Why look at Jesus’ sufferings?
It is important to see that in the absolute worst situation imaginable (the slaughter of the totally pure Lamb of God), there was an incomprehensible good that was planned. “For those who love God, all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28). When the situation of Jesus is put into this grid, it would read, “For Jesus who loved God infinitely and perfectly, all the evil done to Jesus work together for an incredible good.” The Bible is clear that the worst imaginable suffering was planned by God (Isa. 53:3-12; Acts 2:22-24; 4:27-29). This is clear from these Biblical truths:
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There is the Book of Life of the Lamb who was Slain that has the names of God’s children written in it from before the creation of the universe (Rev.13:8). Implication: Jesus’ sufferings were planned before evil existed and would require the existence of evil.
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Grace has been given in Christ before the creation of the universe (2 Tim. 1:9). We were given grace even before we existed to sin! When grace is connected to in Christ, it is connected to suffering and death. Again, we see the worst evil was planned by God before creation. Implication: the grace that was given us (sinners) was given before the creation of the universe AND it was given in Christ.
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When we turn to Eph. 1:4-6 we discover the end goal of the eternal plan to crush Jesus: the praise of the glorious grace of God. This is the good that God worked all things together in the life and death of Jesus to bring: PRAISE of God’s glorious grace! Rev. 5:8-9 shows that this praise is specifically because the Lamb was slaughtered. Implication: Evil exists so that the Lamb could be slaughter so that God’s grace might be perceived and praised.
Conclusion:
The Biblical answer for the existence of evil is that evil was required to slaughter the Lamb of God so that God’s grace would be known and Jesus would eternally receive praise. Evil exists so that God might be praised for his glorious grace. The only way grace can be known is by the existence of evil.
Why is this important for us?
- Comfort. If God pre-planned and implemented such horrific suffering in his beloved and perfect Son, Jesus, we can know that nothing is out of God’s control.
- Hope. If the suffering of Jesus, which was far worse than any other human suffering, produced such an enormous good, what great good does God have planned from our suffering?
- Freedom. Instead of being paralyzed by our suffering, we can continue to live knowing that while we don’t currently see it, there is an incredible good planned for us and possible for others when God brings us through this trial.
If Rom. 8:28 was true in the worst situation, namely that of Jesus Christ, how much easier is it for God to work all things for the good of people like us?