This is the day we can know, without a doubt, that we are loved. Today and tomorrow, as we await the great day, may we contemplate.
Though Job suffered enormously, centuries later a “truer Job” would suffer willingly for you and me. Job didn’t have a choice, but Jesus did.
Today — do some digging in the book of Job and find the truer Job.
1. What descriptions of the suffering of Job sound like the suffering that Jesus would endure for you and me? There are so many — but find a few and list them here.
2. What other similarities do you see between Job and Jesus. Differences?
3. When you read of Jesus struggle in Matthew 26:36-39, what do you think produced the most anguish for him? Tim Keller believes he was given a premonition that this suffering was going to be more than physical. What do you think?
4. At the close of Job, there is a prophetic statement in Job 40:8. Meditate on this and explain how this pointed to and was fulfilled in the “Truer Job.”
5. A huge difference between the first and final Job was that the suffering for the final Job was voluntary. Write a prayer of Thanksgiving here to Him, and tell Him why you can trust His love.
Jesus was on the cross from 9:00 A. M. to 3:00 A.M — a holy six hours. May we contemplate, draw near, and sing. May we confess, give thanks, sing praises, and intercede for one another.
29 comments
1. What descriptions of the suffering of Job sound like the suffering that Jesus would endure for you and me? There are so many — but find a few and list them here.
Job 12:4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, by calling on God, who answers me. Mt 27:43 He has put His trust in God: let God rescue Him now-if He wants Him! For He said, ‘I am God’s son.’
I found this one. Still looking for more.
Job 6:4 Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks their poison. Surely God’s terrors are arrayed against me.
This sounds like God’s judgment for sin. Could Job have suffered for the sins of others as Jesus did? Just thinking out loud. I have found no proof of this so far. But God did call him more righteous than any other and yet He struck him. Again a foreshadow of what was to come in Christ’s ministry? What does everyone else think?
Anne, your question immediately brought to mind the story of the vineyard owner who sent his servant to collect the rent from his tenants. Three times the tenants beat or killed the servants. He finally sent his son, knowing they would respect the son and pay their rent. Instead they killed the son, wrongly thinking to gain his inheritance. (Mt.21:33-46) Jesus used this story to convict the authorities who were trying to discredit him, but it also foreshadows what is to come for him.
Job’s three friends came to visit him, all trying to discredit him but Job, though suffering and struggling – perhaps asking, my God, my God, why have you foresaken me? – remains committed to God’s will for his life. Jesus, in his human-ness, must have considered his condition in light of the story of Job and taken comfort in knowing that he could drink this cup for Job and all the Job’s to follow.
1. What descriptions of the suffering of Job sound like the suffering that Jesus would endure for you and me? There are so many — but find a few and list them here.
Job lost all the things that demonstrated God’s favor in his life – riches, family, status. When I think about how Christ left Heaven to come to earth to die for us, I often forget all of the things in He left behind. He left untold heavenly riches, face to face fellowship with His Father, the status of the Son of God, honored and revered by the angels. He came to dwell in a body that would get tired, hungry, hurt… he was anything but revered on earth.
2. What other similarities do you see between Job and Jesus. Differences?
The main difference is that Jesus did not complain and was willing to suffer on our (my) behalf.
3. When you read of Jesus struggle in Matthew 26:36-39, what do you think produced the most anguish for him? Tim Keller believes he was given a premonition that this suffering was going to be more than physical. What do you think?
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
The aspect of becoming sin, from which His Father would turn His Face, was in my mind the most anguishing part of what Jesus suffered on Good Friday. Struggles of all kinds are horrible but having to see the closest person in your life turn their face away from you would be excruciating. I agree with what Tim Keller said. If the suffering was to be just physical, there would perhaps not have been the element of sorrow to the point of death. Nor could I imagine Christ praying for the cup to be taken from Him if this was not the case in this situation.
4. At the close of Job, there is a prophetic statement in Job 40:8. Meditate on this and explain how this pointed to and was fulfilled in the “Truer Job.”
Job 40:8 (New International Version)
8 “Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Christ was condemned to justify us. He made it be so God’s justice would not be discredited. God could be just because He punished sin… in Christ as the sacrifice.
5. A huge difference between the first and final Job was that the suffering for the final Job was voluntary. Write a prayer of Thanksgiving here to Him, and tell Him why you can trust His love.
Dear Christ, I thank You for all of these things we’ve been talking about this Holy Week. I cannot fully comprehend what you went through for my sake, but I thank You for it. I am hopelessly sinful because I am human, and You could turn away but You chose not to do so. You took it all for me. I am so sorry for every second of sin I have committed and sadly know I will commit over the course of my life… they are the nails pound into Your precious hands. I can’t ignore how I have had a part in Your sufferings, yet You love me so. I trust You because You are the One True God who cared so much that you left heaven to come down to this world to save me so we can be together forever. I love You. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
Job 9:34-35 Let Him take His rod away from me so His terror will no longer frighten me. Then I would speak and not fear Him. But that is not the case; I am on my own.
Job felt very much a separation from God as he suffered like when he says here that he is on his own. I think this tormented him greatly.
8 Your hands shaped me and formed me.
Will You now turn around and destroy me?
9 Please remember that You formed me like clay.
Will You now return me to dust?
10 Did You not pour me out like milk
and curdle me like cheese?
11 You clothed me with skin and flesh,
and wove me together with bones and tendons.
12 You gave me life and faithful love,
and Your care has guarded my life.
13 Yet You concealed these [thoughts] in Your heart;
I know that this was Your hidden plan:
In these verses it seems like Job realizes that God formed and nurtured him in preparation for his suffering. I wonder if this is what Jesus fully realized in the garden. I always have wondered at what point in His life Jesus in His humanity really understood it all.
Still thinking this morning about how Jesus was the Lamb God prepared for the sacrifice and that possibly Job was also. I am remembering the death of a young man in my congregation. He was just getting his life on track with God and doing great ministry in the Chinese community in Durham. A rising star for the kingdom of God as we would see it stepped out into a street in NYC and was killed. After this my pastor said something that I still remember. He mentioned the death of Jim Elliot and said that it seemed to him that many times this happens to God’s most promising followers. God blesses them and enables them almost like He is preparing them as a lamb for sacrifice. This is a mystery to me. Was God’s power released among the Aucas by the death of Jim Elliot in a way that might never have happened through his life and work? I’m sorry if I talk too much. I find this idea comforting when looking at the seemingly senseless suffering I see around me.
Do I remember that someone among us is familiar with the process of making cheese? Can you describe it in relation to Job 10:10 which is the chapter I quoted above.
INTERESTING PONDERING.
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT SEEING THE DEATH OF A GOOD MAN AS LEADING TO THE BIRTH OF MANY. CERTAINLY, THE PICTURE OF A SEED FALLING TO THE GROUND SO IT MAY BIRTH MANY IS A GOOD AND COMFORTING ONE. OF COURSE ONLY ONE WITHOUT SIN COULD DIE FOR OUR SINS, AND THAT IS ONLY JESUS — BUT AS TERTULLION SAID, THE DEATH OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE CHURCH. IS THAT THE WAY YOU ARE THINKING?
Yes, that is what I mean about the release of God’s power among us. I agree that the suffering of one could not fully atone for sin any more completely than the death of animals could. Jesus was the only perfect sacrifice. No other is needed to atone for sin. Yet still we are called to carry our cross, to share in His sufferings but not to attain salvation. The purpose would seem to be the mystery.
…WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS. Hebrews 12:2
1.Job suffered because he lost his family, livelihood, standing in the community, and his health.
Jesus suffered not because he lost but because He left His Father and His position in heaven. Here on earth He left the family business, His responsibilty as the first born to care for the family after the passing of Joseph, and His hometown did not believe in Him. Saw Jesus as the son of a carpenter not a respected Rabbi and most certainly not as the Messiah. Physically He suffered more than Job could ever imagine. Job and Jesus suffered verbal abuse and mental anguish. Both of their bodies were afflicted beyond recognition.
2. Similarities
Both were tempted to forsake God.
Job by his wife.
Jesus by Satan.
Difference
After the resurrection, Jesus never complained about the agonies of the cross. In fact, He never mentioned it. He only showed the scars.
3. I believe the fact that He was going to be separated from God the Father produced the most anguish for Jesus. I may be going out on a limb with my next statement. I believe the premonition Jesus was given was the world of the dead-Statan’s domain. I have been taught that when Jesus died He went to Satan and took back the keys of Hades and Death. Would it not be a most awful sight to see the souls of those Jesus created in a place of no escape?
Anne I don’t think you talk too much. Your ponderings help me. If I understand correctly you live in N.C. My mom lives in Columbus County, N.C. She’s on her way down for Easter. Have a blessed day!
Yes, I live just about in the middle of the state. Have a blessed Easter with your mom. Yesterday when I was at work so many people commented about what a beautiful Easter weekend this promises to be after such a harsh winter. Remember…It’s winter now but spring will come…
I agree with you that the domain of Satan must have been a horrible place and to see the souls He loves there compounded the anguish.
4. Job 40:8 (KJV)
“Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
By condemning Jesus-the Truer Job-to death for blasphemy, the religious leaders, unknowingly, disannuled the judgment of sin on man. In the Hebrew (Strong’s 6565 PARAR) disannul means to make void. Because Jesus died (willingly) for my sins, as His follower, I will never be judged for, nor, is there any condemnation hanging over my head.
5. Jesus I bless Your Precious Name. You are the one who willingly endured the cross for my freedom. Freedom from the slave market of sin. This Resurrection Sunday I will experience the words, “He is risen indeed!” with clearer understanding. For the rest of my days I will walk on the safe paths You lead me on. You do not promise easy paths but as I follow You they are safe. How can I say thanks for all You have done for me? It’s too overwhelming for me to imagine! Thank You for teaching me how to love You as You intend. Amen.
Amen Tammy
It will almost be 2 months since we have said goodbye to my beloved brother. I guess I am ready to post a little.
I have purposely not read any of the comments yet so as to speak from my own heart about just number 3:
I think the most agonizing prospect for Jesus was knowing he would be separated from His Father. I tear up, even now … A love so intimate that no physical, emotional, or spiritual anguish could compare to even feeling out of relationship with his Abba (Father).
We so underestimate how important our relationship with God, ourselves and others are because of all life’s losses and disappointments. But Jesus’ death and resurrection was not to only bring world peace, although that will be accomplished, but foremost to bring us into relationship with his Father, ourselves, and each other.
Jesus’ deepest anguish, as I think all of ours is, has to do with this separation from relationship with God, our Father, our own hearts, and separation from others.
May we realize the value of relationships, once again.
Livingloved — so glad to have you back. Such enormous grief for you.
Your suffering has brought you a greater understanding of the pain of separation from one you love. Thank you.
Thank you, Dee. Yes, you are right about a greater understanding of the pain of separation. I am just sorry I had to learn this way, but grateful for the lessons nonetheless. Thanks for yours and the gals here loving support. It feels like a hug I so desperately need about now.
Glad to hear a word from you today Livingloved. I have been praying for you.
I hope this isn’t insensitive but I would like to say to those who have shared about losing their mothers, you have helped me to learn to savor the moments I spend with my mother. They are not as many as I would like but I am learning to treasure them and not take them for granted. She drove 6 hours to watch her baby girl sing in the choir at Easter service in the morning. Please remember her tomorrow afternoon as she travels back to North Carolina. Love to you all and I pray each one of you will have a Blessed Resurrection day!!
Big hug, Livingloved!
Thanks, beloved women! Thanks Anne for that!
These comments that follow are so little and so nothing compared to what Jesus has done for the children of God but they are the things that bring me to a very small understanding of Good Friday and the promise of Easter to come.
Many years ago I stood in a holy but very Roman Catholic place with a statue of Mary and a huge carved wooden crucifix, the life-sized body of Christ nailed to a cross. Both of my sons were in prison and I was desperate for some justification for why my life had turned out this way. Though I did not know it at the time, I was Job at that moment. All I could do was cry and repeat over and over, “Why?” Just as she did to the servants at the wedding feast, Mary spoke to my heart and told me to listen to her son and do what he says. From the cross, as he said to John, he told me that this was his mother and she understood the pain I was experiencing. She would walk this walk with me. That was the moment that my distant God become real and personal.
Through that experience I came to know that the stories in the Bible are our stories. They are all stories of the incredible love of the Ultimate Parent for His children. When our children come to us – whether born, adopted as mine are, or assumed – we begin a journey of love filled with high expectations.
God probably had some high expectations for Adam. But Adam was lonely. God was not enough for him. He longed for someone like him. God loved him enough to give him Eve. The story repeated itself over and over. God was So Much that He was never enough for His children. Haven’t we all felt that about our parents? Haven’t our children always felt that way about us?
All through the Old Testament God says here I am. I am with you. I love you. You can trust me. I’m doing what is best for you. You’ll appreciate all this some day. When you have children of your own you will understand why I did what I did. This hurts me more than it hurts you.
Sometimes we listened and behaved correctly, but soon we got unruly again. God would have a neighbor drop in to remind us and we’d shape up for awhile. But then we’d forget and do something wrong again. Just like our kids.
So God, being the Ultimate Parent, said it was time to step in and get this whole thing back on the right track, once and for all. No more sending the neighbors, this time I’ll do it myself. I’ll send my firstborn, my Adam, the One Who Is Me. We will straighten out this mess. He will bring them back to me. He will let them know how much I love them and how I care for them. He will show them that I love them so much that I would die for them. Death is something they can understand.
Our First Brother, the One Who Is Me, came to live among us, as one who is us. And the Ultimate Parent was so proud of him! If only they would learn from him and become like him, then we could all live happily ever after, right here in the Kingdom of God!
Jesus, our First Brother, took all his human frustrations to Our Father every day. How he must have cried out each morning for renewed hearts for his brothers and sisters! His daily lament for the state of mankind would have been wrapped in submission and trust in the will of Our Father. Sometimes his human anguish escaped in words, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Mt. 23:37)
Jesus tried and tried to let us know what a great place Home is and how much Our Father loves His children, but human words were not enough. There were not enough words to describe glory…or Love. He would have to demonstrate; he would have to show us.
And so it began – the beginning of the end, the beginning of forever. At his last meal as man, our First Brother commanded us to love one another in the same way he loved us. Serve each other as I have served you. Pray for each other as I have prayed for you. Heal each other as I have healed you. Teach each other as I have taught you. These are the things of love. Do as I do. Through my body and my blood, become me to each other after I am gone.
He knew we didn’t get it.
He knew we couldn’t do it.
That is the agony he took to the garden. The pain of crucifixion would come and go. The imprint of Heaven would carry him through the pain. The agony that brought him to sweat blood was the weight of unreturned love, the weight of the world. If I die for them, will they understand Your love?
That, my sisters, is what Good Friday means to me. That is why it is Good Friday, not Sad Friday, or Bad Friday. It is God’s ultimate display of sacrificial love. His Love. The love He calls us to follow.
As I visit my son in prison, I die a little for him. As I visit my dear friend in hospice, I die a litte for him. As I give up the things our jobs would allow us to buy to support our grandchildren left behind, I die a little. There is no glory in this, there is only love and the hope that we have been given these things in order to more fully understand Our Father’s love and do what Jesus would do.
Thank you, Lord, for the priveledge of living the life You have given me to live … in Your name, for Your glory, with all honor and praise to You. Amen.
Livingloved, I am so glad to hear from you! Welcome back!
I found this post on facebook from our pastor. It seemed appropriate for what we are talking about. Jd Greear Jesus literally entering hell in Gethsemane. disciples a stone throw away sleeping. God open our eyes to spiritual realities. Lk 22:41
Thanks Anne. Can you clarify your information. What is it that you want us to see?
He posts on Twitter also so he uses the fewest words possible. I guess that makes it hard to read. Sorry. This is what he said:Jesus literally entered hell in Gethsemane while His disciples where a stone’s throw away and sleeping. He prayed that God would open our eyes to spiritual realities because we tend to be just as blind as the disciples were in this instance. Luke 22:41 states that the disciples were a stone’s throw away from Him as He sweat great drops of blood. We have been contemplating what Jesus went through in the garden. That’s why I thought it appropriate.
Thanks Anne, interesting thought. I still think relational distance from God is the biggest anguish.
I think I agree with him. What else could cause such anguish?
What power to torment did Satan have while the father turned away. I think physical crucifixion was a small portion of His anguish. I wonder if God gave Satan all power over Jesus during that time.
4. At the close of Job, there is a prophetic statement in Job 40:8. Meditate on this and explain how this pointed to and was fulfilled in the “Truer Job.”
Would you really challenge My justice? Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself?
In what way did Job challenge God’s justice? Job 7:20-21
20 [If] I have sinned, what have I done to You,
Watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your target,
so that I have become a burden to You?
21 Why not forgive my sin
and pardon my transgression?
For soon I will lie down in the grave.
You will eagerly seek me, but I will be gone.
Job maintained that he had not sinned and at the same time asked God why He could not just pardon his sin. He is challenging God’s justice and asking God to become unjust so he might be justified.
God’s justice was satisfied in the sacrifice of Christ for our sin. He did not demand it of us. We could never pay and live.
Sorry, I must have done something wrong. Here’s that Easter video again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0xLkI4FPBk&feature=fvsr
Happy Resurrection Sunday everyone! Thank you all for spurring me on toward a deeper walk with Christ this Holy Week. God bless all of you.
Amen to Tracy’s greeting!
This has been my best Holy Week ever also. On my way to Sunrise Service. HE HAS RISEN INDEED!!