Understanding Our Suffering
“Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him” Isaiah 53:4-6.
It is typically around the Passover we read about Jesus Christ suffering on the Cross and how He took our punishment for those who would freely accept His gift. It is typically around Passover discussions regarding the cross and what He went through are analyzed and discussed. However, His suffering on the cross and the suffering during His first 33 years of life on earth can also be a great example and reminder of God knowing what we are going through.
Today I want to discuss Christ’s suffering so we can remember as we suffer today and in the coming chaos, we can lean on a God who truly understands. While we are kept from the hour of trial and The Tribulation “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth” Revelation 3:10 God never said we wouldn’t go through tribulation in our life, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
While this is not a discussion of the reasons why a Christian will not go through The Tribulation but rather through tribulation in life, I will say this, “The Tribulation is for the salvation of the Jewish Nation,” tribulation is an instrument used periodically by God to help us follow and lean on Him.
Suffering in tribulations we go through is a reality, Jesus recognized and told them in John 16:33. Yet, we can review God’s suffering on earth and see because He was 100% man and 100% God at the same time, He now knows and understands what we go through.
In Isaiah 52, we see how Isaiah portrays a marvelous account of Christ in the future and what is going to happen. Verses 52:13 through 53:12 help bring to light the reality of why we can truly say that Christ knows our pain, because He lived through it and conquered it.
Reading the Gospels, we can see that like us today, He has gone through the issues that confront us now. No matter where you are in this world right now, no matter what persecution for Christ you are going through, He is bigger than it and He can understand your pain.
Let us go through just a few examples, (This is not an exhausted list)
Jesus Christ was betrayed by a friend:
“Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus” Matthew 26:14-16.
He was abandoned by His friends:
“At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.’ Matthew 26:55-56.
He is lied and cursed by His friends:
“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” Matthew 26:69-75.
The Justice System failed Him:
“Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified” Matthew 27:15-26.
He was mocked by the political, and social authority:
“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.” Matthew 27:27-32.
His private property was taken from Him:
“And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.” Matthew 27:35.
He was even mocked at while being crucified for something He was innocent of:
“At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads” Matthew 27:38-44.
His rightful actions would even be denied:
“Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, Mathew 28:11-15.
What we see is that Christ not only knew suffering but overcame suffering. This list does not even go into His suffering during the rest of His ministry. He had family and friends pass away and He had his own family deny Him, Christ can truly understand where we are right now.
However, I do not tell you this just to say, get over your suffering but to point you to what Christ has told us to do with our suffering. For He has a plan for our suffering and what it can create in us. “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,” Romans 5:3. We are told that suffering will help produce in us the ability to keep moving forward to keep going in our mission, our meaning on earth, to follow Christ.
This doesn’t mean to go looking for trouble or to seek out ways to suffer, of course not, but when it comes do not shy from it, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1:2. As we go through trials and tribulations, we must remember that He knows us better than ourselves, He will not make us go through trials that we cannot handle “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
So let us keep our faith in Christ, and when we go through suffering remember to seek Him who has gone through it, seek Him who is capable of delivering us out of the pain or through the pain, learn to magnify Him in ways we do not understand. I am reminded by the author of Hebrews “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward” Hebrews 10:35.
So as the world continues to grow more chaotic and the persecution of the Church worsens, remember that we have a God who not only understands what we are going through but is there beside us each step of the way. So, let us proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, let us proclaim His victory over sin and death, let us proclaim the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords will reign on earth. Let us seek the good shepherd, the good physician, the good teacher, the friend who is closer than a brother, the rock, the Son of God, and let us never be ashamed of it! I will end today with this, Stephen the first Martyr for Christ was able to see something remarkable, “Behold I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56. Christ is standing! He is not sitting, He is not somewhere else, He is standing next to God the Father and is readying to welcome home Stephen. What an encouragement to know Christ is not just sitting up there saying “well I did it so it’s your turn now” no, He is standing there ready to comfort us and support us, for He is with us. How amazing is it that for those who are saved, having a relationship that no one can pull us apart, our suffering is only temporary when compared to our connection with Christ “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,” 2nd Corinthians 4:17. Finally, in the theme of a dear brother of mine who I cannot wait to meet, Hugh Latimer, who in his own Acts 7 moment, encouraged those also suffering for Christ.
Play the man, brothers and sisters; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, amongst the world, as I trust shall never be put out, for whom shall we fear, for we know who is with us.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming
JL