God's Sympathy for Our Weakness
Jesus' human experience allows him to be sympathetic with humanity's infirmities, making him a compassionate high priest.
Watchman Nee emphasizes God's deep sympathy for our weaknesses, explaining that Jesus experienced human suffering to fully understand our struggles. He highlights that Christ's earthly life was marked by hardships, allowing Him to empathize with our infirmities rather than our sins. This compassion assures us that we are not alone in our suffering, as Jesus shares in our pain and offers both grace and understanding. Ultimately, the sermon reassures believers of Christ's heartfelt connection to our struggles and His readiness to support us in our times of need.
Text
"For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." Hebrews 4:15
Why was it that our Lord Jesus did not enter this world as a grown man? Why did he have to be conceived as a baby, to be nursed and carried, until he gradually grew up to manhood? Why was he obliged to pass through more than thirty years of earthly sufferings? Could he not as easily have accomplished the work of redemption by coming down into the world and being crucified three days later? The answer is that he suffered chastening and hardship and frustration and disappointment in order that he might be sympathetic with you and me.
Sympathy is compassion, "suffering together." He feels with you. He is always sympathetic toward your infirmities, never to the sins you commit, but always to the sufferings of your body and distresses of your soul. He has been through it all. He not only has the grace to save you; he also has the heart to sympathize with you.
Sermon Outline
- I. The High Priest Who Can Be Touched
- A. Jesus' human experience
- B. Sympathy through suffering
- II. The Purpose of Jesus' Human Experience
- A. To be sympathetic with humanity
- B. To understand our infirmities
- III. The Nature of Jesus' Sympathy
- A. Compassion, not condemnation
- B. Sympathy with our sufferings, not our sins
Key Quotes
“For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” — Watchman Nee
“Sympathy is compassion, 'suffering together.'” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We can find comfort in knowing that Jesus understands our sufferings and is sympathetic towards us.
- Jesus' human experience is a reminder that he is not just a distant God, but a God who has walked in our shoes.
- We should strive to be more like Jesus in our relationships with others, showing compassion and sympathy towards those who are suffering.