Lesson 4 - SUFFERING AND THE PAULINE PROCLAMATION

1. On the road to Damascus the apostle Paul received his commission to bring the gospel to the.Gentiles. The missionary call was to be accompanied by suffering. A dozen years after he received the.call, Paul embarked on the first of three missionary journeys that are recorded in the book of Acts. At.each of these difficult missionary journeys, Luke records certain incidents that exemplified the hardships that Paul went through as he laboured for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 9:15-16

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.

First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:4 -14:28)

Acts 14:19-20

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and lconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 2 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36 — 18:22)

Acts 16:22-23

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23 - 21:26)

Acts 21:30-32

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 3“While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

2. In his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul describes the hardships and afflictions that he had gone through as a servant of Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have laboured and tolled and have often gone without Sleep; l have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

3. How then does the apostle Paul perceive his suffering in relation to his missionary call? From his letters we can discern three aspects of his perception of his suffering.

1. Suffering is the means by which Paul brings the gospel to the Gentiles.

Colossians 1:24

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. Suffering, as an expression of the weakness of Paul, emphasises his dependence upon God and his grace so that ultimately the success of his mission will rest in the power of God and bring praise to Him. To God be the glory!

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surprisingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when i am weak, then I am strong.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5

3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. ‘My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 So that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

2. In spite of his suffering Paul can still find and experience the joy of the Lord.

Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

3. Paul sees suffering as only temporary in nature and a prelude to a glorious eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Through outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

4. Paul knows that even as God has appointed for him to suffer for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, He has also, at the same time, empowered and enabled him for the task.

Philippians 4:10-13

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for l have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Acts 9:15-16

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.

Questions

1 How are we Christians to view suffering in this life?

2 “A prosperous, wealthy and healthy Christian brings more glory to God than a poorer, less healthy Christian going through difficulties in life”.

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Suffering. Some of us may have been asked, God is supposed to bless us but some of my non Christian friends are doing better financially than us. Or they ask about praying a long time but still no healing. Or you hear sermons on the internet that if you are struggling with money or you are having health problems you have to examine your life and where you have gone wrong.

God promises prosperity then why are we still suffering? And by his stripes we are healed, then why are we still struggling with health?

Many of us have not gone through times of difficulty and to see if we will still stand firm in difficult circumstances.

This message today is more close to my heart. When growing up I do not subscribe to going to the temple to be blessed before my exams but I do it because my parents say so. The word suffering is in the Buddhist thought. The equivalent word of such a powerful concept of suffering is the word sin. Without sin, the Bible would be about 5 pages. It would have ended in Genesis 3. Because of sin, we have a bible with thousands of pages. The word suffering is quite close to my heart.

However well meaning, the Buddhist have not seen it from the perspective of sin because to them there's no God. And the Bible says the fool have said in their heart there is no God. I do not mean to be disrespectful but that's the truth.

There are two types of suffering.

Two Types

Ministry - Money

Persecution  - Problems 

God's Calling - Human Condition

One is from ministry. Answering the call or serving the Lord. The other type is because we live in a very materialistic world. And they feel that with money all their problems can be solved. The suffering is related to money.

The other is persecution in the ministry. We use the word problems in the world view.

The other suffering is because of God's calling. The other is the human condition. 

For pastors, the suffering from ministry is real. For others of us in ministry like cell leaders etc, this part of ministry suffering is less than the full time minister.

We want to work from the New Covenant.

1 Corinthians 11:24-26

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

This is how Paul sees the New Covenant. The blood of Jesus is the authenticating factor. He then answered his call, working from Acts 9 on the Damascus Road.

Acts 9:15-16

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.”

It is not a surprised as seen in Isaiah where Jesus is the suffering servant that was prophesied.

Isaiah 53:3-5

3 He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

Paul saw the Messiah as the suffering servant. Paul when called to suffer, when called to preach to the Gentiles is drawn from these verses.

Everything began from the Damascus Road.

AD 35, he met Christ. He went on three missionary trip recorded in the book of Acts. His theology came in the first three years. Then he went to Jerusalem, then to Tarsus. What he did there we don't know. The silent years.

AD 46-48 is his first missionary trip. Lystra, the Bible recorded that's where he was stoned. And they left him for dead. He went to Antioch and shared but some who didn't believe caught hold of him and stoned him.

AD 50-52 is his second missionary trip. He was caught in Philippi. There was this girl who had a demon in her and she went around doing fortune telling. Even demons recognised Jesus. So Paul delivered her and she no longer does fortune telling. Because of this, those that used her flogged him.

AD 53-57 is his third missionary trip. He ended up in Jerusalem where he went to see the apostles. He is a Jew so he does his work at the temple. But they thought he has Greek ideologies and they beat him up quite badly.

He summarise everything in 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

Paul was not very impressive in looks compared to the orators of those days. They said Paul is a false apostle and teacher. And Paul answered all these charges.

Paul answers these charges in 2 Corinthians 11. Paul was directing this to the Corinthians and false teachers. He described all his suffering. And this summarises what God told Paul when he said you will suffer. The apostle Paul is a very special person. I am not idolising or lifting him up but if he didn't get the job done I will still be at the temple.

I am a servant in lay ministry. Sometimes we do certain things and people may not be happy. Or you serve and you see the numbers dwindling. Before we go further you need to know the apostle Paul went through all these.

The apostle Paul sees suffering this way.

2 Corinthians 4:11-12

11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

The correct interpretation is that our death

Colossians 1:24

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

gives you life. Our suffering will actually be a benefit for you. Paul understood that if Jesus did not suffer on the cross, we will not have salvation. It was not an error of God but an appointment of God that Christ would suffer so all men will receive salvation. Suffering on the cross was not an accident. It is by God's appointment. This is how the gospel will reach the Gentiles.

Paul sees his mission and suffering with the imagery of the suffering servant.

Successful Life vs Sacrificial Life

Paul was not looking for a successful life. Not someone who wants to be recognised or to live to an old age. He was looking into a sacrificial life because he was so Christ centred.

I was looking at Teluk Kumbar ministry and we see about 70% are our own church people. Maybe 5 are from around there. There are always two views. When you see the numbers and it has remained about the same. So you may say it's not successful. Or you may ask did God call us to start that outreach? If yes, then we need to be faithful. The context for ministry is if God has called us. If the mindset to measure success is with the early missionaries, we would not be here.

Suffering is the means to which the Gentiles were reached. So persecution comes into focus. What about our daily suffering? The meaning dilutes suffering. We suffer most when we find meaningless. We cannot comprehend why it's happening. Whatever suffering we go through have its purpose into he providential will of God.

Romans 5:3-5

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

There are two insight we can draw here. One is the meaning in the suffering we go through. Because we know that there is something good that comes with suffering. There are two ways you can go with suffering. You go bitter, why me? Or when you take it in the correct and right biblical manner you come to God and that you have only God to cling to. You may not want it, but you have God through it. The moment you forget the why and you see it with a positive spin on it, then you say what can I do? If not you will grow bitter and be depressed.

You grow to be a better man. You grow in spiritual character. That's why a man who have gone through suffering actually grow in the Lord. Suffering is one means through which God builds spiritual character.

If you have had a good life and is doing well, praise the Lord and you have a lot of things going for you. But it is not an environment that builds perseverance and you'll not be an overcomer. Suffering builds you and it builds you for eternity. Suffering will bear the fruits of righteousness. Suffering builds character. There is nothing wanted with suffering. 

Paul does not see his suffering negatively. God will work all things out for good. This is our special privilege as Christians. We rejoice in our suffering. We have to be careful. We are not to rejoice for suffering. It is "in" suffering. When suffering comes to you you can still find joy. How does Paul do it? Even though, or despite your suffering you can still find joy. Where did Paul finds it from?

Unconsciously, how you feel is tied in to your circumstances. And this is the crux of the problem. If you are doing well, praise the Lord and you are seen in church. Then when we don't see you in church is because things are not going well. This is natural but not biblical. How you feel the state of your soul is not primarily based on your circumstances. Paul's soul is tied in to Christ. His communion is with Christ. He is going through very difficult time but his joy is in Christ.

When there is love you find joy and rest in spite of your circumstances. This is the key to suffering. Only a child of God can find joy in suffering.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

God not only give you joy but also empowers you to be an overcomer. God often doesn't change your circumstances but he empowers you to rise above your circumstances.

Helen Keller: "Life is full of suffering. But it also full of overcoming suffering."

If you can see meaning in suffering there will always be good that comes from your suffering. One is character. And he empowers you to be an overcomer.

Having eternity in our hearts changes our perspective to suffering. All of us Christians have eternal life but not all have eternity in their hearts. Paul is someone who has eternity in his heart. It is a lifelong process. It takes a journey for you to have eternity in your hearts. 

Palm Sunday

Rev Gideon Lee

Today is Palm Sunday. It's the Sunday before Good Friday and before Resurrection Sunday. I will prefer this term to Easter. Some people also call it Passion Sunday. We commemorate events like Christmas and Palm Sunday, onhis triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We talk also about his suffering in this coming week. He went to the cross on Good Friday but on the third day he rose again, alive forevermore.

Death could not hold him. He's alive.

I want to talk to you about what caused the people to change their minds. Everybody loved Jesus at the triumphant entry. But that same group of people on Friday says crucify him. What changed their minds?

Matthew 21:1-11

The Triumphal Entry

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

I want you to imagine with me that you are there just outside of Jerusalem itself. Imagine the atmosphere there. This is an important event. You are obligated to come and attend this ceremony if you are a Jew. At that time there were about  21/2 million people gathered there. Like Penang right?

The people were still under the rule of the Roman empire. They were still under the oppression of the Roman rulers and they were heavily taxed. For them they were waiting for the Messiah to set them free.

They've heard about Jesus and the miracles he did. And now he is coming to Jerusalem. He came down the mount of Olives. You can see the whole city coming down from there.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Even a donkey can be of use to Jesus. You are smarter than a donkey right? And it fulfilled scripture. The King of kings and Lord of lords came on a donkey to fulfil scripture. And the palms is a symbol of Israel. They were all shouting Hosanna Hosanna. Blessed is he. It meant save me. Save me. Save me son of David. The people were looking to him as a saviour.

They saw him like a superstar. They said save me because they were still under the oppression of the Romans. These same people on Friday say crucify him. What changed their minds in such a short time?

From the scripture we can see many reasons but I want to look at 3.

1. Jesus' compassion for all

Matthew 21:12-15

Jesus at the Temple

21:12-16pp – Mk 11:15-18; Lk 19:45-47

12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’’”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

After his entry into Jerusalem he went to the temple. The house of worship and he saw that people were buying and selling. Anything wrong with that? No. But they were cheating the people. He said my house will be called a house of prayer. But these people were doing business and there was no room for the gentiles to worship God.

Jesus came and overturned the tables. He got angry. We see him angry even though we often only see Jesus as a gentle person. The blind and the lame began to come to the place and Jesus healed them. His compassion is for all. The house of God is for all and this is not good for the Jews. They felt they had a privileged position. Jesus said salvation is for all and they are not happy.

The church must be made accessible for all. We welcome all. Jesus has been doing this even before now. He was with the prostitute and tax collector. But here it's a public statement. It's sad but sometimes the church may exclude certain people out.

I heard one pastor dressed up like a beggar and came into his church. They couldn't recognise him and he even smelled the part. Probably didn't bath for a week. And he wanted to see how the members would react to him. Jesus have always done this, his compassion is for all.

Some people were not excited about that. They were indignant. Jesus is saying my Kingdom is for everyone.

2. Jesus began to talk more and more about commitment.

Matthew 21:18-22

The Fig Tree Withers

21:18-22pp – Mk 11:12-14, 20-24

18 Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

21 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Jesus was hungry. I wonder what he would eat if he was in Penang. He saw this fig tree and it was only full of leaves. He expected the fig tree to have fruits. That time it was fruit season but that fig tree had no fruits.

Imagine if you have a durian plantation and during May and June all you saw were leaves? You'd expect to see durians and not just leaves. Jesus saw it was just leaves. No use. He cursed the fig tree and it withered and died. Jesus was asking for commitment. It was planted for a reason, and that is to bear fruit. He was asking for more and more commitment.

Now that they have seen all that he has done, all the miracles that he did. And at the last week of his ministry, he is expecting commitment. He asked his disciples who do you say I am? He is asking, will you bear fruit? Who is he to you? A prophet? A good man? He is the Son of the living God. He is calling for commitment.

Judas was one that didn't know who Jesus was. He thought he came to establish his kingdom and rule.

Look at me and my wife. We dated for maybe 6 years, 10 years, 15 years and no commitment. She may say waste time only this fella. Until I say do you take me…there's no commitment. We like free and easy. We come to church also free and easy. No commitments. God is asking you this morning for commitment.

Jesus was talking more and more about commitment. The people wants the blessings but not the commitments. Which brings me to the last point. Jesus was talking more and more about the cross. The last words of a person is very important.  Right or not? If on my death bed I call all my children and wife, they'd expect me to say something very important. We call our family or all those that are close to us.

3. Jesus talks about the cross

Jesus at the last week knows he is going to the cross and he has no time to waste. He is asking them to give their life.

The cross is a symbol of suffering and shame. We all don't want that. It's burdensome. The cross was for the worst kind of criminals. He did not do anything that deserved the cross. They crucified him naked. He is telling them he has to go to the cross and he is telling them to die to themselves.

We don't want to be inconvenienced by the cross. The mere sight of the cross can send people into a frenzy. For the church the power is in the cross. We talk about things that suits us. The cross talks about dying to self. But in it is our victory. Because on the third day, he rose again. Amen church?

Today is Palm Sunday and it talks about his triumphant entry and his suffering but the most important thing is that he rose again.

Christ the Suffering Servant

Bro Koay Kheng Hin

This is the Christmas season so I am wondering if this message is appropriate. We sing "Joy to the world" and here I am talking about the suffering servant. But I believe after the message we will find Christmas even more meaningful.

I met with a young man and when I say young he is about 40 and I say still young man. He is an unbeliever and he said life is full of suffering. 

As we look into the Bible where man say life is suffering,  to the religious tradition and philosophers,  they only touched on half truths.

When we look at life, there is no way it is just ups with no downs. Life is about uncertainty. Sometimes that uncertainty can come through a visit to a doctor, or a boss calling you into his room, or one fine day you go home and your wife say I no longer can stay with you, or a call comes in and it bears bad news.

One day I said this at a wake service. The one thing about the certainty of life is the certainty of uncertainty. You cannot wake up one day and say you have your future in your hands.

If you know there are uncertainties in life, we know that good prosperous times will be interjected with suffering and pain, we need to ask this question - if down the line, we meet a challenge that challenges us, have we ever thought how we will tackle it?

There are 3 ways people handle suffering.

One is they fear suffering and they put it on the back burner. They say it will happen to everyone but me. That is the fear of suffering.

The second one is they realise it will happen but what to do? Suffer also suffer la because we are born to suffer.

And of course there are those who say everything is an illusion. You can say in so many ways pain is an illusion but when he has a toothache he will know how real pain is.

How do the children of God handle suffering?

Fear of suffering is not the way. Denying it is also not it. I believe it is to embrace suffering. Embrace suffering is not to want suffering. Not to wish for suffering. If you do I'll send you to Lam Wah Ee psychiatric ward. Something is seriously wrong with you if you look for suffering.

So what is embracing suffering? To embrace is first and foremost to accept it and that it is real and true. And we all do have a problem. But it does not stop there. It is more than to accept it as reality. It is to go beyond acceptance but know that we have victory over that suffering.

What is the difference between a believer and an unbeliever that is not well? I had a non-Christian friend who was unwell and the words that came out was he has no hope. And why it happened to me? What can I do or look to alternative medicine? You can see he is in despair.

But we see some of our Christian friends who have also been unwell. And some say they are fine. And they have peace and they have left their life in the hands of the almighty God. And that God will pull him through. He is not well but he is okay. It's true.

The child of God has embraced his suffering and he also knows he will have victory.

My mother is not well and she has gone for a review this morning. But my mother encourages me more than I encourage her. She say don't worry so much. Every day is a blessing from God. She is much more at rest than me. At times I also suffer wondering. But she is an encouragement to me. Why? She has embraced that life will have mortality. But in Christ she knows she has victory and the grace of God is sufficient for her.

When we go through a time of need, as children of God we run to God. Even unbelievers will run to God but we run in the right direction.

Yes in the time of need we look to God and come to Christ but what Christ do we see? A Christ seated at the right hand of God and his deity in majesty or do we see Christ in his perfect humanity.

As much as he is the perfect God, he is at the same time the perfect man. When we say Christ the Suffering servant we see Christ as the perfect man.

Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Jesus was a man of sorrow. He was like one where man hide from his face. He was despised. That is our suffering Saviour.

Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:6

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He carried our sorrows. It was all for us. He was familiar with suffering and was physically pierced.

Now we want to look at the Christmas Story and see how it mirrors these verses. Here we see Jesus just before going to the cross.

Matthew 26:38

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

This is the picture of a man in sorrow and suffering. The story tells us that Judas came and betrayed Jesus to be arrested. How did Jesus addressed Judas? He called him friend. Jesus faced betrayal from a man he has discipled for 3 years.

In Jesus the man, his humanity is real. He hungers and thirst just like us, but Jesus calls him friend. Judas sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver which is the worth of a slave. Jesus was betrayed.

Peter was always the first to protect Jesus. But Jesus already knew. When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied Jesus not once but three times. You must know how Jesus feels.

Then came the physical pain. If you saw the Passion of Christ, you'll know how it was. He has both emotional and physical pain. Today's Star, an article says emotional pain can sometimes be more hurtful than physical pain. A cut can heal but emotional pain can last a lifetime.

I want to tell you the feeling of being rejected is very real. Finally the straw that would have broke the camel's back is this. Jesus throughout his life always had the comfort of the Father's presence and the presence of the Holy Spirit. But when the wrath of God came upon him, the presence was not felt by him.

Jesus bore the pain of the cross physically, emotionally and spiritually alone. It is the alone that is most difficult. That's why we have the befrienders. Having someone that goes through with you makes a difference. Jesus died with a broken heart. My God my God why have you forsaken me?

Jesus could have called legions of angels to come rescue him. What kept him on the cross? It was a demonstration of his love for us that kept him on the cross. Even for those that mock at him or laugh at him. Jesus said father forgive them for they know not what they do. Were they really ignorant? No. Some of those there saw his miracles. The Pharisees were there and chose to crucify him with their legalistic views. That was the grace of Christ our Lord to say forgive them.

Jesus' cries of anguish is a Christ that is poignant but also a tragic cry. Why have you forsaken me? To an unbeliever, the cross seems to be a tragedy. That Good Friday is not a good Friday. They see the cross as a tragedy. They saw an innocent man being crucified. An innocent man condemned to crucifixion. But for all of us we know. That the cross was a triumph. That in Jesus and in his statement that it is finished, he is like a Phoenix that rises. His triumph was completed when he rose again on the third day. As Christians we must understand it was for us and the life of God and it was not a tragedy but a triumph for God and for us. A triumph when the spoils were for us. But it was bought with pain and suffering and blood. And we must not take the blood of Christ for granted.

We now inherit the wholesomeness as a child of God. It is because Jesus' body was broken for us.

So now in your time of need or suffering what do you do? Our God is there. Jesus already died for you on the cross and he is there to provide, protect and to pull your through.

1. When you suffer Come to Jesus.

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.

When you suffer, remember He suffered even more. If you feel abandoned, He was abandoned even more. Jesus is the ultimate empathiser.

If you have a situation when your marriage goes through a problem, and you see a friend who has a perfect marriage they may not know the pain you go through. Empathising is someone who has spent time with people who has gone through what you go through. But make sure they have victory over their situation. But more so, come to Jesus. He knows what you go through. After Calvary, no one needs to be alone in their pain. He is always there and he will draw towards us. We will be enveloped by his love because he understands. When you talk to Christ and come to him he emphasises with you.

2. When suffering Look to Jesus

Hebrews 12:2-3

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Look to Jesus like how Jesus looked up to heaven and said Father forgive them for they know not what they do. That's how you can forgive those that hurt you. Some people leave the church because of hurts. Learn to look to Jesus to forgive.

Some of us don't like bosses that can talk but don't do. But those bosses that also do and put their hands on the plough is different. There is nothing that the Lord ask of you he has not done. When he say forgive, he has forgiven. When he say sacrifice, he has sacrificed.

3. When suffering He is an Enabler

Romans 8:37

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

His life for you will enable you to go through all of your suffering and pain. In the meaningless of your suffering, you will be more than conquerors, when you embrace your suffering in him.

Suffering comes with the human condition. You will have victory over it and rise above your suffering and there is a meaning attached to it. God uses it as you look to God as Paul writes.

Romans 5:3

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Note that we do not rejoice for suffering. We rejoice in our suffering. That's the difference. Suffering produces perseverance. That's how God moulds you. Character is moulded in the crucible of suffering.

James 1:2-4

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Maturity comes though suffering. That is spiritual maturity. But today it is twisted. There are those who says if you believe in Jesus you'll be prosperous. So the bigger your car, the more spiritual you are. They have a mistaken identity of the God they worship. They worship the god of prosperity and they call him Jesus. Or they say if you are a Christian you should not suffer. Again, they have a mistaken identity of the God they worship. Suffering is real, and Jesus went through it so will we.

As Christians we are more than conquerors in our suffering with Jesus. When you have Jesus, it is enough. For his grace is sufficient for you.