Information Related to "Jesus Christ Is the Way Through Your Suffering"
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Once you come to understand where suffering comes from and why we so often go through trials, you can start working through your suffering. In God's mercy He showed us the key in the Bible. The key is trusting in Jesus Christ.
How can trust in Jesus bring you through a trial? Why would He help in the first place?
The Bible tells us Jesus does "sympathize with our weaknesses." Why does the Creator of the universe care about us at that personal level? Because He was tempted in every way, just as we are (Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.). What does that mean? It's may be hard to understand how God Himself could, for instance, understand a woman's needs. Or empathize with depression and loss. What of the trauma of a divorce?
Paul explains that we are not alone in our trials (1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.). If you attend a Christian fellowship, you find others going through similar experiences (2 Corinthians 1:3-6 [3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
[4] Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
[5] For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
[6] And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
). This is strengthening. Yet each of us has his own pain, trial and anguish that we may think no one else can really understand.
We may wonder whether God can feel our pain. Can God appreciate the depth of human despair? Peter wrote that Jesus suffered for us, leaving us an example (1 Peter 2:21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:). In what ways did Jesus lead the way? What confidence can we have that He understands the personal trauma of every one of His people?
Jesus understands what it's like to have an imperfect, frail human body. Isaiah was inspired to write that Christ's physical appearance didn't make Him especially attractive or desirable (Isaiah 53:2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.). In other words, He was apparently average looking. Just like you, at times His body got just plain tired. He rested at the well of Samaria because He was physically weary and thirsty (John 4:6-7 [6] Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
[7] There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
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Like any other human, He needed time to recuperate from the stress of heavy responsibility, for the weight of the world really was on His shoulders. After periods of hectic activity, He withdrew to areas of solitude to refresh Himself and recuperate (Mark 6:31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.).
A huge amount of our human stresses and pains come from the societies we live in. Governments are often inefficient at best and abusive at the worst. Injustices and acts of aggression were just as much a part of His world as they are ours. Jesus' life was regulated by an oppressive system of at times foolish laws and regulations, just like ours can be, depending on where we live.
Jesus knew the burden of oppressive government and the sting of racism. He lived in Judea under the occupation forces of the mighty Roman Empire, which treated His people harshly. He was personally insulted, accused of being illegitimate and "born of fornication" (John 8:41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.).
Many of our problems come from strained or broken relationships with members of our family and close friends. Often we feel the most stress and pain from the people we love most. Jesus had to deal with this too. His own brothers didn't believe in Him (John 7:5For neither did his brethren believe in him.). His disciples were His best friends, but even they abandoned Him when He was arrested (Mark 14:43-50 [43] And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
[44] And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
[45] And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
[46] And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
[47] And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
[48] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
[49] I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
[50] And they all forsook him, and fled.
). The next day many of His disciples were still too frightened to be publicly seen as He was beaten and executed. "But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things" (Luke 23:49And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.).
What about other interpersonal relationships? Jesus wasn't married, so how can He understand marriage problems? How can Jesus understand what it's like to live with a difficult or even unfaithful mate?
The fact is, He can. He is symbolically married to the Church (2 Corinthians 11:2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.; Revelation 19:7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.). How often do we, as individual Christians, let Him down and act unfaithfully toward Him? (Jeremiah 3:6-14 [6] The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
[7] And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
[8] And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
[9] And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
[10] And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
[11] And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
[12] Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
[13] Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
[14] Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
). He is not only prepared to take the Church back, He will receive each of us when we repent and pledge ourselves to live faithfully with Him.
The world is full of people going through physical suffering that comes from illness or violence or simple accidents. If you're in a situation like that, please know that Christ understands the depths of your suffering. In Jesus' last hours as a human being He was falsely accused, mocked, reviled, sworn at, spat upon and slapped in the face. He suffered a brutal beating before His crucifixion, which in itself was an extremely painful and humiliating way to die. You can read about His suffering in each of the Gospels to get just a small part of an idea of what He went through.
Isaiah prophesied about Jesus' suffering: "There were many who were appalled at him-his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness" (Isaiah 52:14As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:, New International Version). Apparently Jesus was barely recognizable as a human after the awful beating He suffered. As God in the flesh, did He want to live physically any less than we do? No, He didn't want to feel the agony of crucifixion and death. He even asked God the Father if it were possible to not go through this trial (Luke 22:42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.). But He endured the pain so He could sympathize with us as our High Priest and so we could be forgiven of our sins (Hebrews 4:14-16 [14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
[15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
[16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
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Before His own physical death, Jesus was no stranger to loss and grief. Jesus was overcome with grief and wept when His friend Lazarus died (John 11:35Jesus wept.). Even more poignant is how He viewed all of the people He met and served. As God and the Creator of all things, including humanity, Jesus experienced intense sorrow about what humans do to themselves and to each other through sin.
He looked at the city of Jerusalem and wept because of the tragedy the city had seen and would see in the near future. He was experiencing a profound sense of grief over the way His children were suffering and living in pain (Luke 19:41-44 [41] And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
[42] Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
[43] For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
[44] And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
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Know for certain that you have a faithful God and High Priest who walked this physical life ahead of you. He knows what it means to suffer.
Christ meant it when He told us: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 [28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
).
Jesus wants you to approach God the Father with your cares in prayer. Even when you have unanswered prayers, trust in God's promises to listen and care for you. Remember Paul's example. Even though God's answer isn't always what we wanted, it is always what's best for us.
When you're suffering, approach God boldly and confidently in prayer. Know with every pain you suffer that Jesus is your High Priest. He hears, knows and understands how you feel. When we love and obey Him, God will cause even our biggest mistakes, hardships and pain to work out for good (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.).
God the Father and Jesus Christ have a plan for you. Their Kingdom is coming. It's a beautiful Kingdom where there will be no more pain and suffering (Revelation 21:4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.). They want you to be a part of their Kingdom (2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.).
Pray to God. Study His Word in the Bible. He wants to be your loving Father now and forever. Seek Him for comfort today, in your hour of need.
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