Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins to please God the Father, and was blessed. Some of the Lord’s followers chose to follow his example of suffering, and were blessed. Considering that Jesus died to redeem us to God, we should follow his example of suffering for God. And remember that God richly reward all who suffer for him. (1 Peter 4:13; Mark 10:29-30).
JESUS WAS BLESSED FOR SUFFERING GREAT PAIN TO PLEASE GOD AND DYING FOR OUR SINS.
- Jesus left his throne in heaven, submitted himself to death on a cross for our sins, to please God the Father (Philippians 2:5-9).
- He came unto his own people in this world, but they rejected him (John 1:11; John 18:38-40).
- Being rejected, he was condemned to die a cruel death on a cross (Luke 23:13-25).
- After carrying the burdensome cross, he was nailed to it (John 19:16-19).
- He agonized on the cross in excruciating pain for hours (Mark 15:15-37).
- He suffered pain in a way which none of us fully understand—In dying and being separated from the Father for our sins he cried out: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Jesus Christ pleased God by enduring the shame and pain of dying on the cross for mankind’s sins (Philippians 2:8; Hebrew 12:2). Therefore God exalted him and “ gave him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
OTHERS HAVE BEEN BLESSED FOR CHOOSING TO SUFFER LIKE JESUS FOR GOD
STEPHEN–a deacon who believed in Jesus and was filled with the Spirit chose to please God, like the Lord did.
Being full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen confronted religious leader about their roll in killing Jesus Acts 7:51-53. They responded by stoning Stephen to death as he cried out to the Lord in heaven (Acts 7:54-60):
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
PAUL—Paul persecuted Christ’s followers before the Lord appeared to him in a vision; but after seeing Jesus he believed in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Subsequent to Paul’s conversion, he willingly suffered for God. (Acts 9:1-30).
- Jesus selected Paul to proclaim the Lord’s name before Jews and non-Jews, and to suffer great things for his name sake (Acts 9:15-16).
- In the midst of suffering, Paul preached “Jesus Christ and him crucified” to save many different people and bring them into the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:2).
- Comparing himself to others, Paul said he worked harder and suffered more to promote the gospel of the Son of God: (2 Corinthians 11:23-30):
23 Are they servants of Christ?… 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. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, 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 fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I 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. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
Paul said there was crown of righteousness awaiting him in heaven, and for all who suffer similar to Christ to please God (2 Timothy 4:8).
WE WILL BE BLESSED BY SUFFERING FOR GOD
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves an take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24NIV). The Lord also said, in choosing to suffer for God, we will be blessed in many ways in this life. And after this life, we can look forward to God’s eternal heavenly reward. (Mark 10:29-30).
