Jo Bower's Blog

We dismiss another’s help with “you don’t understand.”
You’ve not been here.
How can you advise me?
Not taking into account education and previous encounters,
We cannot fathom wisdom beyond experience.
It’s a failing all humans share.
We desperately want to know someone understands.

How well God understood us.
How well he planned to help us understand.
He knew he would have to prove some things to us.
He knew Jesus would have to be the go between.
His son would have to know God’s love and essence,
And at the same time share humanity’s experience,
Before we would ever stop and listen to what God wants us to know.

The ancient writer talks about what we would call a pastor.
Someone who follows a profession that allows time for knowing God.
Time people with other jobs don’t have to study and pray on the same level.
And, at the same time, the profession asks the pastor to love and relate to people.
The go between … to help them understand God, and extend practical understanding.
God knew we’d understand this position He ordained for our spiritual guidance.
So, he sent His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect example of the priest, or pastor.

He could say “I’ve been there.”
I understand how it feels to give and receive love.
I know how it feels to be misunderstood.
To be hurt by close friends.
I understand despair.
But I also understand there is comfort and help, and the One who gives it.

God knew what his creation would hold most dear.
Life itself.
He wanted us to know he understands the loss of a child.
He wanted us to know he understands our need for love and acceptance,
And the need to grasp for something beyond ourselves, to help someone.
Lest we become despots, deceitful, dead on the inside.
And he knew he would have to prove He understood.

So he sent a son, he sent a priest.
He sent a divine man, yet still an example.
He sent a blueprint, but a real person.
And let him die at the hands of those who did not understand.
So, finally, we could understand that he understands.
And we will stop, listen, accept, and put into practice
A life built on loving God and serving our neighbors in love.

We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. 16 So let us boldly approach the throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.
Hebrews 4:14-16 CEV