The Suffering Saviour's Sympathy

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Hebrews 2:18

For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

I. JESUS SUFFERING.

1. The feeling. It was a trying thing to Him even to dwell here among men. He suffered in being placed where He could be tempted.

2. The fact that He was tempted — tempted up to the suffering point.

3. The fruit. He was made perfect through His sufferings, and fitted for His solemn office of High Priest to His people.

(1)  Temptation to sin is no sin.

(2)  Temptation does not show any displeasure on God's part:

(3)  Temptation really implies no doubt of your being a son of God.

(4)  Temptation need not lead to any evil consequences in any case.

(5)  Do not make it any cause of complaint that you are tempted.

(6)  Far from your hearts be the idea that any temptation should lead you to despair. Jesus triumphed, and so shall you.

II. JESUS SUCCOURING. "He is able to succour them that are tempted."

1. In this we note His pity, that He should give Himself up to this business of succouring them that are tempted. He lays Himself out to succour them that are tempted, and therefore He does not hide Himself from them, nor pass them by on the other side. What an example is this for us! He devotes Himself to this Divine business of comforting all such as mourn. He is Lord of all, yet makes Himself the servant of the weakest. Whatever He may do with the strongest, He succours " them that are tempted." He does not throw up the business in disgust; He does not grow cross or angry with them because they are so foolish as to give way to idle fears.

2. The text treats of His fitness also.

(1)  He has the right, acquired by His suffering, to enter in among sufferers, and deal with them.

(2)  He has also the disposition to succour them. He obtained that tender temper through suffering, by being Himself tempted.

(3)  And then He has the special ability. Our Blessed Master, having lived a life of suffering, understands the condition of a sufferer so well that He knows how to make a bed for him (Psalm 41:3).

3. His methods of succouring them that are tempted.

(1)  Usually by giving a sense of His sympathy.

(2)  Sometimes by suggesting precious truths, which are the sweet antidote for the poison of sorrow.

(3)  Sometimes He succours His people by inwardly strengthening them.

(4)  I have known the Lord bless His people by making them very weak. The next best thing to being strong in the Lord is to be extremely weak in yourself. They go together, but sometimes they are divided in experience. It is grand to feel, "I will not struggle any more; I will give all up, and lie passive in the Lord's hand."

III. JESUS SOUGHT AFTER.

1. Where else can you go?

2. Where better can you got

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