“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.“
Hebrews 4:14-16, NLT
These two verses out of Hebrews 4 establish three things.
- We are “criminals” and in need of representation.
- Jesus Christ stands ready, and able to help us before both this world and to the one to come.
- Jesus still has a present day ministry as our priest and provider.
And he is busy! He did not ascend to heaven to wait around for his second coming. He is active, and we are being acted upon. This is the present work of heaven.
There is more, let’s look to the story of Paul’s voyage to Rome. He is a prisoner being escorted to stand before Caesar. He has a guard who is watching him as he travels by ship across much of the Mediterranean.
Because of the time of the year, the trip will be hard. The weather is very iffy, and awful storms could pummel a ship at times. No matter what, it will be a hard journey.
“When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.”
16 “We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.”
Acts 27:13-17, NLT
The storm is probably a once in a lifetime experience. It seems everyone is problem-solving trying to keep the ship from “breaking up.” They are fighting for their lives. After tossing over the cargo, and the ships tackle, they would have cut down the mast. Leaving it up would only weaken the ship’s hull, which reduces their chances.
They then did something called “frapping.” It involved wrapping ropes or cables around the hull in a criss-cross manner. This outside strengthening would have been “levered” to increase tightness. It could be an effective way of surviving the unsurvivable.
There is a specific Greek word to describe this frapping. It is used in only one other place in the entire Bible. In Hebrews 4:16 we read–
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.“
Can you see the connection? In those desperate times when the storm is ripping up everything, attempting to destroy us– our families, our friends and neighbors. Just survival seems a long stretch. It is then that Jesus fraps (or wraps) us tightly.
But many of us go through typhoons with the cables coiled up on deck. We seem oblivious and ignorant of its existence. We really don’t see the “present tense’ ministry of Jesus standing to intercede. We merit nothing– but are promised everything. We are on the knife’s edge of falling apart.
I believe this message has not come to you by accident. You are either in the storm, or know someone who is there. The name of this post is, “Jesus Actively Helps Me.” I hope you will see it, and live it.
ybic, Bryan
Related articles
- Your Standing Is Wrapped Up in Jesus (christianmotivations.weebly.com)
- Hebrews 4:14-16 (dustinwaltersblog.wordpress.com)
- Ruminations at Dawn: Fear and Rest in a Stormy Mind (amynovotny.wordpress.com)
- The High Priest (11/6/13) (tworiversblog.com)
Broken Believers 
You know I have always wondered about the scriptural references that Jesus knew all our problems, temptations during his ministry. Did he see hallucinations or was his act on the cross a form of suicide? Did he struggle with such impulses? Would Jesus have truly understood what a pedaphile struggles with- would such things have tempted a good, neah, holy man? I do think he would have felt great compassion for those so afflicted, but to really know what it is like. Obviously the argument can be made that due to his divinity he did know even those terrible things. But another tradition in theology says Jesus emptied himself of such divine attributes through the process of kenosis as part of his experience of living the life of one limited man. Those experiences can be so bad, I hope he didn’t know. Not being a pedaphile, but knowing some reformed ones, they go through a hell they never asked for that they’ll never understand while dealing with crushing guilt they can never erase. Only Christ’s forgiveness can save them and only the invisible body of Christ can restore them to true participation, with any dignity, as a member of the family of humanity.
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Hi, Bryan!
And “Good Morning!” If ever there were a proper use of this, it is now…” O. M. G. !!! ” (as in, “Thank You, Dear Lord, My God!”)
I AM, and HAVE BEEN, going through this STORM for quite some time…NOW!!! And the Only recourse I’ve had to keep me strong, IS my Trust in Jesus Christ as I “know” it is He that has “carried me through!”
I must clarify my use of words here as I have learned there is a difference between those that “believe” and those of “us”, that “know”…Jesus Christ. You, my brother, Bryan, already “know” this.
“Belief” allows room for “doubt!” As in, “I believe THIS to be true, but there is the possibility that it isn’t!”
To “know” something, IS “KNOWLEDGE!” AND, it is based on “FACT!” There is NO room for any other “possibilities” as it IS “FACT!”
Therefore, it is WRONG to say that Jesus’ Disciples were Martyr’s in the fashion in which they Died as “they” did not Die based on a “belief”…they Died based on what they…”KNEW to be TRUE…FACTS!!!”
There were Thirteen Disciples AND, the ONE that DID the Will of God, realized He had Done something in opposition to what he “KNEW to be TRUE!!!” Was He condemned to “Hell’s Fire?”
“NO!” (and this is something I “just” REALIZED!” I call it, “Divine Revelation”…EVERYONE else can call whatever they want) “Judas Iscariot” did what Jesus told Him He MUST DO! Therefore, what He DID was according to the Will of God AND Jesus…alike! Would a “just” and “True” God, “CONDEMN” a person to Hell for Doing as He was instructed from God Himself? OF COURSE NOT! Therefore, He DID NOT “betray” God or Jesus! BUT, as a “man” in His Heart, He Himself “felt” as if He had and could NOT endure the “anguish” of what He “KNEW” to be TRUE, that Jesus Christ IS the…”MESSIAH!”
It is “our” frailty as “human beings” that caused Him to “hang himself” even though, He was doing everything in Accordance with the Will of God!
As “proof” of this “frailty”, even Jesus Himself, had the “thoughts” of a “man” while He lived the life of a “man” with us on Earth and is evident when He asked, “Why hath Thou Forsaken Me?” His last words are “proof” of His “KNOWING” of Heaven/God!
Forgive me, Bryan, I did NOT expect to go on “ranting” as I did.
ALL I really wanted to say, is that your posts “of late” have ALL “hit a note” with me and wish to “Thank You as I am Praying for You!”
Take Care and God Bless!
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