A Jesus like this…He's too much like me!

One of the most discouraging images we sometimes receive about Jesus is that of a being too perfect, too spiritual, too…distant. An unattainable celestial figure who can't truly understand human struggles, doubts, or weaknesses, while the Bible's message is precisely the opposite.

Today's verse tells us that Jesus "was tempted in every point as we are." He is not a God from above who watches us with judgment. He is one who walked in the dust of the streets, who was hungry, thirsty, wept, was betrayed, and felt fear and pain. Yet He never sinned. This doesn't make Him more distant from us, but closer.

Think about it: if you want to confide in someone, do you prefer to talk to someone who has experienced the same struggles as you or to someone who looks down on you? Jesus, according to the Bible, is not a cold judge, but a friend who has experienced the burden of human existence firsthand. This humanity of His is what makes Him unique. He is the perfect bridge between heaven and earth. His empathy is not theoretical, but real. And in this, many who had distanced themselves from Him discovered something surprising: Jesus understands.

If you've ever felt inadequate, too far from spirituality, or too messed up to "get closer to God," then perhaps you should get to know this Jesus better. Perhaps, just like you, He faced nights of sleeplessness and days of feeling misunderstood.