THE CROSS

FELLOWSHIP OF

CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS

THE

by GAIL CLARK LEMMERT

ARTHQUAKES, tsunamis, war, death, heart attacks, cancer, divorce, crime, terrorism, abus- es, addictions, alcoholism, and the list goes on—we face suffering in our world and in our personal lives. The word suffering can strike fear, anx- iousness, and even panic in our minds. Who welcomes suffering into their lives? Suffering is defined as “excruciat- ing pain and distress.” It can be physical, emotional, financial, and even spiritual.

Synonyms for suffering are anguish, misery, agony, torment, and affliction.

E

If you are like me, we would all say, “No, thank you very much; I do not want suffering in my life.” On the other hand, suffering is mentioned more than 50 times in many translations of the Word of God. So it is

14 EVANGEL • APR 2010

important that we attempt to understand what the Bible says about suffering. The apostle Paul said, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . . . that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Philip- pians 3:8, 10-11).

“That I may know him”—is that not our desire and goal as followers of Jesus? I want to know Christ, don’t you? But in His suffering?

The Sufferings of Paul and Jesus

As Pentecostals, our heritage is see- ing and experiencing God through “the

power of his resurrection” by the minis- try of the Holy Spirit. God can instantly heal, deliver, and set free. In the Gospels, we see Jesus freeing demoniacs from evil spirits, healing lepers, opening blind eyes, and raising the dead.

Yet, have we considered that Paul also says he longs to “know Christ . . . and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10 NIV)?

Paul knew about suffering. He wrote, “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep [open sea]” (2 Corinthians 11:25). These experiences fit our definition of suffering— distress, agony, misery, and affliction. Let us also be reminded of Christ’s suffering. Not that we can begin to com- prehend what His death by crucifixion Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32