We All Have Problems

Psalm 73

In my Sunday School discussion group the past two Sundays like the rest of the adult classes this fall are doing a brief survey of Systematic Theology The last two weeks have covered Christology, the study of Christ. The first week barely touched the humanity of Christ, fully God, fully human. Then this week, again very briefly, was discussion on death, resurrection, kingship, and coming again. In discussing His humanity the Scripture telling us that "He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin". In out discussion one lady brought up a very interesting thought regarding"in all points tempted". Her comment was: "I hknow what my temptations are, but what tempts me may not tempt you. What tempts you may not be wjat tempts someone else. We all have what tempts us individually. He was tempted in every way every person whoever lived is tempted." Thinking that thought the myriad of possible temptations alone had to be an incredible burden to bear even before going to the cross.

Revisiting Psalm 73 each and every person being honest seeing themselves how God sees them would put their self there with me saying, "I have a problem". Every Christ follower at sometime in their life has a Psalm 73 season of life. Acknowledging this we each could put ourselves in this psalmist's place. But then that would put Jesus as fully man having each of our particular temptations in this psalmist's position basically as we do facing temptation having a choice in how we face the temptation Could Jesus have prayed this psalm as a prayer? Is seeing temptations in my life a sin? Is it possible that Jesus at anytime in His life felt this kind of discouragement?

Could Jesus have a time when He said, me,

As for me my feet were almost gone: my steps had well near slipped. For I feared at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:2 - 3 GNV

Again, this isn't saying the writer had sinned, but rather "almost" and "came near to slipping". Could Jesus have feared or fretted seeing the prosperity of the wicked? Isn't that why we call the moment when Satan presented all the kingdoms of this world to the man Christ Jesus a temptation? Yes, Jesus was taught the Word as He grew in wisdom and favor with God and man, but He certainly wasn't taught that this is a temptation the Messiah will face so know this Scripture you'll need to face the lies and temptations as a man. The Messiah wasn't supposed to be like Jesus in all as they understood. No one knew what the Messiah was going to be like.

Until I went into the Sanctuary of God: then understood I their end. Surely thou hast set them in slippery places, and castest them down into desolation.

Psalms 73:17 - 18 GNV

Though Jesus often went to the garden of Gethsemane when He was in Jerusalem (Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32; Luke 22:39; John 18:1, 2) and resorted to the mountains to pray (after feeding the 5000 and before He chose His apostles,, His sanctuary was where He sought His Father even as He told the woman at the well in John 4. God had told the children of Israel the tabernacle would be settled where He would place His name. That place was Jerusalem. But Jesus found that tabernacle, that Sanctuary wherever He met with His Father.

But rethinking adding in other facts we know of Jesus when He responded to the temptation by Satan.

In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God.

And that Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw the glory thereof, as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father) full of grace and truth.

John 1:1, 14 GNV

Then after being in the temple at 12 years old,

And Jesus increased in wisdom, and stature, and in favour with God and men.

Luke 2:52 GNV

This all makes this question of being fully God, fully man even more interesting when Paul adds:

Let the same mind be in you that was even in Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God: But he made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and was made like unto men, and was found in shape as a man. He humbled himself, and became obedient unto the death, even the death of the Cross.

Philippians 2:5 - 8 GNV

So for review, In the beginning was the Word, with God, was God. That Word became flesh dwelling among us. He grew in wisdom and stature (good standing?) with God and man. Now there's no mention of learning knowledge, only learned obedience. We know that He was fully God, yet set that aside that He could live as fully man. However we know that as God He knew all the commands given, all the Law. Even as the Holy Spirit moved men and women to write the Word a very reasonable question would be when the Word became flesh was all knowledge of Law He had given retained? And could He then quote all Scripture to that point simply because it was within Him? And so back to the point of having all the kingdoms of this world made open to Him if He would only fall down and worship the Tempter. In that moment between the "opportunity" being presented and His response did his fully human self think as we as humans think in considering the options presented and choosing with which choice to respond? We know He did respond with the Law, the Word, the Pentateuch. He gave it. Did He answer because of what He had given to be written, or was it a challenge as it would be to many of us to think through the Word of God for the the right answer?

Another view might be that as he attended classes as any other Jewish boy He gained knowledge of the Scriptures, but by growing in wisdom His wisdom was not that of the Jewish teachers or Rabbis. The wisdom He gained was from His Father anove (James 3) and therefore knew the great importance of all Scripture even as we are challenged by the Proverbs.

From that place in the Sanctuary with His Father Jesus was able to see the end that awaited those who opposed Him. But also knew the position He would hold after His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

As a dream when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest us up, thou shalt make their image despised.

Psalms 73:20 GNV

So interesting it is like opposite poles of a magnet coming together. The closer they get the greater the force of opposition. They simply repel each other. When one is put up the other is put down. The same is often true in God's economy. From the days of Cain and Abel. Cain brought a grain offering maybe like that mentioned in Leviticus 2 and Abel brought an offering of his flock, either goat or lamb. Because something was wrong in Cain's heart Abel's sacrifice being accepted made Cain's offering look bad. Rather than taking care of what was in his heart Cain chose to make things worse. Yet that is what brings the thought that we all have problems in focus. We all make choices and many cause our own problems. And Jesus, knowing what was in man, may have faced an increasing struggle living, dwelling among us as humans. To stand out among family and friends because "he never does anything wrong" is one thing, but to launch out as an "unofficial" Rabbi in itself would bring greater opposition. As His teaching quickly was recognized as "one having authority" and not as the scribes certainly throughout His ministry there could have been times as fully human He struggled, momentarily though it may be, at the "success" and followings of "official " Jewish rabbis and priests. And the people also were ever changing, "this was a hard saying and many of His disciples turned away". The reassurance when asking, Who do you say that I am?" to hear the reply, You are the Christ. Or just the opposite later on to hear, Hosanna! and later a few short days, Crucify him, from the same. His reassurance then was knowing the cross was going to be in a couple short hours?

As for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: therefore I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Psalms 73:28 GNV