“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)
Since Jesus possesses supreme divine authority, we should learn, heed and obey all that He has to say. Otherwise we run the risk of drifting away from God into sin, error, legalism, unbelief, and chaos. Now some may wonder why we should listen to Christ at all because if He rules all things and has defeated the powers of darkness and death, how come evil runs rampant throughout the world? Why do evil men create such havoc? Why do we still have pain, persecution and death?
The writer of Hebrews teaches that all our suffering is within the plan and purpose of God. In the process of teaching this, the writer presents a striking explanation of the Incarnation. Jesus became man to identify with us, to become one of us, a human being. He did so in order to suffer and die for our sins and so destroy the power of death and Satan over us. He became perfect through suffering, meaning that He fulfilled the Father’s plan completely; He was the perfect sin-offering. Our oneness with Jesus means that we receive the glory and salvation He achieved for us but it also means that, like Him, we too must suffer. Our suffering gives glory to God for it is part of His plan for the triumph of His kingdom and His sovereign will. At the same time our suffering helps us to grow into the image of Christ. The good thing is that because Jesus was like us, endured pain and temptation, He can help us to persevere. He knows what we are going through and we know by faith, that all our suffering is fruitful: it serves His providential purpose and plan in ways that we cannot imagine.