Article 2017-09 -Suffering is Normal
Chapter 36: Suffering is Normal
Introduction
Suffering occurs in the life of all true disciples of Christ. This happens even more to those who are privileged to be His workers. Wrong theologies can make us stumble about Jesus and the Father, but even people with sound theologies can be confused by the devil.
Scripture reference
‘Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles …Brother will betray brother to death … all men will hate you because of me …’ (Matt. 10:17,18,21,22)
‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see … Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Matt. 11:3,4,6)
The story
After announcing His disciples’ outreach, Jesus continued His teaching on a more solemn note. He told them to remember that His work would have difficulties. Some people would reject the message, beat up the disciples, throw them into prison and drag them before governors. They would lie about and slander them. Some of their family
members might turn against them. Preaching the Kingdom would not be peaceful business. In order to do it they had to learn to say ‘no’ to their desire for comfort, and be willing to die for Jesus’ sake, following Him wherever He would go. Whoever would not be willing to do this, cannot be His disciple. Such a person would not be worthy of Him.
After Jesus told each team which villages to visit, they left for some weeks of evangelism among ‘the lost sheep of Israel’. Jesus told them not to go to foreigners; that had to wait, He knew from His Father.
Once the disciples had left, Jesus continued His teaching alone. One day, some of John the Baptist’s disciples came to Him. They asked on John’s behalf whether Jesus truly was the expected Messiah. Jesus, filled with compassion, told them to tell John that indeed He is, preaching the same message, healing people and casting out demons. He continued what John started. John prepared the way and Jesus walked it. He counseled John to stop being depressed because of his suffering, because it belongs to the ministry. John should not blame Jesus for it. Eventually John was beheaded by Herod. He had paid the ultimate price for his ministry. Some of Jesus’ disciples wondered why God had allowed this, in spite of Jesus’ teaching about suffering that will happen to every true follower, as it would happen to Himself.
Scripture reference
Jesus … asked his disciples … “Who do you say I am?” … Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you … for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father … Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must … suffer many things … and … be killed … Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never Lord!” he said … Jesus turned and said … “Get behind me, Satan! …” (Matt. 16:13,15,16,17,21-23).
The story, continued
When Jesus asked His disciples who people thought He was, it became clear that many were confused about His identity. The crowds thought He was a reincarnation of one of the prophets. When He asked the disciples, Peter answered correctly and Jesus said that this had been revealed to him by God the Father. Peter was proud of himself. He understood it! Then Jesus continued to speak about His suffering, which Peter didn’t want to hear. He exclaimed that this would not happen to Jesus. So, Peter had apparently not understood this. ‘Go behind Me Satan!’ Jesus said. ‘You have no idea about God’s plans, but only think like humans do!’ Peter’s earlier sense of pride popped. He was as confused about the aspect of suffering as John the Baptist had been.
Many of Christ’s disciples today struggle with the same issue. They believe that no bad things can or should happen to good evangelical, born-again people like themselves. But sometimes the Lord builds experiences into our lives that remind us that life – and certainly ministry – with Him is not a holiday. Some days however, may start that way – and then turn out altogether differently, as we see in the next chapter
Comment
The Word of God teaches what we might call a ‘theology of suffering’. Some faithful people suffer, especially those who are involved in the ministry. This was true in the Old Testament era and is even truer in New Testament times. Christians today, who have grown up in ‘easy countries’ where they are not persecuted for their faith, have forgotten what it means to suffer for serving Christ. They saw so much blessing, success and prosperity that they came to believe that this is how it should be and, worse, that this is what the Bible teaches as the norm for every Christian. If they see suffering in the lives of fellow-believers, they blame it on hidden sins, or on the devil. Of course the devil always tries to make Christians suffer, although he can never go any further than he is permitted by God, Who never loses control.
John the Baptist struggled with this problem and so did Peter. John’s theology did not permit suffering for Christ’s servants. ‘Are You really God? Why then do You let me sit in jail? Why do you allow such suffering? Did you not come to set the captives free?’ he may have thought. Jesus told him to not stumble over Him, because of his suffering. That stumbling would wound him more severely than any suffering possibly could.
It was the same story with Peter. A suffering Messiah did not match his picture of the Master. But in denying the necessity of Jesus’ suffering, his theology – which was God-inspired five minutes earlier – suddenly turned satanic! Jesus wants nothing of a ‘prosperity-gospel’ in which there is no place for suffering. Such a false message may well be the ‘other gospel’ – in today’s version – that Paul spoke about, when he asked the Galatians who had ‘bewitched’ them! At the end of his life Paul wrote to Timothy:
Scripture reference
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12)
Discussion & dialogue
- Discuss what the consequences are when a ‘prosperity-gospel’ is being preached: for believers’ lives, for church budgets and for cross-cultural missionary-sending
- Explain how the first 4 themes of the 10 feature in this chapter
