Sin is an ugly thing.  I hate my sin.  It gets in the way, tends to poison every good thing.  If it weren’t for sin, I could accomplish a whole lot more, and everything would be much, much better.

God, why are You not more willing to heal my sin and brokenness?  It doesn’t seem very good or wise to let me slog around when you could just, I don’t know… fix me.

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:8-10, NIV).

Why did Jesus have to be perfected?  How can Perfection be improved?

For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:17-18, NIV).

So Jesus was perfect in character, but needed to be made perfect in experience; He needed to feel weakness, and overcome, so He could help us in our weakness.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:12-13, NIV).

So we share His suffering when we confront our own sin… fight our sin in what may be the most epic battles of eternity… for His sake, for our own sake, and for the sake of every person who is vulnerable to sin.

Could it be that God is Lord of my sin as well as my righteousness?  Could it be that, rather than being a tragic diversion, dealing with my sin might be God’s primary calling on my life?  What if this is my best contribution to the Body of Christ, even the whole world, and eternity?