Philippians 3:8-11 (NIV)

8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Reflection:

The way Paul embraces suffering might seem shocking, but it is not the suffering in and of itself that he is after. What drives him is his desire to know Christ. Compared to this, nothing else matters. Suffering is not just a necessary evil as if Paul is taking the good with the bad, but rather suffering has taken a whole new meaning because of Christ. Before, it was just a result of our sin and fallenness, but now it has become a signpost, a marker of Christ’s redemptive work and pointer to our eternity with the Lord. And nothing that Paul had experienced in this world before this compares. He is all in.

Responding to the Transmission:

Let’s pray that, like Paul, we would know the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Rather than responding to just trying to avoid suffering, let’s instead respond with hearts that look to Jesus and His glorious work. May times of struggle and difficulties serve as times where we can know Christ more deeply. May those times serve as signposts pointing to the eternity we will spend with Him.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

7Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three 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 will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That 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.

Reflection:

When do we feel strong or able? Maybe when we are training for an athletic event and track our progress. Every week we might be encouraged by how we improve. Or maybe when we have really worked hard in a class and when we look over the final exam we are pretty sure we will do well. How long would we have to train or study until we feel this kind of power is perfect? We often associate our power with our ability to do something and our achievements. God flips this on its head when he reveals to Paul that His power is perfected in Paul’s weakness. Suffering can be a means for us to recognize our total dependence on Christ. It is then in weakness rather than aptitude and achievements that Paul experiences strength.

Responding to the Transmission:

Our power comes from God. This can become very concrete as we go through hard times. May struggles and difficulties lead to this kind of dependence on the Lord. As we pray today, may we know that Christ’s grace is sufficient rather than our abilities to handle the situation. Then like Paul, we can actually rejoice in our suffering and weakness.

1 Peter 3:14-18 (NIV)

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Reflection:

There are many reasons why we may suffer. Peter is encouraging the church to take care in responding to trying times and opposition. If we are going to suffer, may it be for doing what is right and living for God. That is a blessed life. That kind of life is not shaken by fear of death or dying, but rather lives deeply in the faith and hope of Christ who “was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”

Responding to the Transmission:

When we face troubles and opposition we can get discouraged and feel like giving up or giving in. It can become an avenue that leads to getting stuck on ourselves or acting out. Let’s ask that our response would be the opposite - that we would instead respond with greater love and greater devotion toward God. If we should suffer, let it be for living for the glory of God. This does not mean that suffering feels sweet. But it does mean that God is turning what was once bitter into something that sweetens His glory.

Luke 9:21-26 (NIV)

21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Reflection:

The disciples were probably still trying to process what Jesus was saying must take place when Jesus goes on to explain what this means for their lives. This is a critical time for His disciples. What is unthinkable to them is about to happen. But Jesus’ heart for them is to not only know what will happen to Him on the cross, but also to fully embrace what it means to be His disciple. He wants them to know that the way of the cross is suffering. This is what we are to hear as well. The encouragement is that if the cross we are called to bear is of Him, God will work it for His glory.

Responding to the Transmission:

This is probably not what we would think of when asked about our favorite verse in the Bible. But this is too important and central to the message of the cross to ignore. Jesus says to anyone who wants to be His disciple to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow. Today, let the Spirit of God testify to the truth of this passage as we read and reflect. As we come let’s not try to look for another way, but allow the Spirit’s work in us so that we come with greater faith, greater love, and greater hope as we hear Jesus’ call to us: “then take up your cross and follow Me”.

Isaiah 52:13–53:12 (NIV)

13See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness —
15so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53:1Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Reflection:

This passage from the prophet Isaiah contains some very strong language about the kind of life that is lived by God’s suffering servant. The stark imagery gets under our skin, but the most shocking statement perhaps comes in verse 10 where it says “it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer”. But it is exactly this will of the Father that Jesus embraced. As we continue reading we see how his life was an offering for sin so that many would be justified. The answer to our suffering came as Jesus embraced the life described here. Only Jesus could save us. Only His life lived in love expressed through deep suffering and sorrow, rejection and loneliness, could ultimately make it possible for us to know God and have hope in our suffering.

Responding to the Transmission:

Spend some time reflecting and responding to this passage. We can come with so much thanksgiving because of the life that Jesus embraced, with all the suffering and sorrow. This was His life-song. Because of this we have life and are free. And as we come let’s also consider His way as we seek to care for others. Let’s recognize that sorrow and suffering is the venue for the rounding concert of salvation.