March 19, 2018 Monday

““Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.” (John 12:27-33 NKJV)

            I once read a book entitled “Pain, the Gift Nobody Wants”.  Suffering is a part of our everyday life and it is at the heart of the Good News.  By His suffering and death Jesus bore our sin and suffering and gave meaning to our suffering!

            We ask God to save us from our pain and suffering and get angry when God doesn’t “answer” our prayers.  Like patience we want God to give it to us and to give it to us now!

            In this passage and others in the New Testament we may be confused as Jesus teaches us that suffering can be for the Glory of God.  The suffering of Jesus has become the heart of the Christian faith which is why the cross is our symbol to the world.

            The cross reminds us that because the suffering of Jesus carried the meaning of redemption our own suffering can have meaning and glorify God.  God may choose to save us through suffering rather than from it.

            Reading the Bible and studying the history of the Church you will see over and over how God used suffering and loss to change the life of someone and through them to impact many lives through God!  Great hymns of faith, great messages of faith, books that change lives and so many other things come from the press of pain.

            I remember reading once that they believe coal is formed by many dead things pressed down for a long time.  And then the coal through heat and great pressure can become a diamond.  Out of so much death and suffering comes a diamond that can withstand just about anything! 

            But the pain and suffering must flow through the grace and love of God or it will make us bitter rather than better!  Without seeing the meaning of the suffering of Jesus we can get angry at God believing He does not understand what we are going through.

            When you go through suffering and pain do you look to the suffering of Jesus to find meaning?  Are you willing to see your pain and suffering as a “blessing” from God and then be able to glorify God?

(Some may think this is just an academic treatment but this is very personal to me.  I have been on disability for almost a year and had to leave the pastoral ministry where I really felt the presence of God and loved it.  Currently the pain is terrible and increasing.  When we began looking for a diagnosis I asked God to heal me.  As I lay prostrate before the Altar God told me plainly, “I will heal you through this and not from this.”  God also told me my ministry was to grow in this time of suffering.  When a child in my former congregation prayed for me to get well I realized that I was well!  For the God of all loves me and is with me every day in the midst of the suffering.  I can honestly say I am glad for this time of suffering for I have experienced the love and support of God so clearly.)

            I was only able to sleep for about 3 hours last night because of the pain.  The weariness is terrible but I am not sure if it comes from the lack of sleep or the pain.  (Or both!)  Bonnie and I went for a little walk which is the first time in a long while.  She has been sharing with me about her trip to Savage Gardens and it is such a blessing because I get to experience so many things as they share with me.