Rev. David Holwick B "A FRESH LOOK AT JESUS" sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
January 10, 1999
Hebrews 4:13-16
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SERMON SUMMARY: Jesus had compassion on outcasts and understood people's
pain. He bore pain for us on the cross. Believers need to have
compassion on others and seek to alleviate their pain.
I. How sensitive are you?
Last March the "Times of London" newspaper reported that when an
employee of a law firm in England committed suicide, the firm
charged his mother about $20,000 to settle his work.
Included was a bill for about $2,300 to go to his home to find out
why he didn't show up at work (thus finding his body).
Plus about $500 for identifying the body for the coroner, plus
about $250 to go to his mother's home, knock on her door, and
tell her that her son was dead.
(After unfavorable publicity, the firm withdrew the bill.)
#4324
Henry Drummond wrote:
"I shall pass through this world but once.
Any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that
I can show to any human being, let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way
again."
#3265
II. Jesus was sensitive to people's pain.
A. Hemorrhaging woman. Mark 5:25-34
1) He notes how she suffered with doctors.
2) When she touches him, Jesus notices, in spite of crowd.
3) "Go in peace and be freed of your suffering."
B. Shepherdless crowds.
1) He preaches to them, feeds them miraculously.
2) "He had compassion on them, because they were harassed
and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matt 9:36
C. Lepers.
1) Dreaded disease back then.
2) He heals them, sends them back to society.
III. Jesus had pain of his own.
A. Physical pain.
1) Beatings, crucifixion.
B. Emotional pain.
1) Opposition, rejection, loneliness.
2) Gospels give more emphasis on mocking than the nails.
C. Spiritual pain.
1) "Why have you forsaken me?"
2) Weight of sins of world upon him.
3) Literally, he became accursed.
IV. His pain had a purpose. #953
A. Scapegoat imagery of Old Testament. Leviticus 16
1) High priest takes a goat, lays hands on it (symbolically
transferring nation's sin) and sends it away to die.
2) Interesting concept: an innocent victim brings about
the removal of guilt for someone else.
3) Theologians call this "vicarious suffering," suffering
on someone else's behalf.
B. In all of Old Testament, only one person suffers vicariously.
1) The "suffering servant" of Isaiah. Isaiah 53:4-5
2) New Testament applies this to Jesus himself.
a) Jesus identified with our pain.
b) He shared in our deprivation.
c) He suffered on our behalf.
3) He has "been there" so he can relate to us.
During President Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign in
1979, a woman of about 80 spoke out from the audience
at the end of one of his campaign speeches.
"Mr. Reagan, everything you've said sounds just fine.
But what about the old folks?
Haven't you forgotten us?"
The man who was to become the oldest president of the
United States smiled down at her and replied,
"Forget you? Heavens, how could I ever forget you?
I am one of you."
No matter how dismal our lot may be, God has not
forgotten us.
Jesus' coming was God's way of saying,
"How could I ever forget you? I am one of you."
#2228
V. Make Jesus' heart, your heart.
A. The suffering of Jesus should do more than redeem us.
1) It should transform us.
2) His compassion and suffering can give us insight.
3) We can continue his mission.
B. Broken hearts.
1) World Vision founder Bob Pierce - allow your heart to be
broken by the things that break the heart of God.
2) Feel compassion for hurting people.
Mother Teresa once put it like this:
"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or cancer.
It's the feeling of being uncared for or unwanted, of
being deserted and alone.
The greatest evil is the lack of love and charity, and an
indifference toward one's neighbor who may be the victim
of poverty or disease or exploited and at the end
of his life, left at a roadside."
#2825
C. Try to do something about their hurts.
1) Befriend a recent widow.
2) Help a single parent.
3) Invite a new neighbor into your home, and church.
4) Get involved in hospice, etc.
D. We can be motivated by our own pain.
1) Learn from suffering.
"The goal of everything that God does in our lives and
allows to happen in our world is to draw us into
conformity to Jesus Christ." Phil 3:10
2) God uses suffering to make of us what we otherwise
could not become. 2 Cor 4:16-17
3) Suffering is necessary to produce within us spiritual
strength and humility, obedience, patience and faith.
E. Dante's "Divine Comedy" ponders the meaning of suffering.
The poet asks why those who have fallen from the heights of
heaven must suffer so intensely in the depths of hell.
His guide, Virgil, answers, "the more a thing is perfect,
the more it feels of pleasure and pain."
This is equally true of the Christian life: the more one
identifies with Christ, the more one knows both joy and
pain.
VI. Come to the one who cares.
A. Jesus never gives up on us.
B. Jesus can deal with any problem or hurt.
C. Jesus can show us how we can make a difference.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
This series was inspired by Issue 56 of Discipleship Journal, March 1990,
and this sermon touches upon the theme in the article "The Fog of the
Broken Heart," by Max Lucado, page 32.
#953, "When Bad Things Happen," by James R. Edwards, Christianity Today,
August 18, 1989, page 30.
#2228, "The Grand Marshal Of The Jerusalem Parade," by Rev. Steven A.
Blankenship, Dynamic Preaching (Seven Worlds Publishing),
Spring 1992.
#2825, "Why Do We Call Him Good?" by Dr. Ronald Love, Dynamic Preaching
(Seven Worlds Publishing), Summer 1993.
#3265, "Racing Past the Blessing," by Fred Wevodau, Discipleship Journal,
#82, July 1994, page 63.
#4324, Internet: News Of The Weird #481, by Chuck Shepherd, April 25, 1997.
These and 4,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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