Suffering: a fresh perspective offered

Little James with Jesus. From The Chosen

Why haven't you healed me?

Because I trust you.

What...?

Dialogue in The Chosen provides many insights, but the exchange when Little James asks Jesus why he does not offer to heal James' deformity that handicaps his walking is particularly fit for reflection in that it sheds light on the mystery of human suffering.

In the Father's will I could heal you, right now, and you'd have a good story to tell.

Yes, that you do miracles.

And that's a good story. But there are aleady dozens who can tell that story, and there will be hundreds more, thousands. But think of the story you have if I don't heal you — to know how to proclaim how you still praise God in spite of this; to know how to focus on all that matters so much more than the body, to show people that you can be patient with your suffering on earth because you know you are spending eternity with no suffering. Not everyone can understand that. How many people do you think the Father and I trust with this? Not many.

Little James is in tears over his frustration at slowing the twelve as they trek from place to place, and the challenges likely to be thrown at him as he joins the others in travelling by way of outreach under Jesus' orders to spread news of the Kingdom of God, to cure disease, and to drive out demons.  

Weeping, James compares himself to the others:

But the others are so much stronger..., better at this.

James, I love you, but I don't want to hear that ever again.

But James presses his case, stating that he is a burden:

I know how easy it is to say "I am wonderfully and fearfully made", but it doesn't make this any easier.

You a burden? First of all, it's easier to deal with your slow walking than to deal with Simon's temper. Just trust me. Are you fast? Do you look impressive when you walk? Maybe not. But these are the things the Father doesn't care about! You are going to do more for me than most people ever dream. 

As James takes heart from what he is hearing, Jesus continues: 

So many people need healing in order to believe in me. Or they need healing because their hearts are so sick. That doesn't apply to you. But many are healed or not healed because the Father in heaven has a plan for them which may be a mystery. And remember what Job said: The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord! 

They have a moment of quiet, and then Jesus tells James:

When you pass from this earth and meet your Father in heaven, Isaiah promises you will leap like a deer. Your reward will be great. So hold on a little longer, and when you find yourself discovering true strength because of your weakness, and do great things in my name in spite of this, the impact will last for generations.

Thank you, Master.

A man like you healing others — oh, what a sight! And James, remember, you will be healed. It's only a matter of time.

Wishing each other "Shalom", they separate, and trusting Jesus, James moves off to begin his ministry to the people of the regions who haven't heard the word of God addressed directly to them.

Little James will have an important message to bear: The joy of the kingdom comes through focusing less on the body, and our immediate needs, less on what we can't do, but, instead, to view our predicament with the perspective of the value of patience within a short life, whereas our destiny of eternal happiness is to meet Jesus, our lord and God, in the fulness of love. 

Ω The Chosen, Season 3, Episode 2, Two by Two.

Ω Job Chapter 1:21; Isaiah 35:6.

Jesus and Little James, from The Chosen

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