1.  Introduction

     a.  The Question

     b.  Which Two?

     c.  Scripture Reading

     d.  Assurance of This

2.  The Justice of His Word

     a.  Jesus the Word (v 12)

     b.  Jesus Knows (v 13)

3.  The Exaltation of His Person (v 14)

     a.  As Our High Priest

     b.  As the Son of God

4.  The Nearness of His Presence

     a.  In His Experience (v 15)

     b.  In His Grace (v 16)

5.  Conclusion

     a.  The Answer

 Hebrew 4:12-16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Does Jesus Care?

1.  Introduction

     a.  The Question

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth and song–

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

     b.  Which Two?

          i.   Kate has 3 children: Miriam, age 7; Stephen, age 6; and Emily, age 5

                (1) Emily, the youngest, now in kindergarten, has reached that age when she is never short of questions to ask, nor shy of asking

                (2) sometimes she drives Kate to distraction with all of her questions – there seems no subject that Emily ever avoids

                (3) coming home from school one day, she bursts out with her inevitable query; ”Mommy, how many children did you want?”

                (4) Kate looks thoughtfully at her youngest child for a moment, and then carefully answers, “Two.”

                (5) Emily thinks about this for a moment, and then comes the follow-up question, “Me, and who else?”

          ii.  There was never a shadow of doubt in Emily’s mind that her mother cared for her

                (1) neither should be in the mind of any Christian of Jesus’ care for us.

                (2) Why? ... the answers will be found in our text today as found in

     c.  The Scripture Reading, Hebrews 4:12-16

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NKJV)

     d.  We can have assurance of His care because …

          i.   … of the justice of His Word (vv 12-13)

          ii.  … of the exaltation of His Person (v 14)

          iii.  … of the nearness of His Presence (vv 15-16)

2.  The Justice of His Word

     a.  Jesus the Word (v 12)

          i.   “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

          ii.  the expression, “the word of God” can be understood in these ways:

                (1) 1. the most common being the written word: the holy Scriptures

                (2) 2. every word uttered by God, recorded and unrecorded

                (3) 3. the living word of God, Jesus, the Word made flesh

                (4) these cannot really be separated: each suits this verse and context

          iii.  Jesus, whose “judgement is true” (John 8:16), who “will judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:5), who is the just and righteous One

                (1) can discern the injustice that grieves and harms the Christian

                (2) by His very nature is concerned for you and your well-being

     b.  Jesus Knows (v 13)

          i.   “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

          ii.  what can be added to this verse?

                (1) it says it all: nothing affecting you is unknown to the Lord

                (2) and Jesus exercises that knowledge in looking after you

3.  The Exaltation of His Person (v 14)

     a.  As Our High Priest

          i.   “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”

          ii.  He made the Supreme Sacrifice

                (1) in His personal time with His disciples Jesus

                     (a) not only taught them moral precepts

                     (b) but also the ultimate purposes of His ministry

                (2) they were looking for an earthly exaltation

                     (a) as for example:”And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32)

                     (b) as His establishing a kingdom, in which they would rule

                     (c) how they misinterpreted much of His teaching

                     (d) “But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.” (John 12:33)

                (3) His purpose was to be crucified to bear the sins of mankind – His death was the real Supreme Sacrifice

          iii.  He can thus plead our cause at the judgement seat of God

                (1) because of His successful atoning work at Calvary

                (2) He gave up heaven, then gave up earth for our sake

                (3) can there be any doubt that Jesus cares for you?

     b.  As the Son of God

          i.   “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”

          ii.  ascended to His Father, the right hand of the Majesty on High

                (1) the meek and lowly Jesus, now elevated to the highest station

                (2) is unlike common man who forgets those he knew when humbler

                (3) since this verse says we still have Him and His interest

                (4) rather, this affirmation of Christ’s Deity gives assurance that He cares for you: “for God is love” (1 John 4:8)

          iii.  so, we are encouraged to hold fast our confession

                (1) which expressed in other terms is we are not to let our faith waver

                (2) such a One, exalted above all else, of perfect character is our Jesus

                (3) and your trust in His care will never be disappointed.

4.  The Nearness of His Presence

     a.  In His Experience (v 15)

          i.   “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

          ii.  He can relate to our weakness

                (1) now, the primary application in this chapter is with respect to sin: that Jesus understands what it is to be hungry, hurt, humbled and in that state facing the suggestive words of the Tempter

                     (a) in the start of His ministry for forty days in the wilderness

                     (b) at the end of His ministry in the Garden of Gethsemane

                (2) but the truth of these words goes beyond that application

                     (a) as our Creator, He already had that understanding: “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.” (Psalms 103:14)

                     (b) but also in entering the stream of mankind has realised it in practical terms: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, …” (John 1:14)

                     (c) so at Bethany, He stood at the tomb of His friend, Lazarus, and we read, “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

          iii.  He overcame weakness

                (1) in the wilderness it was by His knowledge of the written word

                (2) in the Garden it was by His submission to the Father’s will

                (3) and from that death scene in Bethany, raised Lazarus from death

          iv. His sympathy for us is proven by the facts, such as that He, the eternal Son of God, lived in such a way for us: “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Matthew 8:20)

                (1) promising His followers, “Lo, I am with you always”.

                (2) as for His disciples’ needs, so for your needs He is careful

     b.  In His Grace (v 16)

          i.   “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

          ii.  He sits enthroned

                (1) but He invites us to approach Him – what a picture of His grace!

                (2) to be able to approach Him sitting on the right hand of the Majesty on high

                (3) where as Son He can turn to the Father and express your need

          iii.  He is merciful

                (1) which means, among other things, that when our need is of our own making, He does not face us with stern judgement

                (2) but rather with Divine pity and compassion

                (3) which is quickly discerned when He helps us who are so needy

          iv. and, here is His promise: “5b … for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ 6 so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. what shall man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

5.  Conclusion

     a.  The Answer

O yes, He cares – I know He cares!

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary,

the long nights dreary,

I know my Saviour cares.