Way of pain - Way of Life!

With our boys enjoying holidays from both school and sport, over the last week we have spent much more time together as a family.  One of the things we did was watch The Lord of the Rings and eat popcorn made from a old-fashioned machine Laura picked up at the Salvos.  In Tolkien's classic Sauron, the dark lord and maker of the ring, threatened to take shape and cast the world into shadow.  Gandalf went to seek counsel from the leader of his order, Saruman.  Having been corrupted by Sauron, in the movie Saruman tried to convince Gandalf it would be wise to ally himself with the evil lord Sauron.  Gandalf refused.  After a brief wizard's duel, Saruman proved more powerful than Gandalf.  As he lifted him in the air Saruman shouts, "You have elected the way of pain!"  When Gandalf eventually escaped with the aid of a giant eagle, Saruman says almost to himself:  "So you have chosen death."

Saruman's sentiment was ironic, seeing that it was he who later died and Gandalf lived.  With Christmas right around the corner, I have been thinking about the miracle that God became flesh and dwelt among us as a man on earth.  Instead of coming in angelic splendour or on the wings of giant eagles, Jesus was born as a fragile baby, wrapped in swaddling cloths, and placed in a feeding trough because there was no room for Him in the inn.  He elected for Himself the way of pain.  He chose to endure life as a human being complete with emotions, bodily functions, weakness, fatigue, and need of food, water, and sleep.  Jesus was sent to His own and they did not receive Him.  He experienced grief, sorrow, and heartache like none on earth can know.

The life of Christ is described by more than simply the experience of pain.  He lived a flawless existence according to the Law.  Unspoiled by a sin nature, Jesus demonstrated the love the world could not and still does not fathom.  He taught people the wisdom of God, fed the hungry, healed the blind and deaf, cleansed the lepers, cast out demons, raised the dead, and called men from all walks of life to follow Him.  Jesus did not only choose a life of pain but embraced His own death.  It was through His sacrifice on Calvary that all who repent and trust in Him as Saviour find eternal life by grace.  It is by His stripes - painful lacerations - that we are healed (1 Pet. 2:24).  Jesus died to Himself daily before He was nailed to a Roman cross died in the sight of many witnesses.  Three days later He rose from the dead, proving His power over Satan, sin, and death.

Hebrews 4:14-16 reads, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  No matter what pain we face in this life on earth, Jesus can empathize with our weakness, temptations, and hurts.  We are entreated therefore to boldly come before His throne of grace in prayer that we may "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  In this time of year which often emphasises what we receive, God grants us grace so we might help.  God is our Helper, and we are to help others.  How awesome is our God and King, full of mercy and grace!

The life of a Christian is one who chooses the way of pain and death so we might experience abundant life through our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  It is a life of sacrifice, but it is not bitter.  Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28-29:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  All people experience pain, but Christians have hope, help, and healing found only in Jesus.  These are gifts already given:  have you received them?  Rejoice in the One who has brought peace, joy, and salvation to men!