And after Jesus was flogged severely and crucified, He said, “God does not exist,  God is not all loving, God is not all powerful,  and evil does not exist.”

Post date: Feb 21, 2015 4:06:20 AM

Joh 19:1-4 NET

(1) Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged severely.

(2) The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they clothed him in a purple robe.

(3) They came up to him again and again and said, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly in the face.

Joh 19:16-18 NET

(16) Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

(17) and carrying his own cross he went out to the place called "The Place of the Skull" (called in Aramaic Golgotha ).

(18) There they crucified him along with two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.

Joh 19:30 NET

(30) When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, "It is completed!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

But our God is a suffering God. Jesus Christ was God incarnate, and no one ever suffered like Jesus. Not only did He endure the physical pain of the whipping, beating, and the crucifixion, but He bore all the sins of the world on Himself as He hung on Calvary's cross and cried out, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Matthew 27:46).

When suffering (usually defined by the person) hits some people, they will turn away from and reject God. Something “bad” happens to them that disrupts their comfort or is inconvenient and and they reason that there can't be a God, or God is not all loving, or God is not all powerful. They place themselves to be judge and jury of what suffering is, what is good or not good. They then create a belief system that fits their feelings and worldview. Why don't complain when evil makes us feel better, only when it makes us feel bad, uncomfortable, painful, inconvenient etc.? We don’t ask “where is God?” when another’s pain brings us profit instead of loss, we don’t want God to stop us from hurting others and we only shout injustice when He doesn’t stop others from hurting us. (See Faith Is Not Wishing or Where Was God. Solid Ground by Greg Koukl. www.str.org). Out of all the persons who have suffered, Jesus had the right to say “God does not exist” or “God is not all loving” or God is not all powerful” or even “evil does not exist” BUT He didn't!

Heb 4:14-16 NET

(14) Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

(15) For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

(16) Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

For more see:

- Problem of Evil https://sites.google.com/site/worldviewcafe

- Why the Christian Worldview Best Represents Reality https://sites.google.com/site/worldviewcafe