Pastor b.Side
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. - Hebrews 2:18
The depth of a person’s wealth is often measured by how they give. Some people possess so much that giving to others is not a concern, as the risk of loss is low. For example, a millionaire probably wouldn’t worry about going broke by giving someone ten dollars; there’s plenty more where that came from. The same idea applies to God’s power. God’s power is infinitely great, so He always has power to spare and generously shares it with those who trust in how He distributes it.
“He Himself has suffered…”
The testimony in Hebrews 2:18 demonstrates this idea. The passage starts by highlighting Jesus’ suffering. It describes Jesus’ death and all the events leading up to it. Here, the Bible teaches that to grasp the depths of God’s power, we should reflect on the extent of Jesus’ suffering. Jesus is fully God but took on flesh and blood, making Him vulnerable to every kind of human sensation. When the text tells us that Jesus suffered, we must remember that He experienced suffering in the same ways we do, but to a MUCH greater degree!
The testimony of scripture teaches that sin separates us from God. To pay the full price of sin—past, present, and future—Jesus had to die and be separated from the Father to some degree. No one will ever fully understand the incredible suffering Jesus endured when He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This shows that the weight of the world’s sin affected His connection with the Father in some way. Jesus taught that He and the Father had been One for all eternity, but at that moment, something was different. Fortunately, believers in the Gospel will never experience the intense suffering Jesus felt at that moment.
“Being tempted…”
Part of Jesus's suffering involved temptation. Since Jesus was fully human, He faced temptation physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet, He remained completely sinless! He never had an impure thought, nor did He have motives that went against the will and purposes of the Father. This was true of Jesus even as He was illegally and unjustly accused, tried, tortured, mocked, and crucified.
“He is able to aid those who are tempted…”
We may never fully understand the extent of Jesus' suffering, but we can relate to the types of temptation He faced. His victory over every form of temptation AND death clearly shows His divine power. He is El Shaddai! How do we know? He died, but He was raised in glory, fully approved by the Father. This proves He has plenty of power to spare! He can help us when we are tempted, no matter how strong the temptation. The power Jesus showed when He faced death proves that He has endless strength to share with everyone, everywhere, all the time. This empowers us to overcome all kinds of struggles for the same purpose—to bring Him glory in eternal life.
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, thank You for the clear demonstration of Your power, which not only keeps us away from the flames of hell but also sustains us through life’s various struggles. Help us remember the truth of Your power when we are tempted or face difficulties, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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