ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – EMBRACE OF SUFFERING – CHASHA חשא Cheth Shin Aleph

Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”

This is one of those verses that we just cannot get the real depth of understanding from any English translation. Not that the modern English translations are wrong, it is just that we cannot find a word in English to express first-century thought.

For instance the words “touch with the feeling” is just one small word in the Aramaic chasha . That rendering comes close, but it is more than a touch, I would call it an embrace of pain or suffering. This is more than just feeling empathy Jesus is actually experiencing your suffering and pain. He is not the kind gent who sits at your bed saying: “There, there, buck up old boy, pip pip and all that.” When you suffer a broken heart, he just doesn’t pat you one the head and offer the usual audibles like “Time heals all wounds, brighten up, all will be well.” He actually feels your heartbreak.

Many years ago when I worked for a well-known evangelist I was often called upon to be in that prayer line. I have to admit I did not really appreciate this part of my job. I was supposed to pray for people as they came to the front of the altar and of course, most came for prayer for healing. That one got me, what if I prayed and they weren’t healed. Would they get me for breach of promise? I wondered what type of liability insurance the evangelist had and was I covered?

Well, my worst fears came to the altar after one service. It was a young man who said he had cancer and wanted me to pray that he be healed. As I quickly began to formulate a prayer I was suddenly stricken with the realization that all I cared about was praying a nice prayer to impress this young man who could very well be dying. I had to admit to myself that I really did not care that much about this young man. I was young, healthy how could I relate to his fears, his pain? How could I really pray that fervent righteous prayer that availeth much, when I felt no empathy?

So, I prayed, “Lord, I feel very little for this young man, I don’t know him, I never met him before tonight and I will likely never see him again. On top of that I suspect that lack of empathy does not make me much of a righteous man, so how can I work up a fervent prayer. Almost, instantly there was a pain in my back that literally took my breath away. It was a pain like I had never felt before. The young man gave me a puzzled look and asked: “What’s going on?” I ask him if the cancer was located in the area where I was holding my back. He sort of brightened and said: “Yes, it is.” I then said: “I’m ready to pray.” After praying my pain left. I didn’t ask the man if he felt anything, I just felt relief for myself and told him: “Buck up old boy, pip, pip and all that.” He didn’t hear me, he had his own little thing going on and I left him to it.

I did learn one thing, Hebrews 4:15 needs a better rendering because God is more than touched with feeling for our infirmities, He embraces them, experiences them and shares them with us.

I really don’t remember if I did this or not but I think I made a mental note that one day I would really search out the heart of God. I probably put it off as I was afraid of what I might find. However, 13 years ago I began my search for the heart of God and I found many rooms in His heart. Some are joyful, some are expectant, some are filled with celebration. I call one room His shower room where there is only one faucet that pours out the love of God and you can stay under that shower as long as you wish.

But there are other rooms. I would dare to enter these rooms. If you wish to pray fervently, you consider it. I call one the weeping room. I enter that room and I weep with God over the suffering of the world. But there is another room. It is for those of us who honestly admit that we do not feel much empathy for someone who asks for prayer. I call that the suffering room where, when you enter, you will suffer the pain and heartbreak that God feels. I believe it was that room I entered when I prayed a very fervent prayer.