By Matt Osborne, Staff Writer

Playing with fiery passion and emotion, Golden State Warriors forward, Draymond Green, has unquestionably made an impact on many of the franchise’s championship teams.

As is often the case, however, Green’s biggest strength has also turned out to be his kryptonite.

While Green’s emotional playing style has landed him in trouble with the NBA league offices numerous times in the past, his tumultuous outbursts seem to have hit newfound heights this season.

Green, who has been ejected from three of the 15 contests in which he has played this year, was suspended for five games back in November after he put Minnesota center, Rudy Gobert, in a chokehold following an altercation.

But things have gotten much worse for Green, as he’s been suspended indefinitely by the NBA after striking Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a game earlier this week.

Many people have spoken out about the indefinite suspension, and the general sentiment is that it will be good for Green to have an opportunity to work on harnessing some of his misguided emotions.

One of the people giving his take on Green’s situation is Rudy Gobert. Despite having numerous heated exchanges with his rival in the past, he said, “I have empathy for him. You see somebody that’s not well inside and suffering. You take away the game and all that, and you want somebody to be well and be able to do what we do every night and compete and be happy.”

Gobert has been on the receiving end of both physical and verbal attacks from Green in the past, but he still has empathy for the fact that his rival is “not well.” Green doesn’t deserve this compassion, but Gobert is showing it to him anyway.

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

The truth is, each of us is born “not well” and because of our sin, are enemies of God.

Romans 5:12 (NLT) 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 (and Easter) comes into play!

Romans 5:10-11 (NLT) says, “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

Because of God’s great mercy, He decided to do something about the fact that we were “not well.” His solution to our problem demonstrates the ultimate example of empathy, as Jesus Christ, who is eternally God, took on a body of flesh (born as a baby) to dwell among us and save us from our sins.

Regarding Jesus, we are told in Hebrews 2:14 (ESV): “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Jesus didn’t just have compassion from afar. He shared in our flesh and blood to rescue us from our fallen state.

Though Jesus never sinned (unlike all of us), He joined us in our human sufferings and temptings to be our merciful and compassionate High Priest.

Today, let’s be mindful of the following two verses:

“God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that He should make Jesus, through His suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation” (Hebrews 2:10; NLT).

“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” (Hebrews 4:15; NIV).

As we continue to move our way through the Christmas season, let’s take time to remember that our empathetic Savior came and walked among our brokenness to save us from our sins.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (God with us)” (Isaiah 7:14; AMP).

We praise God for the compassion and empathy that’s demonstrated by Jesus coming to earth. 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.

Merry Christmas! 

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son to live among us and save us from our sins. Thank you, Jesus, that You can empathize with me in my weakness, and that You stand ready to help me in my struggle against sin. Please help me to keep my eyes fixed on You throughout the Christmas season and every day. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.