Just Like Us

Mark 14:36 - "Abba Father," He cried out, "Everything is possible for You.  Please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine."

There are many words that we use to try and describe Jesus Christ.  Of course none of them can truly do justice in describing Him and His character, because our finite minds simply aren't capable of fully comprehending Him.  But one characteristic that isn't used or discussed that often, is human.  In some ways, He is just like us.  And that's a good thing too.

I'm not trying to take away from the greatness that is our Lord and Savior.  Far from it.  But Jesus was a human while He was on this earth, and He demonstrated plenty of human qualities.  The question I always had when I first came to a relationship with Him, was why?  Why would He go through the trouble of displaying His human side when He didn't really need to?  I mean, He is God after all.  Was it so that we could relate to Him better, or perhaps show that we truly are made in His image?  I think it was.

In this passage, Jesus showed fear.  In Luke's description of this scene, he was actually sweating blood (Luke 22:44).  That is a bit of humanity if I ever heard it.  This wasn't the only time Jesus showed human emotion either.  He also wept over the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35).

It's easy for us to sit and judge someone that does something human.  Sometimes, we think less of a person when they show anguish or fear, or if they sin differently than us.  But if we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that we are just like them.  We all feel sorrow.  We all feel fear.  We ALL sin.  But trusting in God's will is what sets us apart.  Even though Jesus was afraid to the point of sweating blood, He didn't flinch at asking and inviting that God's will be done, and making Himself an obedient servant to God's will.

There are a million and one insufficient adjectives that could describe Jesus and why He is set apart (Holy) from mankind.  But there is really only one that sets us apart and makes us His people - obedient.  Those who show their true selves in obedience to our Redeemer, aren't less of a human being because of it.  They are just like the rest of those that have.

Dear Abba Father, thank You for showing us Your humanity through Your Son Jesus Christ.  Thank You for giving us something that we can relate to, that makes it even easier to believe in You and Your love for us.  We shouldn't require that, but since we are fallen, You have bent down to go out of Your way to bring us back to You.  I pray for those that think they are too far gone.  That think they could never be good enough.  My prayer is that they will see that what makes them human, makes us all human, and they will see their need for You and Your will in their life.  I pray they will bow in humble obedience to You and Your will, and be just like us.  In Jesus' name, Amen!



God Bless!!!