though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience

... by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). There is  a famous illustration by John Stott in which in accusation,  the question is asked what right God has to judge us, for the accusation continues,  what does He know about suffering?  The huge crowd gets together and pronounces sentence on God.  “Let him be born a Jew. Let the legitimacy of his birth be doubted. Let his close friends betray him. Let him face false charges. Let a prejudiced jury try him and a cowardly judge convict him. Let him be tortured. Let him be utterly alone. Then, bloody and forsaken, let him die.” Satisfied with their sentence,  the room grew silent. No one moved, but then a weight fell on every face. For suddenly, they all knew that God had already served his sentence. Indeed  “it was fitting for Him, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (2:10).

And lest you think Jesus could do the things He did while here on earth because He was God,  know first of all that “He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness” (5:2). And know too that this is wrong, because it's a denial that He came in the flesh (2 John 7).  Know also that our God not only suffered for us, He suffers with us. Indeed the Scriptures talk about the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10). The picture I have of this, is two buddies in a war who go through hell together,  and it bonds them like no other experience could. You see “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (4:15).

Having said that He is able to sympathize with our weakness, the passage goes on to tell us “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16).  You see though He was left to suffer alone, He does not leave us to suffer alone. He has told us “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (13:5).  We were never meant to suffer alone, unfortunately some of us,  some of the time,  allow ourselves to be offended in our suffering by what God allows. And when we are offended especially at God, He will not force Himself on us. In my own case, I am far too weak to bear my burdens alone. And He has promised that if I draw near to Him, He will draw near to me (James 4:8).

Father, I have always wondered how I would react if I lost a child. I know what I would want to do, but Lord sometimes the hurt is so deep it feels like we are being crushed. Thank You Lord that You understand. Thank You that there is no pit so deep that You are not deeper still, and thank You for Your witnesses who have gone through hell on earth and can assure us of the truths of these things. Thank You that You always provide the way to stand up under the trials and temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). And please give us grace in the midst of them to choose the offered escape route in Jesus Name Amen