The suffering of Jesus for us fundamentally alters the nature of our suffering.

It is no longer punishment.

Amen. So what purpose does? no longer punishment.

Amen.

So what purpose does God have in our hardships?

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper turns to Hebrews 12, 12 to 17

to reveal how God's loving discipline moves us from self-reliance to a deeper trust in him.

This sermon was originally delivered at Bethlehem Baptist Church on August 31st, 1997.

I invite you to take a Bible, your own perhaps, or one from under the pew in front of you,

and to turn to Hebrews chapter 12.

It's on page 1432 in the Pew Bible.

Hebrews chapter 12, verses 12 through 17. I'll read from verse 12 through 17 now of

chapter 12 of Hebrews. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint but rather healed.

Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God.

That no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and by it many be defiled.

That there be no immoral or godless person like Esau who sold his own

birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards when he desired to inherit the

blessing, he was rejected. for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Lord Jesus, these are stunning and sobering words. The Bible is such a blood-earnest book.

There are no jokes here. There is no playing around. Heaven and hell are at stake and repentance when forsaken and

hardened against can become impossible to perform.

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