Don't Be Afraid to Suffer

Luke 22:1-6,21-22,47-48 ESV

 

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

 

“Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”

 

“But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

 

“While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’”

 

Jesus Christ is God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He was with God in the beginning and he is our creator God. And God the Father sent him to the earth to be the sacrificial offering on a cross for the sins of the entire world. So, it was the will of God that Jesus should be betrayed by Judas, who was one of his twelve disciples, and that Jesus should be put to death on a cross for our sins.

 

And if you go back to the previous chapter in Luke, you will read that we, as Jesus’ followers, should expect to be treated as he was.

 

“But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” Luke 21:12-17 ESV

 

So, we understand that Jesus Christ had to die on that cross, for in his death he put our sins to death with him that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness. He died on that cross to deliver us from our slavery to sin so that we would now be slaves to God and to his righteousness and so we would live for him and no longer for ourselves. And he shed his blood for us on that cross to buy us back for God (to redeem us) out of our sinful lifestyles so we would now honor him with our lives.

 

[1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:1-23; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20]

 

And because he was crucified on that cross and then raised from the dead on the third day, we are, by faith in him, crucified with him in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So now, in his power and strength, we can walk in freedom from slavery to sin and we can live holy and godly lives, pleasing to God, in walks of obedience to our Lord. By his grace we can say “No!” to sin and “Yes!” to God and to holy living.

 

So, what purpose does it serve for us to be treated as he was treated? Why must we suffer and be persecuted as he was?

 

Our suffering produces endurance and character and hope. We suffer in order that we may gain Christ. And this is for the testing of our faith that it may produce steadfastness. This may allow opportunity for us to share Christ with others, even our persecutors. And it is so that we can comfort others in their affliction with the comfort we received from the Lord in our suffering. And this is to make us rely not on ourselves but on God. And suffering is for our discipline to train us in holiness and righteousness.

 

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-19; John 15:1-21; Jn 16:33; Ac 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12]

 

Through what we suffer we mature in our walks of faith in Jesus, and we learn humility and self-discipline, and we draw closer to the Lord in stronger and fuller commitments to him and to his will for our lives. For through what we suffer he is pruning and purifying us and making us holy and conforming us to the likeness of character of Jesus Christ. And the more we become like Jesus and the closer we walk with the Lord the more our Lord is able to use us to spread the truth of his gospel message to the people of the world.

 

So suffering, although painful, is for our good that we might share in God’s holiness and, when trained by it, it will then yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness (see Hebrews 12:3-12). So, don’t be afraid to suffer for the sake of the name of Jesus and for the sake of the gospel of our salvation, for God will use it for good in our lives and in the lives of others.

 

For Our Nation  

 

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

 

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Trust Him with your life today.

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

He will forgive you of your sin;

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

 

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

On our knees to God we’re praying,

Seeking God to give us answers

That are only found in Him.

God is sovereign over all things.

Nothing from His mind escaping.

He has all things under His command,

And will work all for good.

 

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

 

Men deceiving: We’re believing

In our Lord, and interceding

For our nation and its people

To obey their God today.

He is our hope for our future.

For our wounds He offers suture.

He is all we need for this life.

Trust Him with your life today.

 

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