Jesus knew His coming to this world would involve much suffering, yet His suffering or pain was not His focus. Even as Paul recognised the sufferings of this world could not be compared to the glory which would be revealed in him, so Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame. Jesus was never selfish or self-focused. He did not balk at obedience to the Father because it would mean temptation, physical pain or spiritual separation. John 12:23-24 says, "But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
24
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat
falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it
produces much grain." Jesus didn't spend the bulk of His time speaking about His future pain, but how His death would be the path to eternal glory and fruit.
When Jesus spoke of His future crucifixion, He spoke of it with the ultimate end in mind. He maintained an eternal perspective. Women who desire to have a baby rejoice and celebrate their pregnancy with friends and family, even if it means migraines and morning sickness. There are happy parties planned with friends, gifts are given, great care is taken to prepare a nursery, and a future mother ensures cute outfits and supplies are ready for the miraculous addition. Prospective mothers experience a wide range of physical and emotional ups and downs to be sure, but the nine-month period of pregnancy is not set aside for weeping and mourning because a day of intense, excruciating pain is coming. Future pain isn't the focus: those nine months are filled with joy at the happy expectation a child will be born into a loving, growing family.
Jesus did not sugar-coat what awaited Him in Matthew 20:17-19: "Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." What part of His message does your heart seize upon: betrayal, condemnation, mockery, scourging, death, or resurrection? The resurrection of the dead swallows up all those previous troubles as mere inconveniences easily shrugged off in the light of eternity. We Christians can allow these passing pains to rob us of love, joy, and peace God has provided us through Christ's victory. Our response to trials reveals to us the condition of our faith, whether we truly trust God or not, or if we will focus on ourselves or turn our eyes to Jesus.
Last night while I waited for my son to be dropped off outside a church, I saw through illuminated windows a wooden figure of Jesus fixed to a crucifix. Though the carving was three-dimensional, it reduced Christ to one dimension. There an image hung of God-made-flesh perpetually suffering, always dying, but never dead, risen, or glorified. How blasphemous that wood appeared to me! The invisible God who appeared on Mt. Sinai told His people in Deut. 4:15-16 they should never corrupt themselves by making a male or female image. We ought not wash the blood from the cross, a picture of God's demonstration of love and sacrifice for undeserving sinners. But by all means remove the pathetic impersonation of my God, the risen LORD who lives today, who will return to earth with eyes flaming with fire to judge His enemies. Jesus once for all died for the sins of the world, and to affix Christ permanently to the cross only robs us of consolation and Him of glory.
Suffering is not our enemy, but our flesh can oppose the work God intends to do through it. Our limited vision is often incapable of seeing how God is able to redeem the struggles and pains we endure. But even as Jesus had to die so many could live, so we know that all things work for the good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Jesus called His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. Let us not falter at the prospect of betrayal, mocking, persecution, suffering, pain, or even death, for the day of our glorification draws nigh. May the LORD enable us not to look at future pain or rejection with fear, but to look beyond into the face of our glorious Saviour gazing at us through His Word who will never leave or forsake us.
When Jesus spoke of His future crucifixion, He spoke of it with the ultimate end in mind. He maintained an eternal perspective. Women who desire to have a baby rejoice and celebrate their pregnancy with friends and family, even if it means migraines and morning sickness. There are happy parties planned with friends, gifts are given, great care is taken to prepare a nursery, and a future mother ensures cute outfits and supplies are ready for the miraculous addition. Prospective mothers experience a wide range of physical and emotional ups and downs to be sure, but the nine-month period of pregnancy is not set aside for weeping and mourning because a day of intense, excruciating pain is coming. Future pain isn't the focus: those nine months are filled with joy at the happy expectation a child will be born into a loving, growing family.
Jesus did not sugar-coat what awaited Him in Matthew 20:17-19: "Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." What part of His message does your heart seize upon: betrayal, condemnation, mockery, scourging, death, or resurrection? The resurrection of the dead swallows up all those previous troubles as mere inconveniences easily shrugged off in the light of eternity. We Christians can allow these passing pains to rob us of love, joy, and peace God has provided us through Christ's victory. Our response to trials reveals to us the condition of our faith, whether we truly trust God or not, or if we will focus on ourselves or turn our eyes to Jesus.
Last night while I waited for my son to be dropped off outside a church, I saw through illuminated windows a wooden figure of Jesus fixed to a crucifix. Though the carving was three-dimensional, it reduced Christ to one dimension. There an image hung of God-made-flesh perpetually suffering, always dying, but never dead, risen, or glorified. How blasphemous that wood appeared to me! The invisible God who appeared on Mt. Sinai told His people in Deut. 4:15-16 they should never corrupt themselves by making a male or female image. We ought not wash the blood from the cross, a picture of God's demonstration of love and sacrifice for undeserving sinners. But by all means remove the pathetic impersonation of my God, the risen LORD who lives today, who will return to earth with eyes flaming with fire to judge His enemies. Jesus once for all died for the sins of the world, and to affix Christ permanently to the cross only robs us of consolation and Him of glory.
Suffering is not our enemy, but our flesh can oppose the work God intends to do through it. Our limited vision is often incapable of seeing how God is able to redeem the struggles and pains we endure. But even as Jesus had to die so many could live, so we know that all things work for the good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Jesus called His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. Let us not falter at the prospect of betrayal, mocking, persecution, suffering, pain, or even death, for the day of our glorification draws nigh. May the LORD enable us not to look at future pain or rejection with fear, but to look beyond into the face of our glorious Saviour gazing at us through His Word who will never leave or forsake us.
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