Can Jesus really relate to my pain? Does he know what it's like to be betrayed by someone you love? Does he know what it's like to grieve over the death of someone important? Does he know what it's like to be rejected and laughed at every day? Does he know what it feels like when people conspire against you at work every day? Does he know what it's like to lose a best friend? Does he know what it's like to feel like an outcast from your own family? Does he know? Can he relate?
Often times, connecting with Jesus or feeling His presence is harder when we feel that he can't really relate to you. It's hard to run to Him when deep inside we think he can't really help. So, instead of running to Him, instead of crying out to Him for help, we tend to look the other way and find answers or comfort somewhere else.
Oh, His heart is to hold you. His heart is to comfort you. Because.... He can relate.
Betrayal? yes. His best friends all ran away that night he needed them the most. He wasn't just betrayed by one of his closest friends, Judas, all the other disciples fled and ran away that night too. No one stood by him as he was being arrested. (And they all left him and fled. Mark 14:50) Peter, the one who swore he would die with Jesus, denied him, not only once but three times. Betrayal? yes, he can relate.
Grief over the death of someone important? yes. He wept over his friend's death, Lazarus. WEPT. It wasn't pretend. This one is even crazier. His cousin's head was served on a platter. Jesus too had experienced loss.
Rejected? yes! Though the gospel is full of amazing stories of Jesus going from town to town healing people and preaching about the Kingdom of God, He was also followed by scribes and teachers of the law who had no other intention but to question him, prove him false and kill him. They conspired against him everyday. Everyday, they challenged his beliefs. Everyday, they tried to prove him false. They probably spread rumors about him. Rejected? What do you think?
Outcast or outsider even in your own family? Yes. When Jesus came to Nazareth, his own hometown, where he grew up, where relatives, friends and neighbors live to teach and perform miracles, they didn't believe in him. They said instead, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty deeds done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.
Pain and suffering? yes. Jesus was distressed and perplexed already that night before he was arrested. I can only imagine the thoughts Jesus had trying to prepare himself for the next day. The amount of mental, emotional and physical trauma Jesus faced that whole day is unimaginable. He was 100% human on that day. He didn't use any special powers to not feel pain every time he got hit, poked, and nailed. One of his last words that day was, "I thirst." Two powerful words showing us his true humanity. Reminding us that he was 100% human and therefore suffered immensely. None of us would ever feel that kind of trauma emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Let's ask ourselves this question again. CAN HE RELATE? CAN HE UNDERSTAND MY PAIN? CAN HE REALLY COMFORT ME?
I think you and me both know that the answer is, YES! So what should we do now? Who should we run to when we are hurt? Where should we find comfort?
Run and find comfort to someone who knows. Run to him today.
Here are my other posts you could read as well.