JESUS KNOWS OUR EVERY WEAKNESS -- Pastor David Tsai

Hebrews 4:12-16
There are several Scriptures that are commonly used to talk about the power and authority of the Bible. One of the most famous is 1 Timothy 3:16-17. Another is Hebrews 4:12; it reminds us that “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Although we frequently use these verses in reference to the entire Bible, when they were written, they were only meant to refer to what we call the Old Testament. We have very good reasons to consider the New Testament to be authoritative Scripture, but we need to remember when we read the New Testament that the claims it makes about Scripture are actually not claims about itself, but about the tradition from which it came. Furthermore, the New Testament tells us, in John 1 especially, that Jesus is ultimately the Word of God—the “Logos” in Whom the whole cosmos comes together. How can all these things be true? How can the Word of God be both a divine person of the Trinity and the Scriptures which testify to the coming of that Divine Person? These are questions that early church fathers and mothers wrestled over at length and that we still discuss today.
Reading Hebrews 4 in the light of all this, though, helps us to understand why the author of Hebrews pairs a statement about the word of God being active, alive, and holding us accountable with a statement about who Jesus is and what He does for us. The Scriptures reveal us, Hebrews 4:12-13 says, in all respects: our hearts are seen, our sin exposed, our entire being known. This could be the most terrifying piece of news we ever receive.
​But it isn’t. goes on—because Jesus the Word is not judging us from outside (vv. 14-16). He has been exactly where we are. He knows what it feels like, and has been tempted, but did not sin. We can approach Him with boldness and know we will find help. This entire passage follows a much longer exhortation to the readers (Heb. 4:1-11) that encourages us to do what is necessary to enter into “a Sabbath-rest for the people of God” (v. 9). The most important thing you can do to enter into that Sabbath rest, the writer of Hebrews seems to say, is listen to the One who has been there before you: Jesus the Word.
I do believe that the empty cross is a powerful testimony. But knowing that Jesus had experienced everything a human being could go through, including a painful death, is deeply meaningful to us (v. 15). The words of that great old gospel hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” comes to mind. Sometimes, when I look at the Catholic crucifix I am reminded that Jesus, on the cross, knows and experienced my every weakness.
Jesus knows your every weakness, too, and He will be there in your hour of need.

Precious and Gracious Lord, thank You for knowing our every weakness and meeting us at the throne of grace. Amen.