UNPACK This...Focusing on the One Who Came to Bring Us VictorySýnishorn

Empathy For An Enemy

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended for five games in November of 2023 after he put Minnesota center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold following an altercation.

But things got much worse for Green when he struck Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic in the face shortly after his return from his NBA suspension.

Despite having numerous heated exchanges with his rival in the past, Gobert said about Green's situation, "I have empathy for him. You see somebody that's not well inside and suffering."

Interestingly, Gobert's comments remind me of the story that followers of Jesus celebrate each year at Christmas.

We are all born "not well" because of our sins. Romans 5:12 explains, "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned."

But this is where the amazing news of Christmas comes into play. Because of God's great mercy, He did something about the fact that we were "not well."

His solution demonstrates the ultimate example of empathy, as Jesus Christ took on a body of flesh to dwell among us and save us from our sins. He didn't just have compassion from afar but shared in our flesh and blood to rescue us from our fallen state.

Though Jesus never sinned, He joined us in our suffering and temptations to be our merciful and compassionate High Priest.

Today, let's remember Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin."

As we experience the meaningful Christmas season, we must remember that our empathetic Savior came and walked among our brokenness to save us from our sins.

In response, let's also show others empathy, especially when we know they are "not well" and in need of His saving grace that we've experienced.

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to live among us and save me from my sins. Thank You, Jesus, that You can empathize with me in my weakness and stand ready to help me in my struggle against sin. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

For more sports and faith devotionals, visit unpackinit.com.