Sunday 05:26:13

God refers to Himself over and over again as the Holy One of Israel, The God of Jacob, The Lord your God. He identifies Himself in intimate relationship with Israel. Even though they forgot him, even though they fell deep into sin and chose idols over Him. God will not abandon us. He will not forsake us. He will not forget us. Isaiah 49:15-16 Isaiah was written 700 years before Jesus' birth. He was given greater revelation from God about the suffering and death of Jesus than any other prophet. The description of Jesus' suffering is shockingly detailed as God'sSuffering Servant. It is also shocking to hear that God's plan was to use His Servant's suffering to take away our sin. This is what sacrifices were for: lambs, rams, dove, not people. Isaiah 53:1-3 He was despised and rejected Isaiah 53:4-6 He took our sins upon Himself Jesus bore our sin and brokenness and brought us peace and healing by his suffering. Isaiah 53:7-9 He suffered and was killed unjustly Isaiah 53:10-12 This is God's plan to save mankind and glorify His servant Jesus' suffering was God's offering to take away our guilt. Jesus' suffering was not only to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus suffered to provide an example for us to follow when we suffer. 1 Peter 2:21 To this [suffering] you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. Jesus' suffering paid the penalty for our sins. Jesus' suffering gives us an example to follow when we suffer. Jesus entered into our suffering. There is direct suffering as the one suffering, and then there is suffering because someone you love is suffering. God suffered with us like the way we suffer when our children struggle. That pain is real, it hurts our hearts when someone we love suffers. God loved us so much, he sent Jesus into this broken, sinful world to suffer with us - to enter into our suffering. Hebrews 5:8-9 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. God knows everything. He didn't need to learn about suffering in the sense that He didn't understand it. Jesus suffered so that He could sympathize with us and comfort us in our suffering. Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. When you are suffering, you don't want to hear from someone who has never really struggled. You want to be comforted by someone who's been there, someone who's struggled, someone who's been through that hurt. Why? Because suffering gives you maturity. It deepens you. It gives you authority to speak. It gives you wisdom and perspective that others don't have. So, walk with God through suffering. Don't be afraid of it. Don't avoid it. Walk through it with the One Who's been there, the One Who willingly entered into suffering so He could be there when you suffer. When you are suffering, remember that God provided you the perfect counselor, comforter and friend for our times of suffering.