Sermon Good Friday 2019
Text: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 – Our empathetic
Saviour
When tragedy strikes it’s interesting
to see the different responses from our leaders.
When the terrorist attack happened in
Christchurch last month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern came out with obvious
grief and hurt in her voice and demeanour.
It was similar some years back during
the Queensland floods when the Premier at the time, Anna Bligh, showed that
same grief and disbelief.
Irrespective of their political
leanings or effectiveness, these leaders were praised for their empathy during
time of tragedy as it was clear to see that they truly felt the pain of their
people.
There is comfort that people take
when their leaders come out to the place where there’s been a tragedy and
simply just stand among the hurting even if they have no answers to the
tragedy.
We see that when bushfires and floods
and other devastations hit – the Prime Minister or Premier, or both, come out
and stand with their people – not with answers but with empathy in their pain.
There are other styles that we have
seen, such as when September 11 happened and President George Bush came out
saying that they would hunt down those responsible and show the full force of
their might.
For some reason that style doesn’t
always gel with the people.
We want answers – we want responses –
but at the time of hurt we mainly want to know that our leaders truly do feel
our pain and anguish.
If you’ve ever been to sit at the
bedside of a loved one who is dying – you don’t need to say anything – just
being there empathising with them speaks much more powerfully.
Our bible reading today highlights
that quality about Jesus today.
It says: For we do not have a high
priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in
every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.
To put that into more simpler
language – Jesus feels our pain because he too experienced it.
Jesus doesn’t explain why we suffer –
he doesn’t promise us deliverance from our suffering in this lifetime.
He does more than that by suffering
with us.
But we do want answers.
We want the empathy at the time of
our hurt, which the leaders have shown, but we also want answers and assurance
that things will be made right and it won’t happen again.
And that’s what Jesus does.
Good Friday is only the beginning of
Jesus dealing with our tragedies.
On Easter Sunday we have the
conclusion and we have the answer..
Today we remember that Jesus suffered
our suffering – that Jesus suffered our humiliation – that Jesus suffered our
feeling of abandonment – that Jesus suffered our death.
But on Easter Sunday morning Jesus
will present us with the answer we so desperately are looking for.
Whatever tragedy is before us, behind
us, or we are presently experiencing, Easter Sunday will give us hope.
It won’t immediately take away the
pain and suffering but it gives us the comfort of knowing that God has prepared
a new future for us.
And that future is eternal life in
Heaven where there will be no more suffering or death.
The difference between what Jesus
offers us and what worldly leaders can offer us is that he continues to be
there for us and offers us personal access to him.
At Jesus’ death it says that the
curtain in the Temple was torn in two.
The curtain was there to prevent
access into the most holy part of the temple where God’s throne was.
The curtain, now torn in two has
given us access to God wherever and whenever we need it.
So our reading says: . Let us
therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
As lovely as it is to have worldly
leaders come to us in times of need, we cannot go to them anytime we want.
But because of Jesus’ death we have
been given full access to God anytime we need it.
But especially important is that
through Jesus’ death we have been given access when our earthly time comes to
an end.
Jesus’ death assures us of God’s
forgiveness and therefore assurance of eternal life when we die.
And that’s the worse that this world
can do.
Terrorists, sickness, tragedies of
any type can take away our life but nothing more.
On Easter Sunday we rejoice that the
life that the world took way from Jesus today is restored.
And not just any restoration – but
resurrection to eternal life.
And as our bible reading concludes it
says he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Whatever situation you’re facing at
this time – whatever tragedy you’re dealing with, God gives hope.
Hope that he empathises with you –
hope in that sometimes God can bring miraculous healing – but the greatest hope
is that through Jesus’ death on Good Friday, our suffering is limited to this
life only and that Jesus has opened the entry to eternal life in Heaven where
nothing evil can exist – where there will be no more suffering or death.
Nothing else, and no one else, can
give you that comfort and assurance.
So let us hold fast to our faith and
let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy
and find God’s grace to help in time of need.
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