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Dear Suffering Saint, you don't have to suffer alone. At the end of the narrative covering John the Baptist's agonizing death Matthew gives us a word picture of Jesus in verse 13, "...when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself." Half a verse opens wide the fullness of Christ's humanity as he mourns the death of someone He loves. Let's expand this thought a bit by examining the relationship between these two cousins. 

In Luke 1, when Mary is told of Christ's coming the angle also tells Mary about Elizabeth's bearing of John. A few verses later we read that John leaped in Elizabeth's womb when Mary greeted her. In Luke 3 we read about specific prophecy fulfilled in both Isaiah 40 and Malachi 3 & 4 which are affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 11 as Jesus praises John as the greatest human to have ever been born of woman. In John 1 & 3 we see the highest of honor given to Jesus by John as he talks of Jesus coming after him to take away the sin of the world and highlighting his decrease. What we find here is that since conception these two were knit together. I can think of no closer relationship than that of Jesus & John the Baptist in all of the Bible. 

This is the context of Jesus' mourning in Matthew 14. I share all of this to say again that Jesus’ suffering was not limited to the crucifixion. In the fullness of His humanity agonized over the loss of loved ones. I think we often forget that Jesus was fully and truly man which means that He fully and truly knows the pain of existence in a fallen world that takes and takes and takes from us. 

As odd as it is, I find this to be one of the most comforting passages in all of the Bible. Why? He knows. 

What do we do with that pain? Not only does He know but He sets an example for us. Look at that again, "...he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself." Jesus may have moved to a desolate place but He was far from suffering alone. Heartbroken, He enters into his prayer closet, undistracted from the woes of the world, in confident approach to God, and gains the comfort promised of His Heavenly Father. 

But wait... there's more!

Paul writes to the Corinthian that God, "...comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." (2 Corinthians 1:4-5) And Jesus tells us, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) 

As I shared yesterday, Jesus' mourning isn't divorced from the coming crucifixion. As He looks upon the death of His beloved friend and cousin He sees His own on the horizon. He will endure the most heinous of suffering on our behalf but will rise victorious and brings comfort to the suffering saint. In a world that takes and takes and takes Jesus gives and gives and gives. 

Dear Suffering Saint, you don't have to suffer alone.

Christ, the sure and steady Anchor

As we face the wave of death

When these trials give way to glory

As we draw our final breath

We will cross that great horizon

Clouds behind and life secure

And the calm will be the better

For the storms that we endure

Christ, the shore of our salvation

Ever faithful, ever true

We will hold fast to the Anchor

It shall never be removed

Anchored in Christ with you, 

-Pastor Ricky