(5th in a
series on Lent)
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
Kissing
babies and shaking hands goes with political campaigning. In 1991, when Greg
Lashutka was running for mayor of Columbus, I happened to be in the same church
hallway as he was. Besides being a public figure, he is a big man, having
played tight end for Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes.
When
he walked towards me to shake my hand, I was so nervous that all I could think
to say was, “Boy you’ve got big hands”. He thought it was funny and laughed. I
was embarrassed. Sometimes, people who seem larger than life can seem
unapproachable, even when shaking hands.
Apparently,
angels seem unapproachable. In fact, almost every time a person in the Bible interacts
with an angel, the first words out of the angel’s mouth is, “Fear not”.
On
the other hand, Jesus was very approachable. People from all walks of life felt
comfortable with him. From the worst sinner to the most righteous; from the
rich to the poor; for social and religious outcasts; for brash and arrogant
fishermen; for tax collectors without integrity or compassion - all of them
approached Jesus without fear.
That’s why God sent a man, not an angel.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended
into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did
not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need. Hebrews 4 NIV
You
could just as well say to Jesus, “Boy you’ve got big hands”, and it would be
true. Jesus has big welcoming hands to hold us in our time of need; to embrace
us when we have fallen; to lift us up when we struggle; to encourage and affirm
us; to show us the way, the truth and the life. Thank Jesus for his big hands.
(If
God has spoken to you through this devotional, please feel free to share it
with others.)
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