Jesus Answers Job Part 1: Job 7:17; 9:2; and 14:14
Jesus Answers Job People that suffer greatly cry out with questions: “Why me?” “How long?” “Who caused this?” Job’s anguish and bitterness from his suffering caused him to cry out for answers to his questions (Job 7:11) The detailed answers are not given until much later in the life and work of Jesus (Lk. 24:44; Rom. 10:4; consider the “starlight” of the Patriarchal period, the “moonlight” of the Mosaic period, and “the sun(SON)light” of the Christian period)
Jesus Answers Job Suffering causes one to question his own personal value, purpose, and existence in life. In answer to Eliphaz, Job asks: “What is man?” (7:17; see 4:17) Job wants to know why God has marked him for such testing (7:18-20). Man is made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26-27; 9:6; Jas. 3:9). Jesus, as man, answers this question: “I, as a man, am valuable to God in my suffering” (Psa. 8:4; 144:3; Heb. 2:6-18).
Jesus Answers Job Suffering causes one to question his own justice (right standing) before God. In answer to Bildad, Job asks: “How can a man be just with God?” (9:2; see 4:17; 8:3) Job wants to how he can be right before an all-wise and all-powerful God (9:3ff, 15, 19-20, 30). Man is in need of justification; man is need of someone to stand between himself and God (arbitrator, mediator)
Jesus Answers Job Jesus, as God-man, answers this question: “You can be just (right) be exercising your faith in me” (Rom. 3:24; 5:1; 1 Cor. 6:11; Gal. 2:16-17; 3:24; 5:4) Jesus, as God-man, answers Job’s dilemma: “I am the umpire who stands between God and man” (2 Cor. 5:17-21; Eph. 2:18; Heb. 7:25; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Jn. 2:1-2)
Jesus Answers Job Suffering causes one to question his future hope. In answer to Zophar, Job asks: “If a man die, shall he live again” (14:14-15; see 11:20) Job wants to know what kind of hope man has after he dies (14:7-12). Man, unlike an animal, instinctively thinks about death and the after-life.
Jesus Answers Job Jesus, the resurrection and life, answers this question in two ways: – There is life after death (Lk. 23:43,46; 2 Tim. 1:10). – There will be a resurrection (Jn. 5:19-29; 11:23-26).