We are all born to suffer. As Christians there is a great comfort at knowing this. And as Christians there is no immunity for pain or suffering. Thankfully, we have hope!Paul reminds us that “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). We suffer in many different ways, physically, mentally, anxiety, frustration, depression, and many others. This is the one characteristic of humans in this world.
But the question would be “how do we react to suffering?” Do we grow angry, blaming everything on God, cursing this world and its sin? Do we believe that God has let us down in some way? Have you ever wondered if your problem was that you were not claiming the “abundant life” which, we are assured by it proponents, should be ours in Christ? What about the “health and wealth” gospel? Have we been pulled into any of this? All of this, though, is nonsense, it leaves the Christian with no hope.
Are we looking at our sufferings as the “sufferings of the present time” which are “not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:28). This is a very biblical and wise way to look at suffering, yet there is a deeper side to it. The best way to see the deeper side of our sufferings is to see our sufferings through the lens of union with Christ.
But how can this be relevant to all our troubles, both mentally and physically? As Christians we have been brought into the very closest connection with the reigning, triumphant Lord. Should we then be weak and in pain? But this seems to be the case, since in several places in Scripture it links our sufferings with the union with Christ. Peter urges us to “rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings” (1 Pet. 4:13). Paul writes that we are “fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him” (Rom. 8:17), and again that “we share these sufferings: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10). This is far from contradiction, these two realities truly do belong to each other.
There are four ways in which it is relevant that we see our sufferings to be in union with Christ, but for now we will discuss the first point.
Evidence of our identity in Christ
Edward Donnelly wrote in his book, Life In Christ, “Many people admire Jesus Christ in a vague, general way. They regard him as a good man, a superb teacher, an inspiring example. But when he was on earth he was not widely admired. Instead, he was hated and murdered. If he were to return to this world in the same way as he once came, he would be hated and murdered again.”
God did say that he would put enmity not only between Christ and the devil but between their two offsprings (Gen. 3:15), and this enmity has existed ever since. The devil hates Christ and in turn he hates those who are in Christ. Our Lord warned his followers of this:
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.’ (John 15:18,20)
Paul spoke the words of the psalmist when he said, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long” (Rom. 8:36).
As Christians then, we need not expect to become popular or well liked by others. In fact, if the world loves us and finds that we fit in just right with them we should closely examine ourselves. For we are to be in the world but not of it.
Donnelly says again, “Our culture proclaims its desire to be sensitive towards minorities and to do everything possible to avoid offending their susceptibilities. No one in the media would dare to make fun of Allah, the god of Islam. Advocates of weird or perverted ideas are listened to with unwarranted respect. Yet the name of our blessed Saviour is constantly blasphemed, and evangelical believers in particular are considered fair game for misrepresentation and scorn.” Are we acting as the world?
1 Corinthians 4:13 says, “We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” The word “refuse” is what we think of as grease or grime which has been scraped from the body in the bath or from the cooking pot in the hot water. What a description of how the world views us! We must be prepared and expect opposition, hatred, suffering, even persecution. These are evidences of our identity in Christ.
“Woe to you,” said Christ, “When all people speak well of you” (Luke 6:26). And, “Rejoice and be glad… for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:12).
But most importantly our sufferings are to conform us to the image of Christ because we suffer with him and through him. John 15:19 says, “If you were of the world,” Christ said, “the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Therefore, to suffer in such a way and for such a cause is truly a privilege. “Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Pet. 4:13). And in Paul’s words, “We are… heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Rom. 8:17).
Paul said, “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (Gal. 6:17). Paul truly knew what he was speaking of when he spoke of marks on the body. He had been stripped to the waist and had his back torn open with the dreaded thirty-nine lashes. One whipping could kill a man, and Paul experienced it five times! On three other occasions he was beaten with Roman rods and was stoned at least once (2 Cor. 11:24,25).
As Donnelly says so beautifully, “The wounds and scars we receive in the service of our Master are medals of honour, evidence of our union with the One who was despised and rejected by men. They are proof of our identity in Christ!”
