BIG IDEA

The Jesus who suffered, suffers with you.

MESSAGE NOTES:

WHAT:

Comfort is more powerful when it comes from someone who knows what it's like.

When life gets tough, it's easy to feel alone.

We might wonder, “Why would God let this happen? Should I just give up? Is it all worth it?”

SO WHAT:

In Matthew 26 Jesus' life seems to fall apart.

In this one chapter, Jesus experienced more suffering than most of us can imagine.

Jesus was "overwhelmed," in "anguish," and "exhausted" because He knew exactly what was about to happen.

Remember that Jesus understands what it feels like to suffer.

Jesus can understand and comfort us better than anyone, because He understands suffering better than anyone.

NOW WHAT:

Good Friday is a day to remember we are loved by a God who doesn't just understand our pain in theory, but in experience.

GOOD FRIDAY REMINDS US WE ARE NOT ALONE.

GOOD FRIDAY REMINDS US WE CAN GO TO GOD WITH OUR SUFFERING.

GOOD FRIDAY REMINDS US TO COMFORT OTHERS.

What if everything hard we face is an opportunity to know Jesus better?

Jesus knows how you feel, and His heart breaks when yours is breaking.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q1: Have you ever done something that was difficult, but worth it in the end? What was it?

Q2: Think about the hardest thing you experienced this year. How did that experience make you feel? Sad? Anxious? Hurt? Afraid? Alone? Ashamed? Rejected?

Q3: Think about the emotions that were just shared. Can you think of a time when Jesus would have felt each of those emotions?

Q4: Isaiah 53:2-5 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus thought you were worth all of that suffering?

Q5: Do you think we can only help or comfort others if we have experienced the same hurt they’re experiencing? Why or why not?