Surprised by Suffering: The Role of Pain and Death in the Christian Life

Author:R. C. Sproul
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Future Life - Christianity, Death, Eschatology, Religion, Inspirational, Bereavement, Grief, Family & Relationships, Suffering, Death - Religious Aspects - Christianity, Suffering - Religious Aspects - Christianity, Future Life, Christian Theology
ISBN: 9781567691849
Publisher: Reformation Trust Publishing
Published: 2009-10-15T23:42:42+00:00

1 The Works ofPlato, ed. Irwin Edman (New York: Random House, 1956), 114.

2 Ibid., 117.

3 Ibid., 137.

4 Ibid., 140.

5 Ibid., 143.

o rise above the speculation of philosophers and bypass the occult, we must turn our attention to Jesus. No one's teaching on the subject of life after death equals or surpasses that of Jesus of Nazareth. The concept of life beyond the grave was at the core of His message.

One of the best-known words of Jesus on the subject of life after death is found in John 14. Here Jesus was present in the upper room for the Last Supper. The discussion recorded here took place on the eve of Christ's crucifixion, shortly before His agony in Gethsemane and His subsequent arrest.

To comfort His friends, Jesus declared the following: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

Why were the disciples gripped by troubled hearts? We know that Jesus Himself was "troubled in spirit" that evening (John 13:2 1). He was troubled by the announcement He was about to make of His imminent betrayal at the hands of Judas.

Imagine the setting. A pall of foreboding gloom hangs over the upper room. Three years of public ministry, three years of close fellowship among His disciples, had brought them to this hour. It was an hour of profound crisis. There was much to be troubled about. A sense of finality hovered about them. Jesus knew that His hour had come. He revealed His impending death to His friends. He added to their apprehension by announcing three very troubling things. He declared that Judas was going to betray Him, that Peter was going to deny Him, and, worst of all, that He was going to leave them physically. He said: "Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, `Where I am going you cannot come,' so now I say to you" (John 13:33).

Here Peter exclaimed, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward" (13:36).

These words of Christ are packed with historical content. Jesus' relationship with Simon Peter began with two simple words, "Follow Me" (Matt. 4:19). Peter walked away from his nets and followed Jesus. Wherever Jesus went, Peter went. He was with Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana. He was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. He even followed Jesus by walking on the water. Now the time of following was abruptly over. Jesus said, "You cannot follow Me now."

One of the most difficult struggles a person experiences as he approaches death is the troubling knowledge that the journey must be made alone, without human companionship.

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