By Doug Cox

For a small fee we rescued my yellow lab Samson from the animal shelter. My family had decided it was time to get another dog, so we checked the animal shelter and there he was and we took him home. Once there I discovered he had a problem. If I happened to raise my hand around him, he ducked thinking I was going to hit him. Eventually he learned I wasn’t like the cruel master he had experienced during the first months of his life. Thankfully, his mind and heart became convinced that he could trust me and for the last 13 or so years he’s been right there at my side, faithful and true.

My dog had to learn that I was for him not against him. His mind and heart had to connect with the fact that I loved him. This connection problem is the same between God and man. Many humans let their minds keep God’s love and grace from entering their hearts. They think – why should I let God close and get nervous when He does.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus lived His life the way He did and experience the things He did? Of course, we know He had to die for our sins, but why was He willing to put up with the harshness of life? The sunburns, the sore feet and long dusty roads with short tempered people. Why did He put up with hatred and rejection, cold nights and hard ground when they could have been avoided. Wouldn’t one donkey ride on the last week and then the cruel cross have been enough? The answer is No. The question is Why? The reason is, He knew it would take more than that to win your trust.

Doesn’t thinking about how He spent His last earthly hours with parched dry cracked lips when He didn’t have to make you wonder why? According to Mark’s gospel “… they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.” (Mark 15:22-23) Can you see that? Before any nails were pounded into His flesh, a drink of relief was offered and He refused. Why? Because He didn’t want any kind of relief from His God ordained suffering and because He was earning our trust.

He had already proven His power. He had gone about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the devil. (See Acts 10:38) He could turn water into wine and He could walk on water. He promised that He will pour water on him who is thirsty. But why did He endure thirst? The same reason He was tempted in the wilderness, grew weary in Samaria, got sleepy in a boat, sad at the tomb of Lazurus and hungry in the wilderness. He was experiencing life like we do and earning our trust. He was proving He is capable of helping us and taking care of us.

The writer of Hebrews tells us in speaking about Jesus as our High Priest. “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT

Surely Jesus has proven why we can trust Him, the question is are you?