And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14
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When Jesus took on flesh to dwell among us, He didn’t come with an entourage of personal attendants to ensure His well-being. He didn’t book a suite at the first century equivalent of a Four Seasons for His stay. He didn’t plan out an itinerary that was filled with pleasantries and luxuries. He didn’t insulate Himself from the ugliness, brokenness and sinfulness of this world. What He did was join us to suffer like us only a thousand times worse than us. Jesus knows the trials, troubles, tests and temptations that we face in our daily lives because He faced them down too. Life for Jesus on earth was filled with the same things we go through: difficult people, difficult circumstances, difficult tasks, and difficult experiences. And the greatest difficulty always loomed in front of Him: to be crushed on the cross to atone for our sins and secure our trial-free, trouble-free, test-free, temptation-free eternity with God. He suffered. He endured. He conquered. And now He is with you to ensure that you do the same. Jesus knows all about your hurts; and one of the reasons He came was to help you through them and heal you from them. Take heart today and trust in the One who loves, understands, cares and helps you live with God-glorifying, joy-experiencing, hope-filled endurance no matter what you come up against. He doesn’t just know what you are going through. He didn’t just go through it too. He went through it for you.
