A pastor in China attributed the growth of the church in his country, in part, to their willingness to embrace suffering. This made me wonder: how would we respond if we had to suffer for Jesus? As a boy, I used to hear church members talk about a pre-tribulation rapture in which Christians would never have to suffer at all. Then I read the New Testament and saw the way the first-century Christians suffered. Afterward, I grew up to watch some of the finest Christians I had ever known endure unspeakable suffering. When people’s ideas and the scriptures conflict, I always go with the scriptures.
Jesus once told Peter he would suffer (John 21). His words came true. As Peter wrote to the early believers, scattered and suffering as strangers in the world, he offered them no exemption from suffering. Instead, he showed them Jesus as their model. Quoting Isaiah 53, Peter told them that Jesus suffered without attacking others. Jesus died vicariously – in our place – for our sins. Christ’s death in our place calls us to die to sins and live for righteousness. Jesus heals us from the bitter pain of our past sins.
Last week I met a director of Christian documentaries. She spoke about the pain of serving God but leaving her unbelieving son behind while she worked for the Lord. She said the Holy Spirit told her that the Father sacrificed his Son for her. This sacrifice will also save her son when he believes. At a conference, I heard an older pastor say, “When God gives us tribulation, he expects us to tribulate.” I cannot promise you that you will never suffer. We follow in the steps of the one who sacrificed everything for us, suffering and dying in our place. If we suffer let it be for doing good, and not for doing wrong.
