Hebrews 2:8 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

The difference between empathy and compassion is personal experience. Empath means to feel. You can have compassion for others without having felt what that person is going through. Here we see Jesus giving comfort to those who are tempted because He was tempted, empathy.

We go through a lot more in life than just temptation. The feelings that I struggle with, I would like to think Jesus felt that way also, that He understands how I feel. Many times I have heard others say, “You don’t know what it is like.” I’ve uttered those words myself.

I was a drug addict for a season. There is nowhere in the bible that says Jesus was a drug addict. He didn’t have to live with that. He was perfect in all His ways. How could he understand?

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

I never understood how I could do greater works than my Lord until I understood that I have empathy for drug addicts because I know what it is like. I felt it. I am the vessel of His understanding, having gone through things He could not. Jesus gets to have empathy for them through me, because now I am in Him and He in me and all that I have felt, He feels.

Do not believe the lie that Jesus does not know how you feel. He does because of those who have been through what you have and are now members of the body of Christ, feeling members, empaths.