Experiential Learning

“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.” Hebrews 5:8-9 (NLT).

In Heaven, Jesus already knew everything. However, He had not experienced physical pain, physical suffering or rejection and conflict from the human perspective. To be our Representative, Jesus Christ had to enter into the human experience and become a person. His firsthand understanding of pain, exhaustion, frustration, and temptation qualified Him to be our High Priest. Experiential learning of God’s faithfulness through desperate prayers qualified Jesus to be your Friend who knows your sorrows.

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15 (NLT). Jesus understands your weaknesses because He experienced the same trials that you are experiencing. Jesus learned through experience how to see purpose in His trials, how to plead, pray, and trust. Because of His experiences, Jesus knows exactly what you are feeling. He already navigated the same type of trial that you’re in and He knows from experience the way out. In fact, Jesus can show you a way out, so you can endure the trial.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT). Jesus will show you the way to endure each trial or temptation. This may be showing you how to trust and obey without feeling God’s presence. It also may be giving you insight into how to persevere, while trusting in God for daily strength. Or, it may be helping you focus on godly pursuits instead of giving in to the temptations.

Experiential learning gives you the context for the truths that you already know from the Bible. You already know that God loves you and cares for you. Look back at the many times that you have experienced His love and care. “We understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16b (NLT). Jesus Christ both knows and has experienced the sovereignty, justice and mercy of God. You already have the Word to tell you His perspective. It is through daily life that you experience the perspective of Jesus. As you navigate times of testing, you learn through experience how Jesus felt and thought when He lived on Earth.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT). One of the beautiful aspects of sharing in the nature of Jesus Christ and being His special creation is that you get to be like Him. He suffered so He could identify with your suffering. He learned through experience how to trust when God seemed distant. He knew from experience how necessary it is to trust and obey and also how rewarding it is, as you experience the joy in God’s presence. He can comfort you because He was comforted. In the same way, you can comfort others with the same comfort that you’ve experientially learned from God’s faithfulness.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, Please be with me through each time of testing. Please give me a sense of your presence and help me to trust in your promises. Comfort me, so that I can comfort others! In Jesus’s name amen.”