"JOB MEETS JESUS"Sermon by David Layman October 8, 2000
Job 1:1, 2:1-10
Hebrews 1:1-4
My name is Job. Until recently, I have been quite successful in business. I used to own a home in one of the nicest areas in town. Then I built a new place in the country. My son received a college scholarship to play basketball. My daughter was named homecoming queen. I serve on the boards of the hospital, and the largest bank in town. I was asked to serve as a community Bible study leader. When Id drive my Mercedes down the street, people would say "There goes Job. What a Godly man! What an up and comer! And what a family he has!"
Yes, this is what people USED to say. Before my life began to go south. Ive invested heavily in some ventures that havent panned out. My son broke his foot at college, and then got involved with drugs. Before I knew what happened, he was caught selling drugs, and is in jail. My daughter was involved in a tragic hit and run accident. Shes paralyzed. My wife has begun to suffer from depression, and shes started to drink heavily. My business partner made some very unwise decisions, and then quickly left town. In other words, one thing after another has gone wrong in my life! And if this isnt enough, Ive developed a very bad pain in my legs. I recently found out its the result of irreversible nerve damage from diabetes. Sometimes when Im walking along, my right leg collapses. The pain medication I take has messed up my system.
The other night, I was preparing for Bible study, and heard my wife talking on the phone to my daughter. My daughter is crying, my wife is crying, and Im sitting there, with a painful tingling in my leg. My wife hangs up the phone, comes in and sees me studying the Bible. My wife, a good woman under normal conditions, yells at me "Why are you still studying the Bible? Is there anything in that book than can enable your daughter to walk again? That can get your son out of jail? Than can give us back what weve lost in these last few months? Why dont you just curse God and die?"
Usually, I have a ready answer. But I opened my mouth, and no words came out. Part of me was thinking, "Maybe my wife is right."
I hobbled out to the car, my leg really bothering me. I got in and began to drive. Got onto I 70, and headed towards Indy. All the way over, I was thinking about what my wife asked. Why didnt I just curse God, and die? I thought of my precious daughter, confined to a wheel chair for the rest of her life. Of my son, who had messed his life up royally. Of how people in town no longer looked at me with envy and admiration. But how the looks had turned to pity. . .if they looked at me at all! I heard that some were saying "Shouldnt Job step down, and someone else lead the Bible study? After all, Jobs son is in jail. If Job is such a good Christian, why did THAT happen? And Jobs wife is coming unglued, hitting the bottle too much. Maybe their marriage is in peril. Does that convey to the community the image we want to portray?"
I pulled off at the rest area and pounded my fist on the steering wheel, asking "How can you let this happen to me, God? How can you let this happen to my precious daughter? How can you let this happen to
YOU, God? Dont you realize your reputation is at stake?
Do you want the cynics and skeptics to laugh and say "Look at Job! All that virtuous living, and what did that get him? A fancy home in the country hell have to take a loss on, because his lifes gone south!" And I found myself saying to God "Its one thing to ruin my health and business, but keep your hands of f my daughter!"
I pulled back onto I 70 and drove into downtown Indianapolis. Something was going on at the Dome. Lots of people were on the streets. I found the door of a large church across from the Dome open, and went inside. I sat near the back, picked up a pew Bible, and began to read. Dont ask me why, but I began to read from Hebrews. A book that refers so often to an ancient sacrificial and priestly system didnt seem to be a likely place to give me some help. I started to read the opening verses. Jesus was appointed "HEIR OF ALL THINGS." What a privileged position of status! Moreso, Jesus "IS THE REFLECTION OF GODS GLORY AND THE EXACT IMPRINT OF GODS VERY BEING." What a glorious, powerful Son Hebrews portrays Jesus to be. I thought of myself in my prime: Id been named "outstanding young man of the year." The powers that be in town had said to me "What a bright future youve got." For a while, it seemed like it was coming true.
I began to think "No fair, God! Youve got all the power and the glory! We get all the pain and suffering!" And then I raised my eyes to the prominent crucifix at the front of the sanctuary, the image of Jesus suffering the pangs of death. And I read the verse from Hebrews
again, "HE IS THE REFLECTION OF GODS GLORY AND THE EXACT IMPRINT OF GODS VERY BEING." And it hit me: "This Jesus, who is the reflection of Gods glory, the EXACT imprint of Gods very being, is the Jesus whose image is suffering on the cross, right before my very eyes!"
Jesus, on the cross. . .the exact imprint of God! I saw God in a new light at that moment. And the suffering and pain of my own family in a new light. I walked from the back of the sanctuary to the front. When I got closer to the crucifix, I looked into the face of Jesus, with that great look of sadness in his eyes. Thats when I began to cry.
Yes, I was a great believer in God when I was a success, when things were going well. But then things began to go wrong. The esteem others seemed to have for me disappeared, like the morning dew. And then, while I didnt curse God and die, as my wife had tempted me, I did curse the day I was born. And if a semi had crossed the road and run me over, I would have been grateful. I was getting really angry at a high and mighty God who could let such things happen to me. But then I looked into the face of Jesus on the cross, and read "HE IS THE EXACT IMPRINT OF GODS VERY BEING." I began to see things in a completely different light. I read on in Hebrews 2:9, how Jesus was made for a little while, lower than the angels, "SO THAT BY THE GRACE OF GOD HE MIGHT TASTE DEATH FOR EVERYONE." And that God had made Jesus "THE PIONEER OF OUR SALVATION, PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERINGS."
I drove back to Richmond a different Job; a Job who had met Jesus. My leg is still in pain, my daughter is still paralyzed, my wife and son still face serious problems. But because of Jesus, I now realize God is on the inside, with us, not on the outside, against us. Hes with us, when we choose to call upon Him. And I know that beyond the cross lies an empty tomb. I began to see the light of the Easter dawn! And while at one time I had a bright past, now I think instead of an even brighter future that lies ahead!
David Layman
First Presbyterian Church
Richmond