Thursday’s Lesson – God's Plan for Painful Emotions

Read John 16:20–24. What is Jesus' promise in regard to pain and grief?

As Christians we must understand that we will face pain and grief. In this world it may even seem that those who are not Christians experience less pain. God has promised the even tho we face difficult times , we can still experience Joy.

Those in the world may have momentary happiness but God promises us something more sustaining. When things are going good or when things are going bad we can still have Joy. God is the source of all true Joy and this is something that the world can not experience.

How can you hold fast to the promise that your sorrow will turn to joy? How can this assurance help you pass through the adversities of life? How could you use Jesus' promises to encourage someone in grief?

The key is that we have to hold on. We must hold on to the promises of God’s word, and we must hold on to our past victories. When the reality of our sorrow collides with the reality of God’s promise of Joy we must embrace the promise with hopefulness.

Prayer: Father thank you for your promised Joy. Father help us to remain hopeful in the midst of our sorrow. Thank you in Jesus name Amen.

Wednesday’s Lesson – Jesus' Emotional Manifestations: Part 2

What were some of the painful emotions Jesus experienced in the following contexts? Matt. 26:37, 38;Mark 3:5; 8:12; John 11:32–38; Mark 11:15, 16. What caused the emotions He experienced?

Matt. 26:37, 38

This passage tells us that Jesus was grieved and distressed. The grief and distress Jesus experienced was so bad that He thought He was going to die. The reason Jesus felt this was because He was experiencing the weight of the sins of the world. Jesus was on the way to the cross and in Gethsemane He started to feel its burden.

Mark 3:5; 8:12

Jesus was angry with the religious leaders because of their hardness of heart. Jesus longed to do something for them but they continually rejected Him. Jesus did not come the way the religious leaders expected therefore they refused to accept the authority of Jesus.

The leaders wanted Jesus to give them a sign , but the greatest sign that they could have was standing right before them. Jesus did miraculous thing after miraculous thing but the leaders still refused to accept him as the Messiah.

John 11:32–38

This passage is about Jesus and His encounter with Lazarus. After Lazarus dies everyone cries over the death of Lazarus and Jesus cries as well. Jesus cries over the loss of a friend and he also cries over the effects that sin has had over humanity. Human life was not supposed to end in death , Jesus realizing this fact is deeply moved with compassion.

Mark 11:15, 16

In this scene Jesus is angry because the merchants were setting up a barrier between the people and God. Jesus recognized the corruption that was going on and He wanted to put and end to it. The temple was supposed to be a house of prayer for all people , Jesus sought to restore this purpose.

Contemplating the emotional experiences of Jesus can help us understand how much He can relate to our own emotional turmoil. Look at this text: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses" (Heb. 4:15, NIV). How can the message of this text bring us into a closer bond with Jesus, especially in times of suffering?

When we look at Jesus as our Lord and Savior it is comforting to know that he understand us. Jesus’ experience with human suffering is not theoretical but it is personal. When I understand that Jesus has gone through some of the same things I am going through it is very comforting. Jesus knows my pain and because of that he can better help me.

Prayer: Father thank you for a Saviour who truly understands us. Help us to never forget that Jesus knows our sorrow and He can grant us the strength we need. Thank you, in Jesus name Amen.