Another good one respecting the empathy of Jesus.
"He doesn't look at us and pity us from on high. He became one of us and suffered the temptations we suffer. It's empathy. Identifying with us in our temptations." - Dr. Michael Horton (~13:17)
xitter.cf/DanielRHyde/status/211…
Rev. Daniel Hyde has a sermon making the same point, that Jesus is empathetic. I am thankful for the sympathy and empathy of Jesus.
- "He is a sympathetic as well as an empathetic priest for us sinners." (~5:00)
- "He's an empathetic priest... He speaks to us from his heart in his empathy." (~9:10)
- "Jesus Christ... is not only sympathetic, but he's empathetic." (~20:50)
sermonaudio.com/sermons/1219…
"The best of Christians is a poor frail creature, and needs the blood of atonement every day that he lives; but the least and lowest of believers will find that he is counted among Christ’s servants, and that his labor has not been in vain in the Lord. He will discover to his amazement that his Master’s eye saw more beauty in his efforts to please him, than he ever saw himself; he will find that every hour spent in Christ’s service, and every word spoken on Christ’s behalf, has been written in a book of remembrance. Let believers remember these things and take courage. The cross may be heavy now, but the glorious reward will make up for all." - J. C. Ryle on The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
Bill Harding retweeted
Mark 2:27–28 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” (ESV)
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From the final page of Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen:
"Thus the warfare of the world has entered even into the house of God. And sad indeed is the heart of the man who has come seeking peace.
Is there no refuge from strife? Is there no place of refreshing where a man can prepare for the battle of life? Is there no place where two or three can gather in Jesus' name, to forget for the moment all those things that divide nation from nation and race from race, to forget human pride, to forget the passions of war, to forget the puzzling problems of industrial strife, and to unite in overflowing gratitude at the foot of the Cross? If there be such a place, then that is the house of God and that the gate of heaven.
And from under the threshold of that house will go forth a river that will revive the weary world."
Bill Harding retweeted
From Fisher's Catechism: The Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism Explained (Dovetale Books), p. 192:
On WSC 35. What is sanctification?
"Q. 1. What is it for one to be SANCTIFIED?
A. It is to be made a saint, or a holy person set apart for a holy use; 1 Thess. 5:23.
Q. 2. Can any sinner sanctify himself?
A. No; we can defile, but we cannot purify ourselves; Job 14:4.
Q. 3. Whose work is it to sanctify?
A. It is the special work of the Spirit of God; 2 Thess. 2:13.
Q. 4. Do any of mankind-sinners deserve that God should sanctify them?
A. No; there are none of them that can deserve any thing from God, but to be left to perish eternally in their sin and pollution, because 'they are altogether become filthy; there is none of them that doeth good, no not one,' Psalm 14:3; Rom. 3:10-13.
Q. 5. What moves God to sanctify a sinner?
A. His own free grace and good pleasure, Phil. 2:13."
Here is another helpful post from Dr. Fesko.
Why are we often tempted (even subtly) to put such high hopes in man-made formulas? Perhaps it gives us a warm fuzzy that we're doing something to help or a false sense that we're in control.
Some thoughts on whether parenting is merely following a formula or whether the Bible beckons us to the gospel and wisdom . . .
jvfesko.com/blog/2026/10/12/…
Bill Harding retweeted
God's justice indeed must be satisfied; and there is no way in the world to give satisfaction to God, but by believing in Christ.
- Ralph Erskine
Bill Harding retweeted
Why do you need a savior? Rev. Archibald Allison shares why we need the Holy Spirit as sinners.
Rev. Daniel Hyde has a sermon making the same point, that Jesus is empathetic. I am thankful for the sympathy and empathy of Jesus.
- "He is a sympathetic as well as an empathetic priest for us sinners." (~5:00)
- "He's an empathetic priest... He speaks to us from his heart in his empathy." (~9:10)
- "Jesus Christ... is not only sympathetic, but he's empathetic." (~20:50)
sermonaudio.com/sermons/1219…
Empathy is not inherently bad. Jesus is empathetic.
WLC Q/A 39: "It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might ..., have a fellow-feeling of our infirmities;..."
"He is the empathetic Savior." (sermonaudio.com/sermons/1024… - ~34:30) - Brian De Jong (OPC)
Bill Harding retweeted
"From Genesis to Revelation, it has always been about Jesus!" - @jvfesko
Dr. Fesko is on point again. Sanctification is not a checklist.
WSC 35: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
Some thoughts on the nature of sanctification and our continual need for Christ . . .
jvfesko.com/blog/2026/9/28/c…
Empathy is not inherently bad. Jesus is empathetic.
WLC Q/A 39: "It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might ..., have a fellow-feeling of our infirmities;..."
"He is the empathetic Savior." (sermonaudio.com/sermons/1024… - ~34:30) - Brian De Jong (OPC)
Also worth listening to regarding our empathy towards others: sermonaudio.com/sermons/5826… - Shane Lems (OPC)












