God's Suffering Servant

We are no stranger to the notion of suffering.  As I write this, our generation has come out the other side of a worldwide pandemic, we are standing precariously close to the possibility of a third world war, and natural disasters continue to strike our country regularly.  I think it would be safe to say in general, that we are beginning to lose any false sense of security.  You know what I mean; that little voice in your head that says things like, "that stuff only happens to other people in other countries."  They do happen to us, and in our own country as well.  So the time has come to grapple with the reality of suffering, at least from a Biblical sense.  I say a Biblical sense, because this subject so often lends itself to asking the tough question, "why do bad things happen to good people?"  Let's tackle the issue right here and now.

I won't spend too much time on the nuts and bolts theological explanation of suffering.  I believe that the Bible has  clearly laid out the story of how sin entered into an otherwise perfect Garden of Eden.  Once man decided to disobey God all those thousands of years ago, subsequent populations have had to struggle with famines, illness, and death.  Life wasn't originally meant to be this way, but we sinned through Adam and Eve, and now we exist in the aftermath of that rift.  

In addition to this spiritual argument, we also have at our disposal the book of Job in the Bible.  I find this to be far more compelling in it's treatment of the human condition.  Namely, because God actually answers Job at the very end of the book.  What an incredible sneak peek we have from our Lord regarding how and why human beings go through trials and difficulty!  Not so much from an immediate gratification perspective, but more so from the standpoint that a good and holy God would even take the time to answer us at all.  

As some of you know, Job was stricken with all manner of calamity during his life.  Scripture says that he was covered with sores, and that he lost livestock and even his family.  At one point, Job's wife implores him to "just give up, curse God, and die" (Job 2:9).  I would imagine that was quite the dinner table conversation.  Throughout the book, Job pleads with God for answers.  He essentially makes the argument that since he is a righteous man, he therefore doesn't deserve to be punished or to suffer.  Job's friends give him some really rotten advice, except for Elihu, who actually seems to defend God rather than blame Job.  

Job makes a handful of proclamations regarding his terrible situation.  Often, he simply laments because he doesn't have anyone on his side.  There seems to be no one who can advise him clearly, or who can suffer with him.  And here lies the real thrust of my point.  Jesus is in fact our representative before God.  He was God's suffering servant, and the only person ever to have walked the Earth who was holy enough to offer himself as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).  This is exactly what Job was hoping for.  The future Messiah was exactly the type of consoling friend that Job had longed for from God.  He didn't know it at the time, but mankind's atonement for sin was slated to enter onto the global stage a couple thousand years later.  Who would have suspected that a carpenter from Nazareth could change the course of human history?  

As we read the different ways in which the book of Job foreshadowed the coming of Christ, keep in mind that this account was written two-thousand years before  Jesus was born.  In fact, some say it is the oldest book in the Bible.  

Job 9:32-34 says, "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.  If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more."  Tell me this doesn't sound like a plea for the atonement and the covering of Jesus.  The perfect penitent, ready to sacrifice himself for our sins.  

Job 17:3 says further, "Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.  Who else will put up security for me?"  In the New Testament, we are in fact introduced to the idea that no one is holy or righteous enough to meet God's pledge head on.  We do in fact need an intermediary to fill in for us instead.  Christ alone puts up "security" for us in God's eyes.  This is the only reason that Christians today can approach the throne of God boldly in prayer and supplication.  

While this foreshadowing is fascinating in it's own rite, what I think is more applicable for us today is the fact that only through God's suffering servant, can we have any kind of peace.  God eventually answers Job and his friends at the end of the story, but what He says isn't necessarily comforting.  The Lord reminds them that they are not God, and only the real God is sovereign and righteous.  Essentially telling them, "Who are you to judge me and tell me that you shouldn't ever suffer?"  Point taken; we are not God.  

But we also need to remember that He knows our pain and our struggles on a personal level.  Jesus is one part of the Holy Trinity - he is God's son.  So in effect, we have a savior that knows what it's like to struggle, feel physical pain, and be humiliated.  Re-read the account of his crucifixion if you need to.  My point is simply that our God is no stranger to illness and death.  He is not aloof or uncaring, as some have described Him to be in the past.  When we cry, so does God. And when we feel joy, so does He.  

And some day, if we are saved and have taken Jesus up on his offer to accept the grace of salvation - we may finally get specific answers to our questions about suffering.  But at that point, I suspect it will no longer matter.  Because we will be in the presence of His true love and perfect grace.  As Scripture says, "No eye has seen what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9).  And He does love us.  

So be at peace, even if it's impossible to do so in the human sense.  We have a God that has suffered on our behalf, so that someday we won't have to.  Until that time, get on with living, so that you can help other people know and understand God's love.  Doing so may just help you heal as well.  Sacrificial love has a way of doing that.    

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