Rob Benson | Series: Mud and The Masterpiece |Scripture: Matthew 9:35–36
ListenPart VIII: Sharing In The Pain II
Introduction
In a few weeks we’ll finish up Part I of this 2 Part Series: Mud & The Master Piece,
but for today just keep in mind that each of you is a Master Piece that covered in the
mud and the grime of doing life on your own and without God.
We’ll continue to tackle a hard Truth that we let out of the can last time we wrestled
with the calling we have as Followers of Christ to Share in the Pain of others:
• Mantra: Everyone hurts; NOT everyone CARES
Bible
God doesn’t waste anything! We often feel that God doesn’t care, or He is ignorant
of the pain and suffering that happens in our lives, on this too often harsh world we
live in. But God doesn’t waste anything…He always leverages it for “Good.”
• Point: Pain, suffering and need, can drive people to faith.
Question: Will you be there to lead them, by sharing their pain and suffering or
meeting their need?
Jesus Cares Enough To Be There…
Reading: Matthew 9:35-36
• Compassion (GK) = Splagna=To Have Pity For or To Feel For
• Harassed (GK) = Trouble (Internal or External)
• Helpless (GK) = Put Down, Thrown Down, Dejected
Point: Jesus “Felt” their Pain!
Reading: John 5:1-8, 19
Word Order from Greek: “Him saw the Jesus lying there, and learned…”
(vv.6) - Saw = Pay Attention To, Understand, Experienced; Learned = Acquired
Information
• Point: Jesus looked for the suffering, the needy, the forgotten and He chose to
engage them and learn about their struggle.
(vv.19) - Jesus ONLY does what the Father tells Him to do!
Question: How many of us can say this about our everyday lives, that we DO what
the Father TELLS us to do? What gets in your way?
Story (Dad’s Death) - Got the call that my dad was on the way to the hospital after
having a massive heart attack. This just on the heels of a conversation that I will hold
near to my heart all the rest of my days. While making the 4 hour trek I begged
God to keep him alive, but it was not to be I got the call that he had died en-route to
the hospital and that they were waiting for me to arrive to say my final good byes.
• Point: God comforted me, through the many from MH who showed up to stand with
us during this difficult time.
• Point: God comforted me, by giving me peace concerning my father’s eternal
destiny by giving me a verse from John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…”
Jesus hurt for Mary and Martha when they were mourning the loss of their brother
Lazarus…
Reading: John 11:33
You can’t fix, take away or explain away someones pain. When you do, you act
more like a Pharisee, somehow caring more about proving you have the solution,
than just being there and caring for the person.
Mantra: Everyone hurts, NOT everyone cares enough to ENTER INTO your pain.
PARADOX: Man’s FREE WILL & God’s SOVEREIGNTY
Question: Are evil acts God’s will? NO!
Matthew 6:10 - Jesus teaches us to pray for, “God’s WILL to be done on earth.”
• Point: When we explain away peoples pain, chalk it up to God’s sovereignty, we
minimize their suffering and convey God doesn’t care!
• Point: God uses Pain & Suffering and somehow brings good out of it, if we
choose to surrender it to Him, to accomplish His purposes.
• Point: We have a choice, give it to God allow Him to walk with us through the
suffering, or blame God and turn our backs on Him.
Reading: Isaiah 53:3-5
• Point: Whether we are in pain because of our own “mess” or the pain was thrust
upon us because of something beyond our control…Jesus Is Our “Wounded
Healer!
Challenge
Question: Are you willing to enter into an others pain, suffering, confusion and hurt?
Question: Are you willing to share your story, your pain…suffering…confusion and
hurt, so you might encourage another?
• Point: Then you too will become a “Wounded Healer” like Jesus to this lost and
hurting world!
Closing - Grab Your “Read-Reflect-Wrestle” Handout…
Corporate Closing - Yes, Jesus Loves Me