Jesus and Suffering

Introduction: Suffering

Series: Jesus our Teacher

What are some things you can think of what Jesus teaches us?

How to love others

Forgiveness

Prayer

Holiness

Tonight I want to talk about one aspect of following Jesus that we tend to overlook to avoid: Suffering

The reality is, suffering is one of the most important aspects of our discipleship

It is a necessary component of being formed into the image of Jesus

One of the questions at the forefront of our spiritual maturity is:

Will we learn to suffer well?

One key factor in any Christian role-model

Jesus knew how to suffer well, will we learn?

Listen to the prophetic words that were looking towards Jesus in the book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 53:3–4 (CSB)

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.

He was like someone people turned away from;

he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,

and he carried our pains;

but we in turn regarded him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:7 (CSB)

He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth.

Like a lamb led to the slaughter

and like a sheep silent before her shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

So tonight I want to share:

The Inevitability of Suffering

The Importance of Suffering

God’s Provision through Suffering

The Inevitability of Suffering

Listen to the words of Jesus:

John 16:33 (CSB)

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.

You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Matthew 10:22 (CSB)

You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Following Jesus is not easy, but it is worthwhile

But the sufferings we face aren’t only because we follow Jesus

We live in a broken world

Which means broken relationships

Disordered desires

Natural disasters

Traumatic pain

As Christians we know this is not the way it is supposed to be

We know the source of this: The Fall (Genesis 3)

So in a way we know that this world is broken, but so often are caught by surprise when trials come — suffering is inevitable

Western society give us no explanation for suffering and very little guidance on how to deal with it

The lives of our ancestors was filled with far more suffering than ours is and they seemed to deal with it a lot better

examples -childbirth, disease, famine, wars/attacks

We live in a society that seeks to avoid pain at all costs. We live in a culture of comfort in which we are not equipped to handle suffering.

The pursuit of comfort, pleasure, and personal freedom makes suffering so traumatic to us

Robert Spitzer - DSM III

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the handbook used by health care professionals in the United States and much of the world as the authoritative guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders.

Twenty-five years later:

Wrongly labeled many normal human experiences of grief, sorrow, and anxiety as mental disorders

“They were not interested in understanding the patient’s life, or why they were suffering from these symptoms. If the patient was very sad, anxious, or unhappy, then it was simply assumed that he or she was suffering from a disorder that needed to be cured, rather than from a natural and normal human reaction to certain life conditions that needed to be changed.”

“The growing influence of the DSM was one among many other social factors spreading the harmful cultural belief that much of our everyday suffering is a damaging encumbrance that is best swiftly removed—a belief increasingly trapping us within a worldview that regards all suffering as a purely negative force in our lives”

Like I have said before: Suffering is inevitable

None of your suffering catches God off guard

Like Jesus promised

John 16:33 (CSB)

You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

We often view this suffering as an interruption of our lives, like something has been derailed… but suffering is a meaningful part of growth and development in our lives.

The seasons of the greatest suffering and trials are often the season of greatest growth

The Importance of Suffering

Perhaps nothing is more important than to learn how to maintain a life of purpose in the midst of painful adversity

Far from being meaningless, Pain and suffering, a breaking out of our comfort zone, might be the only way we actually grow!

Think of the church in Acts

The lives of Paul, Peter, and the other followers of Jesus

Just listen to some of these words from the NT letters:

In the words of Paul:

Romans 5:3–5 (CSB)

And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Listen to the words of Peter:

1 Peter 1:6–7 (CSB)

You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:12–13 (CSB)

Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.

And James:

James 1:2–4 (CSB)

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

All of these Scriptures are hitting at this underlying truth of hardships and sufferings

They are strengthening us

Like a refiner’s fire

They are producing character in us

Endurance, hope, faith, and maturity

Gym

Being sore

Stretching

Do we want to reflect Jesus in a deeper way?

Trials are the primary way that character grows

Pray for patience - God sends you opportunities to be impatient

Pray for peace - God sends you situations full of uncertainty that we might trust in him

Pray to be loving - God sends people that might hurt us in order that we might love and forgive

The key to enduring times of trials and suffering is finding a purpose in the suffering

I will tell you this:

Meaningless suffering without a point will destroy you

But if we can find a purpose, we will be strengthened to endure

Just like the gym

Even Jesus needed a purpose through his suffering

Hebrews 12:2–3 (CSB)

For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.

But I think, at least in my experience, the question that comes up naturally when a trial or hardship comes is why

Why me? Why now? Why would you allow this? Why is this happening?

I think this can be one of the most dangerous questions we can ask, mainly because we might not ever get the answer, and even if we did, we would not be satisfied

Think of Job

God’s questions

Job’s reply: (Job 42:2-6)

2 “I know that you can do anything,

and no one can stop you.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’

It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,

things far too wonderful for me.

4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!

I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.’

5 I had only heard about you before,

but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6 I take back everything I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Expound

However, I am not saying that we shouldn’t ask questions…

But we should ask better questions

Ask what questions rather than why questions

What is God showing me in this difficulty?

What is God trying to teach me in this hardship?

What is having control over my thoughts and emotions?

And I think that as we pray through these questions God will reveal himself to us

He will show us what he is teaching us

So I know we’ve talked about the inevitability of suffering and the importance of suffering but I want to finish tonight talking about God’s provision through suffering

How do we continue when everything feels like it’s falling apart?

How do we continue to love on others when our hearts are broken?

How can we provide for others when we feel like we have nothing to give?

God’s Provision through Suffering

I think there is an often overlooked connection in a story we are all familiar with

How many of you have heard of the feeding of the 5,000?

Its one of the most recognizable stories in the Gospels

In fact, it was so important that it was included in all four gospel accounts (Matt 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6)

But in 3 out of the 4 gospels there is a very strange story immediately before this miracle

This very weird story of John the Baptist’s death at a party

Matthew 14:10–14 (CSB)

So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. Then his disciples came, removed the corpse, buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

When Jesus heard about it, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

Just keep this in mind:

How do you think Jesus was feeling?

Sad, discouraged, emotionally tired

Now lets see how the disciples were doing

in Both Luke and Mark there is some additional context given

Jesus had sent out the apostles

Herod is scared that John had come back from the dead

The Apostles return

Mark 6:30–34 (CSB)

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.

When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

Now think of this:

How must the disciples have felt?

Tired, upset, irritated, annoyed, hungry

So on one hand you have Jesus

Emotionally exhausted, wanting to mourn the tragic death of his cousin

On the other hand you have the disciples

Physically exhausted, hungry, and promised rest but didn’t get it

And on the third hand

You have one of the most amazing miracles in the Bible…

So with this in mind, lets re-read this story

Mark 6:34–46 (CSB)

When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late. Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.”

“You give them something to eat,” he responded.

They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”

When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray.

For the disciples:

They got their rest

It probably wasn’t what they were expecting

Rest through the craziness & being used by God

Ex. Le’s problems and Opa Passing

Don’t let busyness be an excuse to not care and love on other people

God will provide everything you need, are you willing to be used by God?

Jesus included the disciples in on this miracle

God could’ve instantly filled all of their stomachs

He could have made manna fall from heaven

Jesus asked them how much bread they had

Jesus took the little that they did have and multiplied it to meet the needs of many

God wants to do the same thing with us

At times we are tired and exhausted and feel like we have nothing to give

But God wants us to work alongside him to provide the needs for others

Now for Jesus:

He had just heard about the death of his close cousin

He was on his way to find some solitude and mourn

And then he was faced with this crowd of thousands

In both Matthew and Mark’s account we clearly see the heart of Jesus

Mark 6:34 (CSB)

When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.

What would your reaction be?

You are emotionally exhausted, trying to find time to mourn the loss of a family member

While you are on a boat to get away you see a large crowd gathering

Thousands of people

How would you feel?

Annoyed, fearful, dreading what would come next?

Jesus’s response was compassion

And I want to tell you guys this tonight:

Times of suffering can lead us to be more compassionate people

When we go through emotional pain, times of anxiety, and seasons of suffering, we are able to enter into the pain that someone else is experiencing and love them

Like we started with tonight: Jesus was called a man of sorrows but he was simultaneously the most compassionate human to walk this Earth

When we see a need that someone has, and we are moved with compassion, we should seek to engage with them, not draw back

And it’s not that we are able to meet all of their needs

Or that we have the key to fix their problems

But as we compassionately engage with other hurting people, God will provide

Like the disciples we can be means of grace in which God uses us to bless those in need

Like bringing the bread and fish to the groups

Example: Junior Bible, Hungary(?)

And it doesn’t have to be something big and grand

It can be very simple and mundane

Conclusion

My goal in talking to you all about suffering tonight is so that you might view your own suffering in a different light

I know a teaching on suffering can be very abstract

But suffering is very real and suffering is uncomfortable

And the reality is most of us in this room are suffering in one area of our life or another

And if you aren’t… you aren’t immune, suffering will come

Like Peter said, I don’t want you to be surprised like something unusual is happening to you

But that we might see suffering as it is and know the importance it holds

So as you think of what sufferings you are going through now…

I want you to think of what God might be doing through the suffering

Again not why questions

Why is this happening to me?

Why now?

Why would you allow this?

But what questions

What is God showing me in this difficulty?

What is God trying to teach me in this hardship?

What is having control over my thoughts and emotions?

And as we seek God through this difficult times, we begin to grow in our character

And finally I just want to encourage you all that God wants to use you!

As a follower of Jesus, no amount of suffering or hardships can disqualify you from being used by God

The very seasons we find that we are incapable of ministering to others, God uses to deeply work in other people

Like the feeding of the 5,000 — God will provide everything necessary we are simply means in which God’s blessings can reach others

The temptation is to draw away and to isolate ourselves, but we must fight against that temptation

The reality is that there are people in your life that God wants to bless and provide for but he wants to use us to do it

All we need is to act with compassion towards those in need

You are a needed member of the body of Christ

So I hope you all can get a glimpse into Jesus’s own wrestling with suffering

And that you might know the importance of suffering in our lives and the lives of those around us

Pray