Brent begins by saying Last week we talked about the notion that many people have, that God willy-nilly inflicts pain, suffering, even death on people—as in “Why did God do this to me, like give me a stroke, or cancer?” Or “Why did God take William?”
No, says Pastor Cortez, God does NOT inflict suffering and death on people. If He did, wouldn’t Jesus be working against God when he healed the sick, even raised the dead? But in all he did, he said it was the Father working through him!
The truth is, God comforts the grieving, in all kinds of circumstances. Some quotes: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt. 5: 4). “Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, who comforts us in all our troubles, so we can comfort others in any trouble with the same comfort. .” (2 Cor. 1: 3, 4.) “If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will get neither comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” (C.S. Lewis)
Cortez continues, Jesus doesn’t convey pity, but strength. He wants people rather to “lay hold of the life which is life indeed” (I Tim. 6: 19) Here’s a quote from the theologian, Paul Tillich: “Blessedness is the eternal element in joy, that which makes it possible for joy to include in itself the sorrow out of which it arises, and which it takes into itself.” “For the joy that was before him, Jesus endured the cross. ” (Heb. 12: 2)
The word “comfort” has two Latin roots, com, meaning ”with” and forte, meaning “strength.” So the greatest comfort is certainly not pity—“you poor thing”—but compassionate truth telling, and the greatest truth is that God did NOT inflict the bad thing, but loves all sufferers to the extent of bearing all sins, pains, loss on the Cross. Here are a few quotes I’ve found helpful:
“He set the cross before my face and said, ‘Daughter, I have brought the image of thy savior. Look upon it, and comfort thyself.’”—(Julian of Norwich)
“And now, let the poor say I am rich, let the weak say I am strong, through the Lord, and what he’s done, give thanks.” –“Give Thanks”, (popular song).
And from a friend of mine – GETHSEMANE
“Could you not watch with me one hour?”
the Master said, when he felt all alone.
His followers had fallen, tired of the power
of evil forces faced, of trying to hone
their resolution to stay strong, without angel choir
come for comforting. “If it be possible, Abba
Father, may this cup pass. . .” he prayed,
while the disciples rested, and stayed
in a safer place, protected by their sleep
from knowing what must happen to their Lord.
Fear runs, fear tires out, cannot face the deep,
but love confronts with truth the power of the sword.
So choose we must: the comfort of our present bed
or Him who knew the One who raises from the dead. –HPK
Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 Faith matters! It’s a personal relationship with Jesus, and trusts and obeys, and says with Him, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” As we approach Holy Week, let’s pray that the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) will be real for us, our Lord!
