The Way Of Escape From The Temptation To Despair

Sometimes we forget that Jesus is and always will be fully and completely human. This is, after all, the meaning of His Incarnation. It is what we confess in the Nicene Creed, for instance:

. . . by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

He remained a man after His resurrection and ascension. He is still a man and ever will be into all eternity. This is why the Hebrews says,

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. - Hebrews 2:14-18 ESV 

He had to be made like his brothers in every respect . . . Do you catch the implications of that? In every respect  or in all things he is like you, like me. He shares our flesh and blood. When he met his disciples after his resurrection they doubted this fact. They couldn't believe their eyes. To Thomas he said,

"Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." - John 20:27 ESV

By the seashore in Galilee he ate breakfast with them.

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. - John 21:12-14 ESV

He is no angel. He is human, a man. This is why he is our "merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God." Only a man could offer himself for other men. Only a man could "make propitiation for the sins of the people." I wrote about that strange word propitiation a while back.  Essentially it says that he made complete payment for the debts we owe by offering himself as the sacrifice for us all upon the cross of Calvary. We'll have occasion to come back to that word later in our study of this marvelous epistle. For now let it suffice to know that in every respect Jesus has and is one with us as our merciful and faithful high priest. He is both priest and sacrifice. We'll also come back to that again and again in this study.

In this great work Jesus was tempted to give in. So great was the burden that he nearly collapsed under the weight of it all. Luke writes about his agony and suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane.

And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." 

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. - Luk 22:40-44 ESV 

He understands what it means to feel like giving up. He knows the temptation to despair and hopelessness. He sympathizes with all of us who are asked to assume grave responsibility for others. He fully comprehends what suffering, pain, sorrow and anguish are all about. And because he does, because he's been there, he is able to be with us when we are tempted to throw in the towel. He promises that he'll never ask of us more than we can bear. Through his apostle he says to us,

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. - 1Cor 10:13 ESV

In Christ you are forgiven. In Christ you have hope of life eternal and the resurrection from the dead. And from Christ you have his promise of a way of escape. In the power of those promises you will endure. You will endure.