In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Remember:

Your emotions are God-given, you are entitled to them.

Your emotions are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel.

Your emotions must be managed or they will control you.

You are not responsible for someone else’s emotions.

Definition

Bearing = the act of enduring or capacity to endure

Bearing with others

Are there difficult people in your life now? Is there someone who makes life complicated for you?

Is there someone who is difficult to get along with no matter how hard you try? Jesus knows exactly how you feel. Jesus understands.

Situation

In this situation, Jesus, Peter, James and John were on the mountain for the transfiguration of Jesus.

Luke 9:³⁷ And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

³⁸And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

³⁹And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

⁴⁰And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

⁴¹And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

⁴²And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

⁴³ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered everyone at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

⁴⁴Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

⁴⁵But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

What is the situation? The disciples could not cast out the unclean spirit

What upsets Jesus? The people have no faith and are perverse

(obstinate, contrary, rejecting what is right)

Why do you think Jesus talked about His crucifixion at this point?

How does the mighty power of God relate to the crucixion?

In Matthew’s account Jesus tells the disciples their unbelief prevented them from helping.

17:¹⁴ And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

¹⁷Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

²¹Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

In Mark’s account the scribes are questioning the disciples.

9:¹⁴ And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

¹⁵And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

¹⁶And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

¹⁷And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

¹⁸And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

¹⁹He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

²⁰And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

²¹And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

²²And oft times it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

²³Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

²⁴And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

²⁵When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

²⁶And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

²⁸And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

²⁹And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Jesus is our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where is our great High Priest?  in Heaven, He passed to there

Who is our great High Priest? Jesus, the Son of God

What is special about our great High Priest?

He can be moved with the feeling of our infirmities

He was tempted like we are but did not sin!

Our High Priest sits on a throne of grace not judgement!

Our High Priest invites us to come boldly for grace and mercy

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve

Isn’t Jesus a great High Priest?

What makes a person difficult for you to bear? Mannerisms? Loud talking? Vulgarity?

Does it matter to you that Jesus understands what it feels like to bear with difficult people?

Focus –Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Challenge

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti