Rely on Jesus Christ for healing-3

우리의 전한 것을 누가 믿었느뇨 여호와의 팔이 뉘게 나타났느뇨 ² 그는 주 앞에서 자라나기를 연한 순 같고 마른 땅에서 나온 줄기 같아서 고운 모양도 없고 풍채도 없은즉 우리의 보기에 흠모할 만한 아름다운 것이 없도다 ³ 그는 멸시를 받아서 사람에게 싫어 버린바 되었으며 간고를 많이 겪었으며 질고를 아는 자라 마치 사람들에게 얼굴을 가리우고 보지 않음을 받는 자 같아서 멸시를 당하였고 우리도 그를 귀히 여기지 아니하였도다 ⁴ 그는 실로 우리의 질고를 지고 우리의 슬픔을 당하였거늘 우리는 생각하기를 그는 징벌을 받아서 하나님에게 맞으며 고난을 당한다 하였노라 ⁵ 그가 찔림은 우리의 허물을 인함이요 그가 상함은 우리의 죄악을 인함이라 그가 징계를 받음으로 우리가 평화를 누리고 그가 채찍에 맞음으로 우리가 나음을 입었도다 ⁶ 우리는 다 양 같아서 그릇 행하여 각기 제 길로 갔거늘 여호와께서는 우리 무리의 죄악을 그에게 담당시키셨도다. Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? ² For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. ³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-- every one-- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isa. 53:1-6)

¹⁴ 예수께서 베드로의 집에 들어가사 그의 장모가 열병으로 앓아 누운 것을 보시고 ¹⁵ 그의 손을 만지시니 열병이 떠나가고 여인이 일어나서 예수께 수종 들더라 ¹⁶ 저물매 사람들이 귀신 들린 자를 많이 데리고 예수께 오거늘 예수께서 말씀으로 귀신들을 쫓아 내시고 병든 자를 다 고치시니 ¹⁷ 이는 선지자 이사야로 하신 말씀에 우리 연약한 것을 친히 담당하시고 병을 짊어지셨도다 함을 이루려 하심이더라. ¹⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. ¹⁶ That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." (Matt. 8:14-17)

FCF: We tend not to rely on Christ’s suffering for healing.

주제: 그리스도는 십자가에서 우리의 질병을 짊어진 구원자이기에 치유를 위해 그리스도를 의지해야 합니다.

Theme: We must trust Christ for healing because He is our Savior who took our diseases on the cross.    

Introduction: Have you ever felt you were completely left alone in your pain? Most probably, most of you have been there. Ironically, you need to have such a moment of utter helplessness so that you can reach out your hand to grab the hand of God. In a time of utter hopelessness in solitude, you are likely to feel a need of God and turn to Him for help. One of the ways God intensifies our longing for God is to drive us into a dead end in life. I was studying in BJU seminary to be a full-time Christian minister. I was both working as a painter and taking some heavy courses. I felt overloaded due to my physical limitations caused by my diabetes. One day, I worked in the morning. I came back from work to prepare for 1:00 o’clock class. I didn’t have enough time to have lunch. Instead of going to the dining common, so, I decided to take a break in my room. During that brief in-between time, I suffered hypoglycemia and was half-conscious. I woke up, went outside, and falteringly walked around on the campus without being properly dressed. In fact, I was wearing only my underwear. Then, some students called the school security. While the security guys looking for me, I ended up in the bathroom of the Administration Building. I found myself trying to cover myself, feeling being ashamed. In a small cell, I felt frustrated. I was wondering what I was doing there. Being utterly embarrassed with myself, I felt as I were left alone in shame and agony. Fortunately, one of my classmates came into the bathroom and found me in such a condition. So, I explained what happened to me and asked him to go to my room and bring my clothes to me. Later, I had to explain the same thing to the Dean of Man. I was not given any merits because they considered my medical conditions. So, I was late for the 1 o’clock class. So, I missed the quiz. After the class ended, I explained to my OT professor why I got late. He didn’t say anything to me. He simply said, “Here is the quiz and take it. And bring it back to me.” I felt as if no one understood my pain and trouble. I felt as if my plight were hidden from God and people. So, I was deeply depressed, being left alone in trouble. Well, this is a common experience even among God’s people.

The Judean captives also lamented the same thing, saying, 야곱아 네가 어찌하여 말하며 이스라엘아 네가 어찌하여 이르기를 내 사정은 여호와께 숨겨졌으며 원통한 것은 내 하나님에게서 수리하심을 받지 못한다 하느냐. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? (Isa. 40:27); 오직 시온이 이르기를 여호와께서 나를 버리시며 주께서 나를 잊으셨다 하였거니와 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." (Isa. 49:14). A feeling of being left alone or abandoned in pain may plague us when we suffer from weaknesses or diseases. God’s answer to such a problem is the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross. Verse 17 is the conclusion of vv. 1-16. Having told us the three healing stories of the leper, the centurion’s paralyzed servant, and the fever-stricken mother-in-law of Peter, Matthew concludes from these three cases this way: 이는 선지자 이사야로 하신 말씀에 우리 연약한 것을 친히 담당하시고 병을 짊어지셨도다 함을 이루려 하심이더라. “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases" (v. 17). Matthew sees Jesus’ healing ministry as a fulfillment of the Messiah’s suffering on the cross. Jesus’ vicarious death on the cross is the ground for divine healing, which includes not only our sins but also our maladies. All three healing stories show what Jesus is and what He does for us. We learn from them that Jesus Christ is our Savior who took our diseases upon Himself on the cross. The healing stories of Jesus point to what He would do on the cross, that is, vicarious atonement of our sin and condemnation. Therefore, we should rely on Jesus Christ not only for our salvation but also for our healing. For the last two Sundays, we covered the first two points: 1) rely on the touch of Christ for healing, and 2) rely on the power of Christ for healing. Today, I will discuss the final point, which is…

I.              치유를 위해 그리스도의 만지심을 의지하라.

Rely on the touch of Christ for healing.

II.            치유를 위해 그리스도의 능력을 의지하라.

Rely on the power of Christ for healing.

III.          치유를 위해 그리스도의 십자가 죽음을 의지하라.

Rely on the crucifixion of Christ for healing.

                  As I said, Matthew, the author of the book of Matthew, draws the inevitable conclusion from all the healing episodes in vv. 1-16. He presents these stories to demonstrate the Messianic identity of Jesus. He intends to convince the Jews that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Indeed, Matthew most frequently quotes from the OT, which the Jews revered as their only Bible, that is, the Word of God. He tries to prove from the OT that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of David promised to the descendants of Abraham, the people of Israel. Matthew was well versed in the OT. He quotes from Isaiah 53 to present Jesus as the Messiah. He doesn’t give a direct quotation from Isaiah 53. But based on his understanding of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant, He says, “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases" (v. 17). This statement is in line with the ministry of the Suffering Servant in Isa. 53. Having described the healing ministry of Jesus in vv. 1-16, Matthew declares Jesus as the Suffering Servant, that is, the Messiah of Israel.

Now, imagine the large crowd composed of the sick and the demon-possessed, and their families and those interested in Jesus, gathered together at the door of Peter’s house. The appearances of the diseased and the demon-possessed looked shabby, horrible, and painful. They wouldn’t bring anyone who suffered from a cold to Jesus for healing. They would bring the only ones the doctors or religious leaders could do nothing for them. Since they heard about the miracles Jesus performed, they decided to put hope in His healing power and mercy. There might be cancer paints, epileptics, diabetics, respiratory patients, renal patients, heart disease patients, and so on. They may have brought old and young, men and women, Jews and Gentiles, high and low in social standing, etc. In terms of modern perspective, they need a host of special doctors and nurses. But those poor people couldn’t afford to pay their medical bills. They needed Someone who knew about every kind of disease and has power to heal all of them. The sick and the demon-possessed came to the right One who had divine authority over all.  

Imagine again as if you were hearing the groaning sounds of the sick. The whole scene may be compared to a busy emergency room where the ill are waiting for their turn. Or it may be like a war-ravaged camp where injured soldiers were crying for help. Also, the demon-possessed may have cried out, producing uncanny shrieks and screams. The whole scene would be strange and even terrifying. Watching a lot of people wriggling and agonizing in pain could be a pain in and of itself. Some were almost dying, needing immediate attention. They were in desperation, crying for help. Who would get to see Jesus first? They were competing with one another to reach Jesus through the multitudes. It was likely that Peter, Andrew, James and John may have asked them to line up to see Jesus as they were trying to create some kind of order in such a jammed throng. It seemed that some of them had no strength to stand up, crippled for years. Some of them had no eyesight, not knowing where to go. Some of them were unable to hear or speak. We see here human suffering and pain represented by the unfortunate, suffering crowds.

Now, imagine again Jesus standing in their midst. His whole heart is aching because of their sufferings. He sadly was hearing their groanings. His eyes were teemed with tears. He felt their pains with full compassion. He took their weaknesses and illnesses upon Himself. Even though He spent a busy Sabbath day, He couldn’t take a break because He felt their painful groanings. He couldn’t idly stand by. His love moved toward them. He lent His ear to listens to one after another about his or her problem. Sympathizing with them, He was ready to help all of them out. Now, His mighty voice rebuked the demons and cast them out from those having plagued by the demons for years. His mighty hand touched the sick one after another. Jesus truly demonstrated His divine authority over all diseases and evil spirits. No devil or disease could stand before His divine presence. The evil spirits knew Jesus was the Son of the Most High. They knew their end came. As He healed one after another and cast out evil spirits one after another, He established His kingly reign over them. As a result, disorder gave way to order. As God created order out of disorderly mass, Jesus restored order out of a disorderly gathering. Surely, health was restored. Peace was restored. Joy was triumphing over sorrows. Smiles were beaming on the faces of the sick. People were standing in awe before Jesus. There was wonderful triumph over disease and the devil.

The kingdom of God came upon them because the King ruled over all sicknesses and demons and delivered His people from the bondage and oppression of the evil one. His kingly authority immediately achieves what He commands. As He healed the sick and set the demon-possessed free, these people foretasted the kingdom of God. Matthew understands Jesus’ healings as the outcome of His crucifixion. His healing miracles served as a sign to show Jesus as the Suffering Servant on the cross. In particular, the miracles in Matt. 8:1-16 demonstrate Jesus’ authority. Jesus never used His authority to please Himself. He restored the despised leper (vv. 1-4), a centurion’s paralyzed servant (vv. 5-11), Peter’s mother-in-law suffering from a high fever (vv. 14-15), and other sick people. No matter how many were out at the door of Peter’s house, Jesus was willing to heal all of them even though He was wearied because of His heavy schedules. D. A. Carson, says, “When He gave His life a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28), it was nothing less than an extension of the same authority directed toward the good of others.”

Matthew notes His triumph over diseases and demons was not through His military power but through the power of His suffering on the cross. Jesus, who performed all the miraculous healings and exorcisms, was not the political messiah, but the suffering Messiah. So, Matthew makes it clear that “He (the Messiah) took our illnesses and bore our diseases” (v. 17). Jesus’ healing ministry was a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah. Jesus was the Messiah who lived a life of fulfilling the word of God. He had done all things according to the law and the prophets, that is, God’s Word. As Matthew says in v. 17, Jesus the Messiah lived a life of suffering for His people. He loved His suffering people, He never minded spending Himself for their restoration. Truly, He entirely spent Himself on the cross for His people. Jesus the Messiah took upon their diseases.

There is healing in the redemption of Jesus on the cross. We are given a promise of resurrection by the resurrected Jesus. The cross of Christ is the ground for all the benefits of believers. His cross is the ground for forgiveness and restoration. His cross is the ground for healing, present and future. He took upon Himself our sin, disease, poverty, despair, weakness, death, and hell. He took upon Himself our pains and suffering to bring us forgiveness, healing, true riches, hope, and heaven. This does not mean that all such benefits can be secured here and now on demand. We shouldn’t claim instant healings of all our diseases by faith. Even though Jesus may heal our diseases according to His will and power, we may have to wait until His return to enjoy all the benefits accrued to us through the death and resurrection of Christ, including our full restoration of health.

The truth that Jesus took our diseases upon Himself on the cross teaches us a lot about Jesus. First, Jesus knows our pain of weakness and sickness. People do not really understand what we undergo with our painful diseases and circumstances. They suppose that we are laden with sickness because of our hidden sins. But Jesus fully understands the nature and extent of our physical, mental, or relational pain. Second, Jesus participates in the suffering of His people. He never idly watches us suffering but rather suffers with us. Third, He suffered for us. This is what His cross testifies. He didn’t suffer because of His sin. He didn’t take His diseases upon Himself. He bore our diseases because He loved us. His suffering on the cross was for the sake of our salvation, restoration, and healing. Finally, Jesus has removed painful, burdensome diseases from His people. As He healed the sick, His cross is the evidence that He will continue to heal the sick. His cross is the evidence of perfect health in heaven. The suffering of Jesus on the cross is God’s solution to our suffering caused by sin and its consequences such as diseases, despair, demonism, curses, broken relationships, etc.

I read the testimony of a Christian man, entitled 감사의 시계 소리 “The tick-tock sound of gratitude.” From his childhood, he suffered weaknesses and illnesses. During his boyhood, he was seriously sick with the symptoms similar to a cold. Even after two months, he still had the same symptoms. Realizing it was not a mere cold, he went to a big university hospital where he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. Rheumatic bacteria penetrated the value of his heart so deeply that his value was deformed. His doctor suggested that he could get surgery when he became a grown-up. In the meantime, he had to take antibiotic shot every month to stem the spread of the virus. He took the shots for the next ten years. Each time he took a shot, he felt as if his flesh was torn apart. When he became an adult, his heart, which was in a poor condition, didn’t get better at all. So, he decided to get surgery. He had to get the malfunctioning value of his heart replaced with a metal value. The surgery went well. He experienced a quick recovery. But there was one thing he couldn’t get over, which is a tick-tock sound each time the metal value closes and opens. He had to endure that constant sound. Even though he wanted to have a quiet time, that tick-tock sound broke His solitude and made him crazy. He prayed every day that God would remove that annoying noise from his heart.

One day, he was meditating on the following verse: ¹⁴ 감사로 하나님께 제사를 드리며 지극히 높으신 자에게 네 서원을 갚으며 ¹⁵ 환난 날에 나를 부르라 내가 너를 건지리니 네가 나를 영화롭게 하리로다. ¹⁴ Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, ¹⁵ and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me" (Ps. 50:14-15). Then, he heard the Holy Spirit speaking to him: “This sound is not a death knell, but the evidence that God made you live again with His power. So, be grateful for this sound. Each time you hear it, remember the God who has delivered you from all your troubles.” Let me quote the conclusion of his testimony: 신기하게도 그 순간부터 나는 심장 소리의 고통에서 해방되었다. 소리 자체가 없어진 것은 아니었다. 다만 소리로부터 오는 공포에서 자유로워졌다. 살아가면서 고통이 끝나지 않겠지만 그 고통이 불만과 원망의 이유가 되지는 않을 것이다. 오히려 구원의 하나님이 행하실 일에 대한 감사와 찬양의 근원이 될 것이다. From that moment on, I was miraculously released from the pain of the noise of my heart. The noise itself didn’t disappear. But I was set free from the terror arising from the noise. Pain won’t come to an end in this life. But that pain won’t be a ground for dissatisfaction and resentment. Rather, it will be a source of thankfulness and praise about things the God of salvation will do for me.”  

What do you recall each time you feel painful? If you remember the suffering of Christ on the cross when you are terrified by pain of your disease, you can bear it by God’s grace and continue to hope in Christ with gratitude. Certainly, suffering is a part of life. As long as we are alive, we will suffer pain in one or another way. There are diseases, partings, failures, stresses, fears, anxieties, disappointments, or sorrows from birth to death. People attempt various things to control such pains. They rely on entertainments, drugs, success, money, hobbies, works, or religions. Calling upon the names of their gods, a countless number of religious people endeavor to be delivered from their pains. However, their gods do not what it means to suffer. Separated from sufferings of the world, they enjoy happiness or pleasures. They have no knowledge of or concern over pains of people in the world. So, people try to move the hearts of their gods by making offerings with all of their sincerity. They believe their gods will rescue them from their sufferings if they draw the attention of their gods in such a way. Serving the gods of the world’s religions that do not understand people’s pain is nothing but abominable idolatry.

The God we serve is the only true God. Our God inclines His ear to the painful cries of His people. The groaning sounds of the people of Israel made the heart of God painful. So, God sent Moses to Pharaoh to deliver His people from the oppression of Pharaoh. God identified Himself with His suffering people. He took their pain as His. He came down to dwell in the midst of His people. The visible evidence of this truth is the tabernacle and the temple. Pain gets originated from sin and misery. There cannot but to be pain in a sin-dominated world or life. To solve such a problem, God sent Jesus Christ His Son to the world. Jesus lived among the people suffering from sins, sicknesses, estrangement, despair, and so on. The prophet Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah who knew diseases, pains, and sorrows and would suffer for His people (Isa. 53:1-6).

Let me quote Isaiah 53:3-6 again so that we can feel the pain of Jesus Christ on the cross: ³ 그는 멸시를 받아서 사람에게 싫어 버린바 되었으며 간고를 많이 겪었으며 질고를 아는 자라 마치 사람들에게 얼굴을 가리우고 보지 않음을 받는 자 같아서 멸시를 당하였고 우리도 그를 귀히 여기지 아니하였도다 ⁴ 그는 실로 우리의 질고를 지고 우리의 슬픔을 당하였거늘 우리는 생각하기를 그는 징벌을 받아서 하나님에게 맞으며 고난을 당한다 하였노라 ⁵ 그가 찔림은 우리의 허물을 인함이요 그가 상함은 우리의 죄악을 인함이라 그가 징계를 받음으로 우리가 평화를 누리고 그가 채찍에 맞음으로 우리가 나음을 입었도다 ⁶ 우리는 다 양 같아서 그릇 행하여 각기 제 길로 갔거늘 여호와께서는 우리 무리의 죄악을 그에게 담당시키셨도다. ³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-- every one-- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all

Indeed, Jesus suffered and died on the cross on account of our sin. He knows our pain for sure. He knows all about pains of our hearts hidden from others. Not merely understanding our pain, but also He suffered on our behalf. He suffered the excruciating pain on the cross on account of our sin and for our salvation. Being with all of us who are suffering, He now suffers together with us. Such a one is our God. He never leaves us alone in pain. He loves us to an extent that He was abandoned by the Father because of our sin. For this reason, we can trust Jesus in the midst of pain of disease. While fighting our maladies and the thorns of pain pricking us, we can find strength, comfort, healing, and hope if we think of Jesus suffering on the cross. And we can rely on His love more deeply as we appreciate the suffering of Jesus on the cross more deeply. This is God’s grace bestowed upon us by means of pain of disease.        

Unfortunately, we may be numb to others’ pain. Unlike Jesus, we may be unconcerned about suffering people. In fact, pain can be a blessing. For example, a leper may not feel any pain on his fingers. Even though his fingers are rotting, he is completely numb to its pain. So, it keeps rotting until he has to cut them off. If he were able to sense a painful sensation on his fingertips, he would visit a doctor for help. Complete numbness without feeling any pain is not a blessing for sure. God allows us to suffer for a reason. There seems to be meaningless pain. But we learn much about life through pain. There are things we never learn without suffering. We are living in a world filled with sufferings. So, knowing what it means to suffer from diseases, inner struggles, relational break-ups, losses, bereavements, etc., gives us insight and wisdom for a meaningful life in Christ. When we suffer, we must turn to Christ our Suffering Servant for strength, comfort, restoration, and hope. Also, we must be willing to suffer with the suffering, so that the power and glory of Christ will be manifested. When we truly appreciate the suffering of Christ on the cross, we truly understand the heart and love of God and are willing to give ourselves to suffering people like Christ.

However, if we are numb to the sufferings of others, we may remain loveless. One day, the disciples asked Jesus whether the man born blind from birth was born that way due to his sin or his parents’ sin. Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (Jn. 9:3). His disciples followed their traditional theology that taught disease is due to sin. There were no diseases before the fall of Adam. But since diseases occurred after his fall, we may say diseases occurs due to sins. It is true in real life settings that sinful habits cause diseases. Habitual heavy drinking or smoking, wrong diets bring about a variety of maladies. Also, overwork without rest causes diseases. But we should never say those who inherit hereditary diseases from their parents are born with them because of their sins. There are a lot of diseases whose causes are unknown to us. Thus, instead of condemning the sick as if they were greater sinners before God, we must weep with them and rejoice with them. We should never discriminate the sick, the handicapped. All of us are made in the image of God.

Though we may say that diseases are fundamentally caused by sin directly or indirectly, therefore, treating our ill friends as sinners is flatly wrong. Job’s friends inferred from Job’s suffering of disasters and illnesses that he must have grievously sinned against God. So, they admonished Job to repent of his sins so that Job could receive the blessing of restoration. However, Job continued to defend his innocence. His suffering was attributable not to his hidden sins, but to God’s testing of his faith. With regards to our diseases, we must rely on the death of Jesus on the cross. While looking at us suffering from diseases, people may condemn us, suspecting that we have committed some specific sins.

But the Lord took upon Himself our frailties and illnesses on the cross. This implies that He took upon Himself all curses and death caused by sin. Also, it means that all our weaknesses and illnesses will be completely healed in heaven. However, we may suffer various weaknesses and illnesses as long as we live on earth. There are a lot of people who come to know Jesus as Savior through their diseases under the providence of God. There are those who are miraculously healed of their incurable diseases. But not all Christians suffering from diseases will be cured on earth. Many, even after having received Jesus as their Savior and His forgiveness, live throughout their lifetime while still suffering from diseases.

No matter what circumstances we may be placed under, we must live in reliance upon the crucifixion of Christ. During His public life, Jesus healed a lot of sick people. But every sick person in His day was not cured. This fact reveals that reason to believe in Jesus lies not in cure of one’s disease, but in salvation of one’s soul. The death of Jesus on the cross is the ground for salvation and cure of one’s soul and body. Because Jesus took upon Himself our sin, curse, and death on the cross, we have found forgiveness, blessedness, and life. We must daily rely on the cross of Jesus for healing. As we remember the love of Jesus on the cross, we must entrust our frailties and diseases to His providential goodness. This is indeed right faith.        

Conclusion: Professor Eo-Ryung Lee are gravitated to the Christ who suffered on behalf of His people. The gods of world religions are enthroned in their thrones protected from the invasions of other beings. They are secluded and secured in their power, majesty, and glory. However, the God of Christianity was made in the flesh. He dwelt among people suffering from all kinds of problems. He interacted with them. He taught, healed, and comforted them. Then, He died on the cross and rose from the dead for them. His vicarious suffering was something that opened his heart to Him, because people, including himself, were living in pains. Indeed, Jesus Christ came into the midst of human suffering, so that He would save them from their sins and sufferings through the suffering of His death and the power of His resurrection. Jesus certainly knows our pains. He suffers with us. He suffered because of our sin. He suffered for the benefits of ours. He suffered on our behalf. He suffers with us even now. He delivers us from our pain. He will completely deliver us from all pain. We meet with Christ through suffering. When we suffer, we appreciate the suffering of Christ. When we feel the suffering of Christ, we feel the love of God, which brings us healing and restoration.

Jesus surely knows your crying. He knows your shame, your inferiority, your loneliness, your frustration, abandonment, etc. Now, what pain are you trying to bear? What disease are you fighting? What worries you? Do you feel you are left alone in your suffering? Please, look up to the cross of Christ suffering for you? He is suffering with you. He is your Help, Health, Hope, and Heaven. He will remove all your sufferings when He comes again. This is the good news to all of us. Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? Have you met with the Lord Jesus who suffered on your behalf? Please, come to Him for salvation, healing, strength, or rest. He invites you to come this way: 수고하고 무거운 짐진 자들아 다 내게로 오라 내가 너희를 쉬게 하리라. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). Please, spend time meditating on Jesus Christ the Suffering Servant of God when you are agonizing over unbearable pain. Bring your pain to Him as you remember He bore your diseases. You will find encouragement, rest, and grace in Christ. The Author of Hebrews says: The Author of Hebrews says: ¹⁵ 우리에게 있는 대제사장은 우리 연약함을 체휼하지 아니하는 자가 아니요 모든 일에 우리와 한결 같이 시험을 받은 자로되 죄는 없으시니라 ¹⁶ 그러므로 우리가 긍휼하심을 받고 때를 따라 돕는 은혜를 얻기 위하여 은혜의 보좌 앞에 담대히 나아갈 것이니라. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:15-16).

Benediction: ²⁴ 여호와는 네게 복을 주시고 너를 지키시기를 원하며 ²⁵ 여호와는 그 얼굴로 네게 비취사 은혜 베푸시기를 원하며 ²⁶ 여호와는 그 얼굴을 네게로 향하여 드사 평강 주시기를 원하노라. The LORD bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.