Jesus “Knows”, Jesus “Understands”
By: Maxine M.

Empathy – defined as identifying with another’s emotions, the feelings life can demand
For only one who has gone through the same thing can truly understand
Empathy KNOWS 1st hand…sympathy can only lend a helping hand

So, while we appreciate sympathy, empathy weaves bonds with special thread
Comfort can come from those who have the same road tread
We draw strength from those who have gone on ahead

You might say “there’s no one who could KNOW what I’m going through”
“I wish they did, then maybe they could tell me what to do”
Well, there is ONE who CAN empathize, no matter what troubles may accrue

Are you sad, sorrowful, suffering a loss, looking for relief?
The Bible states – Jesus was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief
He KNEW ALL possible sorrow, even though His time on Earth was brief

Born in poverty & squalor? Good fortune has never, your direction, glanced?
Known intense profound pain as some dreaded disease advanced?
HE had he LOWLYEST of birth, most agonizing death…thus empathy enhanced

Homeless?...sleeping in the street or a community shelter instead?
Jesus KNEW this condition saying “the Son of Man has no where to lay His head”
Have friends forsaken? All of Jesus’ followers & friends turned from Him and fled

Tried, misunderstood? Jesus experienced those feelings as well
Even His closest friends didn’t have a clue about the “stories” He would tell
“He has a demon” “He’s insane”…just some of the untrue declarations that befell

Family your toughest critics? Don’t see you for who you are? Encouragement rare?
Jesus’ family also lingered a good while in the skeptics chair
To most in Nazareth, He was just the carpenters son…unworthy of the lime light’s glare

Are you a parent trying to keep a family from falling apart?
Or a C.E.O. who must inspire workers to pull together…pull the same cart
Jesus had disciples struggling for preeminence from the very start

Jesus wept REAL tears over the death of a friend and at Jerusalem’s hard-hearted ways
Displayed righteous anger over the ‘religious corruption’ back in His day
Showed patience (empathy for teachers) when His disciples were in their learning phase

Abused, beaten? He KNEW all about that cowardly act
He was wounded for OUR transgressions, bruised for OUR SIN…a simple FACT
Over worked, need some quiet time? HE often went to the mountains when solitude lacked

Can’t get ahead in life?...because personal appearance is holding you back?
The bible declares Jesus DIDN’T possess beauty, physical desirability He would lack
He attracted people by the “radiance” of His Spirit, which was without flaw or crack

Unappreciated? Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one said “thank you”
He fed 5000, were they grateful? Their stomachs were full is all they knew
Jesus healed a demonic man who terrorized a town, but their fear & suspicion only grew

This Magnificent Creator, the ONE who hung the Universe in space
He was also tempted in EVERY temptation that we face
Except He NEVER yielded, complete Holiness He would embrace

Ever wonder, Is God real?? And if so, does He REALLY care?
These feelings of abandonment…Jesus, on the cross, would share
All our feelings of fear, shame, guilt, disgrace…He also, THERE, would bare

Have promises been broken? Someone trusted let you down? Jesus too was betrayed
Denial, rejection, false accusations…the message religious leaders relayed
But He didn’t retaliate…the DEBT for all OUR sins, He went ahead and paid

So you see, you don’t have to carry ANY burden ALONE…even in the darkest night
For you have a FRIEND who CAN empathize with your plight
This ONE you know, KNOWS the way and can make it all come out right