Fear No Fear

“Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, therefore, being exhausted from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour” (John 4:6, MEV). When the truth is revealed that Jesus understands our struggles (Hebrews 4:15), it isn’t only speaking of spiritual things. Of temptations, feelings, and godly living. It’s also speaking of our physical struggles. Jesus got TIRED. Jesus was exhausted at several points in the Gospel narratives. He was so exhausted He slept through a storm that was sinking the boat He was in (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41). He was too tired to walk past the well and go into town for food even though He was hungry (John 4:1-8). He was mocked by people (Matthew 12:22-32; Luke 11:14-23). He wasn’t believed in the place He was most familiar with (Luke 4:16-30). They tried to throw Him off a cliff once (Luke 4:28-30). They tried to stone Him – twice (John 8:59; 10:31-39). And even when they were swarming Him, desperate for His attention, it was all about the things He could give them or do for them – it must have been exhausting. Jesus saw fame, Jesus saw notoriety, Jesus saw rejection, and Jesus saw hatred. He was tired. He sweat. He hungered. He got sore feet. He had to walk everywhere. People didn’t listen to Him. People talked over Him – once right in the middle of a sermon (Luke 12:13). Jesus knew struggles. Jesus knew persecution. Jesus did NOT have it easy. Jesus had to WORK. Jesus had to push through what His body was going through. Jesus did that ON PURPOSE. Jesus came and tabernacled with us (John 1:14). He took up residence in a physical body because He loves us. He wanted to understand us in every way. He wanted to experience life as us in every way. He did that just so that He COULD understand our suffering. Our struggles. He did that so that He could provide us comfort and guidance in order to alleviate our suffering. To bring us to a place of JOY and STRENGTH and MERCY and GOODNESS. He didn’t want us to feel that we were being told to do things by someone who didn’t understand what it was like. He wanted us to realize that He knew EXACTLY what it was like – and still loved us, had guidance for us, and knew the Way to victory. Jesus loved us enough to become us. And He did it so that WE could become HIM in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). He is the Way. He is the Door. And we can trust Him that it IS the Way and IS the Door, because He’s been right where we are. He loved us that much.