6. God’s Heart Towards Suffering

The following verses are from the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead:

John 11:32-35

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus wept.

Jesus didn’t just have a few tears run down His cheeks; He wept. His sorrow was heartfelt and sincere. Yet Jesus knew that He was about to raise Lazarus (John 11:4, 43-44), so His tears were not the hopeless grief of someone who had no answer for death. Rather, His tears reveal His deep compassion and His grief over the pain, suffering, and destruction that sin and death had brought upon His creation.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and free us from the evil oppression of sickness and disease. Christ offers healing and wholeness to all who come to Him.

1 John 3:8

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Matthew 8:16-17

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”

The life of Jesus shows us that it is always God’s will for His children to be healed and healthy, regardless of the cause behind the sickness, disease, or infirmity.

God is love (1 John 4:8), He loves us beyond measure (Ephesians 3:19), and nothing can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). He is kind (Titus 3:4-5) and compassionate (Matthew 20:34) towards us. If He was willing to give us His Son, how would He not be willing to give us anything else we need, including healing (Romans 8:32)?

Mark 10:13-16

Jesus Blesses Little Children

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

This is a revealing passage of Scripture. It shows the strong desire of Jesus to bless children. There are several examples in the Bible of Jesus healing children:

• Matthew 15:21-28 (A Gentile woman’s daughter is healed)

• Mark 5:21-43 (Jairus’ daughter is raised from the dead)

• Mark 9:14-29 (A boy who suffered seizures caused by a demon is healed)

• Luke 7:11-17 (The widow of Nain’s son is raised from the dead)

• John 4:46-54 (A nobleman’s son is healed)

There is no record of Jesus ever putting sickness or disease on a child in order to bless them, teach them, or for any other reason. In fact, this idea is quite unfathomable and contradicts everything the Gospels reveal about His character.

Imagine how you would feel if your child, or someone you truly loved, questioned your willingness to free them from oppression and take away their pain and suffering. It would break your heart.

No one desires to see their loved ones suffer, not even for a moment. But where does this deep desire come from? It certainly doesn’t come from the devil. He comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Our longing to see others free, joyful, and sound in body and soul comes from our loving Father in Heaven, the very One who created us in His image.

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.