Evening, October 3
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Hebrews 2:18
"He himself hath suffered being tempted."
Hebrews 2:18
It is a common-place thought, and yet it tastes like nectar to the
weary heart--Jesus was tempted as I am. You have heard that truth many
times: have you grasped it? He was tempted to the very same sins into
which we fall. Do not dissociate Jesus from our common manhood. It is a
dark room which you are going through, but Jesus went through it
before. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood
foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer, Christ has
borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King
of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour.
There is something sweeter yet--Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never
sinned. Then, my soul, it is not needful for thee to sin, for Jesus was
a man, and if one man endured these temptations and sinned not, then in
his power his members may also cease from sin. Some beginners in the
divine life think that they cannot be tempted without sinning, but they
mistake; there is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding
to temptation. Herein is comfort for the sorely tempted ones. There is
still more to encourage them if they reflect that the Lord Jesus,
though tempted, gloriously triumphed, and as he overcame, so surely
shall his followers also, for Jesus is the representative man for his
people; the Head has triumphed, and the members share in the victory.
Fears are needless, for Christ is with us, armed for our defence. Our
place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted
just now, in order to drive us nearer to him. Blessed be any wind that
blows us into the port of our Saviour's love! Happy wounds, which make
us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted
Saviour, for he can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and
will succour every tried and tempted one.