A Contrast in Suffering

[00:00:00] Once again in prayer. [00:00:04] Father, as we come to your word, we recognize that it is most holy and perfect, and it is clear in all that it teaches. [00:00:19] And if there is any problem in understanding, it rests with us. [00:00:29] And so, Father, we look for your spirit to open our hearts and minds to what it would have us learn from these words which that same Holy Spirit has preserved for us, that we might gain from them knowledge and wisdom, that we might gain from them a direction for our hearts that we might seek those things which are from above. [00:01:01] For, Father, we confess that it is so easy for us to focus on the things of this earth. [00:01:07] So, Father, focus our minds and hearts now upon your word. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. [00:01:18] Please turn in your Bibles to Job, chapter three, Job three, and beginning with verse one. [00:01:46] After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. [00:01:53] And Job said, let the day perish on which I was born. And the night that said a man is conceived, let the day be darkness. May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it. Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it. Let the blackness of the day terrify it that night. Let thick darkness seize it. Let it not rejoice among the days of the year. Let it not come into the number of the months. Let it not come. [00:02:28] Behold, let that night be barren. [00:02:35] Let no joyful cry enter it. [00:02:38] Let those cursed who curse the day, who are ready to arouse up leviathan. Let the stars of the dawn be dark. Let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning. Because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb and hide trouble from my eyes? [00:03:02] Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire? Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts that I should nurse? For then I would have lain down and been quiet. I would have slept then, and I would have been at rest with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuild ruins for themselves, or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. Oh, why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light? [00:03:39] There the wicked cease from troubling. There the weary are at rest. There the prisoners are at ease together they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. The small and the great are there. The slave is free from his master. [00:03:56] Why is light given to him who is in misery and life to the bitter in soul who long for death, but it comes not who dig for it more than for hidden treasures who rejoice exceedingly are glad when they find the grave. [00:04:16] Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For my sighing comes instead of my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water. For the thing that I feared comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. [00:04:34] I am not at ease, nor am I quiet. I have no rest, but trouble comes. [00:04:43] Thus ends the reading of God's word. Please be seated. [00:05:02] A couple of things I'd like you to note about Job's cursing the day he was born. [00:05:13] One he does not curse God. This was the very thing that Satan said that if you do these things to Job, if you allow him to lose his children and his property and his houses, he'll curse you. [00:05:33] And Job did not curse God. [00:05:37] And then Satan said, if you touch Job and Job is cursed with a horrid disease, but he does not curse God. [00:05:59] As I pointed out in the beginning, Satan does not know Job. And if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, Satan doesn't know you either. [00:06:10] He knows about you, but he doesn't know how you think. [00:06:18] He doesn't know the work of the Spirit in your life. [00:06:24] But God knows these things. [00:06:30] I almost wonder if the movie It's a Wonderful Life did you see that? This last Christmas season. It comes around every year. It's quite an impressive movie. It was a flop at the box office when it came out, but over the years it's become a classic. [00:06:52] It's actually based on a short story that a man wrote. [00:06:55] And I don't know whether the man who wrote the short story was aware of Job, but I almost think that he was, because what is Job saying here? I wish I'd never been born. And what is the message there in A Wonderful Life? [00:07:15] Well, the star of the show says that he wishes he had never been born. [00:07:23] And then he is shown by an angel what life would be like without him. [00:07:36] And he realizes in the end what a wonderful life he's had. After all, what if Job had never been born? [00:07:52] I had a conversation this past week with my son, and he often likes to debate things. Sometimes I don't know whether it's really coming from him or he's just trying to get me going because he knows he can do that. [00:08:06] But he was questioning whether it was important whether Job was a real person or not. [00:08:13] After all, it's a good story. [00:08:17] We don't imagine that the parables that Christ told had to all be about real people, although I heard someone one time suggest that maybe they are. [00:08:38] But it is important to see the book of Job, that he is a real person, number one. Because in the New Testament, it says to us New Testament believers, you've heard about the patience, perseverance of Job, and I don't know about you, but it's a wonderful life doesn't inspire me spiritually. [00:09:12] And I realized that Jimmy Stewart was just playing that role and that the things that happened there are just like a parable to make a point. [00:09:28] But here we have a real man who was actually born. [00:09:35] Because after all, cursing the day of your birth is rather ridiculous if you're a fictional character, isn't it? [00:09:53] But I have another question to put before you, and that is the question, what if Jesus had never been born? [00:10:13] I hope that you can understand how Job feels here, that you can identify with him to some extent. [00:10:27] Notice that, like I say, he doesn't curse God and he does not consider suicide. [00:10:39] He longs for death, but he leaves his life in God's hands. [00:10:50] But if we can see him struggling like this and wondering about that, Think of Jesus and what he went through in this life as one who was born perfect and holy. [00:11:07] Job was a good man, and God describes him as such, and he shows himself to be such. [00:11:17] But Jesus, when he lived on this earth, was a perfect man. [00:11:28] Think of the times when you've experienced persecution for your faith or when you have been unjustly charged with something that you didn't do. [00:11:45] Now, I know growing up, Mickey probably remembers this too quite well, that dad sometimes would admit that he had punished the wrong person. [00:12:01] And I remember saying something to him one time when I felt that I was unjustly punished. [00:12:08] And my dad told me, and I was quite young at the time, quite short back then, too. [00:12:15] But my dad told him that spanking was for the times I didn't catch you. [00:12:24] True enough, isn't it? [00:12:28] And yet, can you imagine the times that Jesus was criticized over the years, falsely accused? [00:12:39] When he launched his ministry, he had all kinds of false accusers. [00:12:44] Matter of fact, he went to parties at people's homes where they drank wine and they had large feasts, lots of food, and they accused him of being a wino and glutton. [00:13:10] Of course, on the other hand, he says they accused John the Baptist because he stayed away from those things, that he had a demon. [00:13:24] Jesus was falsely accused. [00:13:27] And Jesus suffered not for his sins, but for ours and for Job's sins. [00:13:46] Job was not suffering because of something he had done, but Job was suffering for God's purposes. [00:13:58] And we'll See that unfold as we go through the book. I'd like to draw your attention, though quickly, to something at the end of the book, chapter 38. [00:14:10] I don't know if I'll ever get there in preaching the series here, but I'll try to abbreviate along the way. And maybe we will, before the weather gets too nice and I have to return to Kansas. [00:14:30] Notice this passage and how there are poetic parallels with Job cursing the day of his birth. I really appreciate the fact that Pastor Kielpka preached a sermon on God not having regrets. [00:14:50] Job regretted the day of his birth. Shouldn't God regret having created this world the way things turned out? [00:14:59] And the answer is no. [00:15:03] And it's shown here in Job, chapter 38, beginning with verse 4, where God confronts Job and says, where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? [00:15:18] Tell me, if you have understanding, who determined its measure? Surely you know who stretched out a line upon it, or where were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? [00:15:41] Job saying, may my birth be such that there would be no cheerfulness, no joy. And God says, when I created the world, there was joy. [00:15:53] Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed its limits for it, and set bars and doors, and said, thus far shall you come, no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed. [00:16:15] He's speaking of creating the earth like a birth, and he says, I welcomed it. [00:16:28] But then man sins, and because of man's sin, Jesus had to die. [00:16:43] I want to take you through a real quick tour through the Book of Matthew. [00:16:52] If you. If you'll start with me. I'm going to restrict myself to this one Gospel account. [00:17:00] But we'll start with Matthew, chapter 12, a passage that I preached on, and beginning with verse 38, Matthew 12, beginning with verse 38. [00:17:20] Here. Early on in Jesus ministry, some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, teacher, we wish to see a sign from you. [00:17:33] But he answered them, an evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [00:17:44] For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [00:18:01] Jesus is talking about his death. Fascinatingly, he relates it to Jonah, doesn't he? Here he was aware that he was going to die, and he knew how he was going to die and when he was going to die. [00:18:25] I stand here this morning and tell you I have no idea how I'm going to die or when I'm going to die. [00:18:36] I've had two near death experiences in a vehicle that turned over. [00:18:44] And then I've also had a number of near life experiences too. [00:18:49] A comedian said that near death and near life. [00:18:59] But I have come close to death, but I don't know how I'm going to die and where I'm going to die. And if I had a request from God right now is don't tell me. [00:19:15] I don't want to know. I don't need to know. [00:19:22] But Jesus knew He needed to know. [00:19:28] Many times he says, it's not my time. [00:19:32] He was very aware of that. [00:19:35] Now please turn with me to Matthew, chapter 17 and verse 16. Excuse me, Matthew, chapter 16 and verse 27. [00:19:56] From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised. [00:20:11] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, far be it from you, Lord, this shall never happen to you. But he turned and said to Peter, get behind me, Satan. [00:20:23] You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man looking to man. [00:20:36] Humanly speaking, I'm probably going to put off my death as long as I possibly can. [00:20:45] I have a plan to live to be 100. I think I've shared that with you before. But I genuinely would not mind doing that, Lord willing. [00:20:56] But if he should choose otherwise, that's fine. [00:21:00] But Jesus, when the suggestion is made that he's not going to die, he's not interested in that. [00:21:09] Job is saying, oh, oh, that I could just die. And then I would be at peace. And then I wouldn't have all this struggle and these difficulties that I'm facing. [00:21:27] Staying in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 17 and beginning with verse 22, as they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day. [00:22:00] And they were greatly distressed. [00:22:04] It seems that when Jesus was sharing this truth with his disciples, they were getting the first part and missing the second. [00:22:19] See, the first part is, someday you will die, and I will too, unless the Lord comes first. [00:22:33] But that's not the end of our story. [00:22:36] I don't know how many times I've stood at the graveside of believers and reminded the folks that were standing there. This is not the last time you will see this person. [00:22:52] Jesus is going to raise us from the dead. [00:22:57] Our story is not over with our death. [00:23:03] It is true that when I die and when you die as believers in Jesus Christ, that we will be free from sin, from temptation, from the struggles. [00:23:21] We'll be free from any persecution that we're receiving in this life. [00:23:26] All of these things will be done away with. Job says, even the slave is free from his master when he dies. [00:23:38] The master can whip a dead slave all he wants. It does no good. [00:23:49] Satan will no longer be one to be struggled with when we're dead. [00:24:05] Matthew, chapter 20. [00:24:14] And beginning with verse 17. [00:24:19] And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the 12 disciples aside and on the way, he said to them, see, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. [00:24:42] And he will be raised on the third day. [00:24:45] Now Jesus has added details, details that he knew about. [00:24:54] Because growing up there in Nazareth, he had read the scrolls, he had read the prophecies. [00:25:02] He was aware of what was to happen to the Messiah. [00:25:10] He knew that the suffering servant and the conquering king were one and the same person. [00:25:20] The Old Testament teachers of the law, many of them never got that straight. They always struggled with that. Jesus knew that to be true. [00:25:31] He knew what terrible things were going to happen to him. [00:25:40] And he warns his disciples about it once again. Matthew, chapter 26, the first verse. [00:25:57] The first two verses. Excuse me. [00:26:00] Matthew, chapter 26, the First Two Verses. When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, you know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified. [00:26:21] And then over in this same chapter 26 and beginning with verse 20, when it was evening, he reclined at the table with the 12. [00:26:43] And as they were eating, he said, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. [00:26:50] And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him, one after another, is it I, Lord? He answered, he who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. [00:27:05] The Son of Man goes as it is written of him. But woe to the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been better for that man, if he had not been born, Judas, who would betray him, answered, is it I, Rabbi? He said to him, you have said so. [00:27:34] Job went on and on about how it'd been better if he'd never been born. [00:27:39] And maybe you felt that way at times. [00:27:46] But here Jesus says, judas, the one who would betray the Savior, the one who was close to him, the one who had gone out in Jesus name and healed people and cast out demons. [00:28:04] That same one that would have been better for him if he had never been born. [00:28:17] But it was predetermined by God in all eternity that there should be a betrayal and that this one would be the betrayer. [00:28:32] Because Jesus being handed over for crucifixion was not something that was within the power of man. [00:28:41] It was God's plan, God's purpose. [00:28:58] One last passage, first Peter, chapter two, and beginning with verse 19. [00:29:16] For this is a gracious thing when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. [00:29:28] For what credit is it if when you have sinned, you are beaten for it, and you endure? [00:29:36] But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure? This is a gracious thing in the sight of God. [00:29:46] For to this you have been called. Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his footsteps. [00:29:57] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [00:30:03] When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. [00:30:09] When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. [00:30:21] He bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. [00:30:32] By his wounds you have been healed, for you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. [00:30:51] That Job could have had a vision of the sufferings of Christ these things were yet in the future he did not know of them. He knew more, no more about that than he did about what went on in heaven between Satan and God. [00:31:12] Concerning his case, remember that, that first part of the book, he wasn't aware of that. I'm not sure he was ever aware of it. I don't know who wrote the book. Whoever wrote the book that was revealed to them. [00:31:28] If Job was the author, then certainly God did eventually reveal it to him. But Job didn't know any of this when he pours out this complaint of his but he also did not know of the sufferings of Christ. [00:31:47] He believed in a redeemer, though, and we'll see that later in the book. [00:31:53] He saw God as his Redeemer. He saw God as the one who would judge justly and only punish the guilty, but deliver those who are trusting in him. [00:32:21] The one who judges justly. [00:32:38] Let's look to God in prayer. [00:32:47] Father, you are aware of how difficult it is for us as human beings, finite beings, beings that are here for a while, like the grass that grows and withers away. [00:33:03] That we struggle with the idea of justice. [00:33:10] That we struggle with injustices in this life. [00:33:19] And yet, Father, we know that we have a judge. [00:33:25] A judge whom we can absolutely trust even in the midst of our most difficult trials and tribulations. If it be the loss of the lives of children, children, the loss of property, the loss of health, the loss of so much that is dear to us, a loss that is only in this life, that we have a treasure in the heavenlies that cannot be lost. [00:34:05] That we have a hope that is sure that we will not be disappointed at the day of our death, at the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in our own resurrection. [00:34:24] But that all that you have promised us will be sure, true. [00:34:33] Just as your son here on earth was trusting in you, that though he was going to face horrible mocking and flogging and a terrible death, that beyond that there would be a resurrection, a coming to life again, a glorious victory over Satan and over sin and over death itself. [00:35:13] Father, we rejoice in that truth through Jesus Christ our Lord. [00:35:19] Amen.