An end to suffering (Numbers 34-36, Luke 4)

Do you long for an end to suffering? No more physical or mental anguish. No more knots in your stomach over concern for a loved one. Whilst much good can come through suffering, if we’re honest, we’d rather be free from it. In our readings today the boundaries of the promised land are drawn out (Numbers 34), but as good as the land is, suffering and death, even violent death is still a reality (Numbers 35).

In our gospel reading, we get to see a foretaste of how good it will be when King Jesus is physically present with his people in the promised land of the new heaven and new earth.

In Luke 4, Dr Luke reports on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. We see Jesus priority in proclaiming the good news of his kingdom and as He does so he gives us wonderful tasters of how good it will be when He is present with us once again. In our world today we see the awful effects of evil, but look at the power of Jesus over evil, at His command the demons are cast out. It’s a foretaste of the day when King Jesus will destroy evil forever.

In our world today we suffer with terrible illness and disability, bodies getting weaker. It’s so hard to see those you love suffer. Maybe you ask the question, why doesn’t God do something? Just have a look at the wonderful verse in Luke 4:40

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

What a wonderful foretaste of how good it will be when King Jesus is present with his people once again, there will be no more sickness or disability in the new heaven and the new earth.

How great a day that will be! While we wait, we will suffer with various challenges and trials, but when we contemplate that day, we may like Paul count such trials as light and momentary compared to the glory that awaits us. No wonder Jesus’ priority was to preach, He had to let people know the way into the kingdom-through faith in His death and resurrection on our behalf.