Eternity-

Where is Jesus when I need Him? 

Isaiah 53:1-6 and John 11:1-44 and 1st Thessalonians 4:13 

Big Question: What do I do when Jesus doesn’t make sense? 

Big Idea: Believers interpret our circumstances in light of Christ’s love… 

not Christ’s love in light of our circumstances. 

Introduction: If only, if only, if only… 

What do I do with this grief?  

• Ways that we see Jesus suffer, physically, he had no beauty to attract anyone to him, he was despised and rejected, a man of suffering who was familiar with pain, (The Hebrew words notes both physical and mental pain), he was punished for the sake of others, pierced for our transgressions, he was punished for our peace. 
• Jesus does not always make sense. 
• Jesus oftens appears to be late. 
• Jesus invites us to come and see… and to come and see is a two way street. 

Conclusion: N.T. Wright Come and see. They respond, as Jesus had responded to the early disciples’ enquiry as to where he was staying. (1:46) It is the simplest of invitations, and yet it goes to the heart of Christian faith. Come and see, we say to Jesus, as we lead Him, to all of our tears, to the place of our deepest grief and sorrow. Come and see, he says to us in reply, as he leads us through the sorrow to the place where he now dwells in light and love and resurrection glory. And, even more evocative (is the invitation that is to come) come and have breakfast. The new day is dawning; and, though where we live the night can be very dark, and the tears very bitter, there is light and joy waiting not far away. 

Challenge: Go ahead and grieve, but don’t grieve as those who have no hope. 

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,  1 Thessalonians 4:13-14a

 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. John 11:33