Today, my New Testament Class was really good. It all started when our professor told us to put our computers away. I got a little frustrated as I put it away. But I realized that even my one little selfish thing is exactly what we've missed. I want my own comforts of life, all for myself, and can't be selfless enough to put away my computer, especially not when I'm even learning about the bible....
Something is wrong here. Very wrong. I know I'm not the only person who does it. But Jesus called us to live radically. What does that even look like?
One thing my professor said today that our mindset is this: "We often think, if it's hell, its not from God." We often get worked up when bad things happen. We worry about our own feelings, and life being hard, and it seems like its so often selfishly based. But these bad things are an indication of something else, and they're not all bad.
We were looking at 1 Peter and seeing the connection to the suffering servant. Jesus suffered. We take that so lightly. He SUFFERED. He was the perfect, son of God. I can't even imagine a human, who did nothing wrong. But yet he was beaten, whipped, until the blood ran down his back onto the ground. I'm sure there were puddles of his blood. And as he was probably laying on the ground, with no strength to move, that's when he was mocked. They took his clothes and laughed at him. "You think you're a king don't you! Well I've never seen a king like this! A bloody mess." Most kings we see have crowns and great robes. But our king was completely humbled, beaten, and suffered. This was in public.
And this is what we're called to. I'm sure that scares a lot of Christians. We want to live it safe, and hide in the background. I'll read my bible, go to church, sing songs of praise, maybe even study the bible at a school, and that should be enough. But I think that's living safe. Our faith is public. The early church underwent huge persecution. They were killed for their faith. And that happens all over the world, but in America we don't have that. Instead we freak out if people put us down. And so many times it is Christians who condemn us for being different. What is wrong with this?
But the story of our King is not over. After suffering he was nailed to cross beams of wood, stripped down to nothing but a loincloth. 8 or 9 inch nails were driven into his wrists and feet. He suffocated. People mocked him while he was on the cross. "Save yourself," they cried. And he could have saved himself, but he knew that was not the will of his father. Jesus submitted to God. He remained silent. And that, my friends, is the whole point. We are called to submit to God, whatever it may take us through. It really is not always the best or fun, but he's called us to be bondservants. But talking about bondservants could be a whole another blog post.
I'm sure some of you may be thinking, well that's awful, how is this supposed to be a good thing? But after Jesus died, he was resurrected, and ascended into heaven, where he is enthroned with Glory. This is where is is glorified for his righteousness, and his creation come into relationship with him. The honor comes from the righteous heart. This is the same for us. Living as a suffering servant, as Jesus, will bring us honor someday. It's hard to see it now, but trust me, it's worth it.
We can also learn so much from our suffering.
I know the life I've just described is my own. I was angry when I was forced to pay attention in bible class. How terrible is that? God was definitely working in my heart that day. I mess up all the time, and try to live for myself. But that's where there's grace. God loves us so much, and forgives our mess ups. It makes me fall so much more in love with my creator. Just to know his never-ending love for me. He shows me how much he loves me by the little blessings everyday.
I thought I'd end with a section from Isaiah 53, on the suffering servant.
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
