The Example of Jesus Christ

Christians who suffer gain support from fellow believers—through the smiles, sharing of struggles, prayerful lifting of burdens, tears, and even the consolation and occasional advice, we are initiated into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. For all believers, there is a wonderful, inexplicable participation in the life and power of Jesus when we suffer. Ours is a fellowship in which the power of Jesus is made perfect, not just alongside of or beyond our weaknesses, but actually in our weakness.

At this point, consider the difference between our suffering and that of Christ’s:

For the Lord Jesus, there was no fellowship in suffering.

For the Lord, there was only the wooden insensitivity of his disciples from the first day right up to the end of his ministry.

For Christ, there was only that awful climax of isolation on the cross, even to the point of being forsaken by the Father and abandoned to God’s blazing wrath.

There was no real joy in his cross as there can be in ours. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “for the joy set before him he endured the cross.” In other words, Jesus focused on that which was beyond those ghastly hours: on his future back with the Father, and on the salvation of millions who would trust him through history. But thankfully for us, we can have joy in our afflictions. Right in the heart of it. Ours is a comfort we can experience now as we suffer.

Jesus Christ went without comfort so that you might have it. He postponed joy so that you might share in it. He willingly chose isolation so that you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow. He had no real fellowship so that fellowship might be yours, this moment. This alone is enough cause for great gratitude!

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