Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
My response was, "What that means that our sufferings are NOT unique at all in any way. People like to brag about how bad they have it or get the mully grubbs thinking no one knows the trouble they've been through. When, in reality, all suffering can be neatly categorized into 2 neat sets. Suffering for doing good. Suffering as a result of sin. Jesus didn't experience the 2nd though He knows what we experience. My basic point is to quit thinking we are exceptional in our experiences."
So let me expound a little more neatly here. Our experiences may come in all different shapes and colors but changing the appearance does not mean they are unique. The woman with an issue of blood is not all that different from someone who had leprosy or modern cancer. Physically debilitating diseases are just that. No matter how you frame them.
But can all suffering be put into 2 neat categories? Let's dig. We all agree that someone can suffer for doing good. Paul was stoned because he wouldn't stop spreading the Gospel. His pain was real but he suffered for doing good. Jesus suffered for doing good. He walked in His Father's will and that brought about His death. Jesus suffered for doing good. BUT, did Jesus suffer as a result of sin??? Notice in my original reply in the quotes, that is what I said Jesus did not experience. And here I need to expand a little more. Jesus NEVER suffered for personal sin. Jesus never felt the pain and shame because He Himself had sinned or engaged in sin or participated in sin in any way. He did, however, suffer as a result of our sin. He suffered doing good(becoming our sacrifice for our sins) but He never did sin. He became sin though He had done no sin. So He does know the suffering that sin brings. He just never experienced sin due to personal sin.
We, however, experience both. We suffer due to our personal sin. That suffering may take up many shapes or forms but it is suffering no matter how it is painted. It can be physical, mental or any combination but we suffer due to personal sin. We also have weak and frail bodies due to Adam's sin. Jesus was NOT born of a man and so His body by-passed the contamination that original sin afflicts all of us. But His body was subject to death though it never underwent decay. We suffer due to our own sin and due to Original Sin. Jesus experienced neither of those. And I've chased that rabbit to bring us back around to this.
We don't want to listen to a man without children tell us how we ought to raise children...ahem...but if he is teaching the Word of God, then it is not his word but God's Word, right??? and God certainly knows a thing or two about rebellious children.
We want to think our suffering is unique and only a select few know what we are going through. Pish-posh!!! That's pride! Even as Solomon tells us there is nothing new under the sun, some people try to tell him their own experiences are new and haven't been experienced by anyone before. Just because it is new to YOU does not mean it is new to humanity.
I actually don't want someone just like me to be my savior. I want someone who is far greater than myself to be my Savior. And Jesus fits that bill. Yes He was tempted though He never experienced it because of road rage or internet or social media. But He experienced temptation in its most base forms. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life are the 3 main categories of sin as John lists them in 1 John 2. The flesh is natural desires...ie hunger. The eyes are being tempted by what we see...treasures. Pride of life is to presume something about ourselves and to live as if we have a unique claim.
In the words of the hymn writer, I need no other argument I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me.
Jesus is the Greater...Jesus is the Great God in human flesh. I need He that is greater than i <---not a typo. Great is God!
selah
luke
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Luke Liechty, Pastor
Westside Baptist Church
Reprinted from Luke's weekly--Theological Thursday--email blast on March 19, 2026.