Identifying with Christ

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9 When the Lord Jesus Christ came and took the form of a man, God had shown to us how He sympathized with what we are dealing in life. He had shown this when he went through testing and suffering. This is why he could relate to our problems and weaknesses. When he was going through the agony of facing His death on the cross, “he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.” The Lord Jesus Christ was no stranger to affliction and suffering. He took this route of dying on the cross to show to us that He loved us. There was an opportunity for Him to take the shortcut and not suffer on the cross when Satan tried to tempt Him (see Matthew 4:1-11). He could have exerted His power and not go through suffering and death but God’s will was for Him to take the cup of suffering. “Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42). Because of His submission to the Father’s will, we were shown far better than we could ever imagine when He rose from the dead. In His death and resurrection, He proved to us that He should be the Lord and Savior of our lives. “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). This is why we could always come to Him for He experienced trials and sufferings and had overcome them. “In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest.” What a privilege to have a Savior that intercedes for us. What Jesus went through while here on earth provided us example and encouragement that we too can be obedient and persevere. The salvation the Lord Jesus Christ provided to those who trust in Him is effective, permanent, and never to be repeated. “With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever” (Hebrews 9:12). If you have obeyed God by believing in His provision for salvation then “clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com