Affliction

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, the 10th of March, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalm 34:19

What a beautiful scripture if someone is hurting this morning, even as we remember the Easter Season. 

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 
Mark 14:32

How are you feeling today as we start to prepare our hearts for the Easter Season? I want to speak to you about afflictions. The word “affliction” means to be distressed, to be tormented, to be burdened, to be filled with pain and suffering, and if anybody ever knew about that it was our beloved Master and Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ. When He went with His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, He said to them, “Wait, I am going to pray.” Gethsemane means the Olive Press. It is where the olives were pressed in the time of Jesus so that pure olive oil could be extracted. It is where our beloved Jesus suffered more than at any other time in His earthly ministry, I want to suggest to you, that maybe even more than when He was actually crucified. Maybe today you are struggling, you are struggling with fear, pain, betrayal - maybe someone has betrayed you, deserted you - maybe they have left you and you are on your own. 

I will never forget many, many years ago, preaching in a church in Pietermaritzburg which is very close to us, it brings me to tears actually. At the altar call when the people were coming forward for prayer, there was a most delightful old couple, an old man and his dear old wife. She had those round glasses, and her face was rosy. She had put some make-up on her face, but she was so sad. She had a coat on and he had his deer-stalker and tweed jacket, and the two of them stood there just absolutely lost, and I walked up to them and I said to them, “What can I pray for?” and they burst into tears. They said, “Please pray for us. Our son is stealing from us.” Folks, you know, I think I started crying right there and then and I still do as a relate the story to you. Their own son! The one who would inherit the farm, he couldn’t wait, he was stealing from that old couple. That is pain! That is the pain that Jesus understands. He was oppressed and He was afflicted for our sakes. (Isaiah 53:7)

So today, cast your cares upon Jesus because He cares for you. Simply stand (Ephesians 6:14), and the Lord will fight for you!

Jesus bless you and goodbye.