Grace Baptist Church of Arlington

Sometimes as Christians we over-emphasize the uniqueness, otherness, and righteousness of Christ to the detriment of our own souls.  Yes, Christ is “without sin.”  He is perfectly righteous, just, and holy.  In that way he is not like us.  He is God, we are not.  He knew no sin.  We know sin all too well.  But in another way, he is like us, for he is also man.  Because he was born of a woman, and born under the law, he is able to sympathize with our weakness.  He has in every respect been tempted as we are.  Jesus is the God-man.  He is our suitable, sufficient, and sympathetic Savior.  So Christian, you should as J.C. Ryle says, “Be comforted because Jesus knows you well.”

“Be comforted, all you who are tried and buffeted with difficulties in your way towards heaven, difficulties from without and difficulties from within, difficulties abroad and difficulties at home, grief for your own sins and grief for the sins of others: the Good Shepherd Jesus knows you well, though you may not think it. You never shed a secret tear over your own corruption, you never breathed a single prayer for forgiveness and helping grace, you never made a single struggle against wickedness, which He did not remark and note down in the book of His remembrance. You need not fear His not understanding your needs, you need not be afraid your prayers are too poor and unlearned to be attended to; He knows your particular necessities far better than you do yourselves, and your humble supplications are no sooner offered up than heard” (J.C. Ryle, The Christian Race & Other Sermons, “The Privileges of the True Christian”, [Moscow, ID: Charles Nolan Publishing, 2002], 106).

Jesus knows you well because he is both God and man.  Take comfort in and from these twin truths today.

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