Christ, Our Sympathetic Savior

Christ HAD to be made like His brethren. That's what the text says. Why? Once He was committed to saving the elect, He had to become a man in order to die in their place. But what this text tells us is that He HAD to be made like His brethren in order to be a merciful high priest. Hebrews 4 tells us that He sympathizes with us because He has been tempted in all ways as we are, yet He was without sin. In order to fully sympathize with someone, you have to walk in their shoes and experience what they experience. Christ became a man, experienced human weakness, was tempted and harassed by Satan constantly, and suffered just as we suffer and far more than we suffer. Therefore, we have a mediator who is sufficient. He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. He understands us and knows what we are going through. Be encouraged!