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Our Savior is in Touch with People Like Us
Our Savior is In Touch with People Like Us
No doubt you’ve watched news and read stories about the recent election. There have been spins and explanations about why things turned out the way they did. You may have done some research into the whole thing. As I watched the election coverage on the only channel I could get through the antenna I purchased, I began to have some questions. What is it about exit polls that give the news stations such confidence in calling a state when so few votes had actually been counted? When I saw some information about exit polls at foxnews.com, I decided to look into it.[1]
They asked questions about everything. Certainly you could see trends regarding who voted for whom based on gender, marital status, race, socio-economic class. There were issue driven questions and you could see voting trends based on those issues whether economic, tax-related, or moral. Obviously, if someone typically identified with a party, that had a significant determining factor. However, there was one question asked in the Ohio exit polls that really intrigued me. In fact, this one question seemed to be a determining factor for who the person voted for more than anything else. I was amazed.
The question: “Who is more in touch with people like you?” Of those respondents who said Barak Obama, 94% voted for him, whereas 4% voted for Romney. On the other hand, of those who said Mitt Romney was more in touch with people like them 99% voted for him and only 1% voted for Obama. To be fair, there were some other questions about who the respondents thought could handle the economy and Medicare better that had similar results. However, it seems to me that it was the personal identification with the candidate that caused them to believe that candidate would handle those issues better. This question was even a stronger indicator of who the respondent would vote for than their claimed political stances and party. 10% of those who claimed to be liberal voted for Romney, while 18% of those who claimed to be conservative voted for Obama. 7% of those who are registered as Democrats voted for Romney and 5% registered as Republicans voted for Obama.
I have no doubt part of this identification with the candidate, or rather believing the candidate identifies with the voter, is somewhat based on issues. However, there was no single issue that matched up like this. Even on hot-button emotional issues like abortion the contrast wasn’t this stark. Close to 20% of those who believe abortion should be illegal in most or all cases voted for Obama. And about the same percentage of those who believe abortion should be legal in all cases voted for Romney. Amazingly, 37% of those who thought abortion should be legal in most cases voted for Romney. So this point about identification isn’t just about particular political issues.
The long and short of what I learned is if you want to be President of the United States, you have to make sure people think you are in touch with them. But, of course, I’m not really concerned about who gets to be President of the United States. This mini-foray into politics made me think of Hebrews 2:17-18 and 4:15-16.
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
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For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (ESV).
People want a President who they believe is in touch with people like them. But more than that, we want a Savior who is in touch with people like us. Guess what! We have that. Jesus Christ is in touch with people like us. He left the glories of heaven, came into the world as a swaddling wrapped son of a carpenter. He was raised by a mother that for the rest of her life lived under the shadow of being accused of immorality. His family was poor (cf. Luke 2:24; Leviticus 12:6-8). There was even some dysfunction, if you will, considering the family accused Jesus of being out of his mind (cf. Mark 3:21). Since Jesus felt the need to appoint a guardian and care-giver for his mother while on the cross, it appears that Jesus knew what it was like to lose an earthly father (cf. John 19:26-27). But the most important point is that Jesus is in touch with being tempted. He was tempted in all points as we are. That doesn’t mean He experienced every single temptation possible to us. He was never tempted to drink a Long Island Iced Tea, but He would have been tempted with the escape from reality such a drink offers. He was clearly never tempted to look at internet pornography, but Satan certainly set before Him lusts of the eyes and the flesh. He was never tempted to perpetrate insider trading, but no doubt He was tempted with the pride of life issues that come from greed, covetousness, and the desire for riches and wealth.
Here is the point. A couple of weeks ago, you likely voted for a President based on whether or not you thought he was in touch with people like you. Let me assure you, there is a Savior who is in touch with people like you far more than any of the political candidates ever will be. If you haven’t already submitted to Him and “voted” for Him with your life, why not do so right now?
--Edwin L. Crozier
