In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 6:9 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Jesus
I was recalling recently one of my best friends from high school. My high school days were not exactly miserable, but I did endure a number of rough situations. Fights, bad romances, gossip, academic struggles, and teenage angst were not uncommon.
But those things would have been a lot worse, if not for my friend.
We have not remained in contact. We went separate ways after school. But I cannot escape the knowledge that John’s presence made my struggles bearable.
Isaiah knew that the Messiah would be like that, only better.
Jesus not only accompanies us, He chose to suffer with us. Jesus chose to get His feet dirty on earth, surrounded not by the peaceful glory of heaven, but by the chaotic pain of earth-life. Jesus chose to save us by being present with us while He lived on earth, and through His Spirit ever since He left.
We have struggles. But we are not alone.
He has endured our struggles with us. He has suffered our sufferings even more than we have endured.
He carries us where we cannot walk and endures our weight and our ingratitude.
And tomorrow He will do it again.
So we are never really alone.
Fear not, then Jesus.