A Reminder of the Darkness
Where would we be without Jesus Christ? As Christians, that is the question we should ask ourselves at this point in the series. What is this world without Jesus? Left to itself, though that is not exactly the case, what has it done and what does it do? What is the fruit of its work? Everything that has ever lived in this world, man, bird, fish, insect, flower, tree, etc., what has been its end?
If we gather what we have so far discussed, we understand this world to be in darkness. Within the darkness is pain, the pain from lies (1 Jn. 1:6), hatred (1 Jn. 2:9), shame (Jude 13), wickedness (Eph. 6:12), lawlessness (2 Cor. 6:14), hidden things (1 Cor. 4:5), blindness (Rom. 2:19), unfruitful deeds (Eph. 5:11), deeds of darkness (Rom. 13:12) such as sexual immorality, all impurity, covetousness, filthiness, deception, disobedience to God, sensuality, strife, jealousy (Eph. 5:3-6; Rom. 13:13), pride, and greed (Mat. 6:16-24). This darkness is the dominion of Satan (Acts 26:18) and, here, death reigns (Rom. 5:17).
Death is the fruit of this world. It is the fruit Adam and Eve savored in their sin and that same lust is in our veins, today. In their sin was a disobedience to the word of God, to the word of God they should have trusted, to God in whom they should have had faith. But here is where Part 2 left off, in the hope of what Zachariah prophesied concerning his son, John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for Jesus Christ. He would say in Luke 1:76-79, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Jesus would come into this darkness, and did come, and is here with you today to shine the light of salvation on your shadow.
A Reminder of the Hope
What does the entrance of Jesus Christ into our darkness have to do with our suffering? It means there is hope. It means light has come into view and in that light is newness and life. It means the darkness and what is in it will not be victorious, that in the end, one person is, that being Jesus. It also means that everything He is, we are. Therefore, because He is victorious over sin and the consequence of death, so too will we. Because He put this body to death, so will we. Because He was tempted, so will we be. Just as He took up His cross, so will we. Just as He suffered temptation in the wilderness, so will we. Just as He wept, so will we, and just as He asked the Father for another way, so will we. Yet, ultimately, just as He sought the Father’s will, instead, so will we.
Jesus walked through this valley and shadow of death with His eyes set on future glory. He walked through the darkness of this world as a radiant light, trusting God in all things, through all sufferings, trials, temptations, and sorrows, to the end. He made it to the end for His glory, the glory of God, and for our glory with, in, and through Him. Jesus has shown the way and become the way through this wilderness we call the world. He stepped into it to say, “Follow me. I’ll be your way, truth, light, path, and all that is necessary to make it out alive.”
Yet, what is coming out of the darkness is not the same person that entered into it. We entered in the likeness of Adam, in sin, separated from God. That person continues to die until dead. What is coming out of the darkness, out of death, is one born to new life through Jesus Christ by the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit. Through faith in God and Jesus Christ, we are made new and are being made new into the likeness, not of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. This is called sanctification and it is spiritual growth, it is putting on Christ. I have written much about that already in a previous series and I encourage you to go back and read that if you have not or to be reminded before you read on.
What I am hoping is becoming clearer is that we suffer because death is what we were originally born into, it is what reigns in this world. Everything is dying because of separation from God, because of sin and disobedience to God because of an absence of faith. We were born into a dominion of evil, that of Satan. The transition takes place in the great love of God through Jesus Christ. In Him is where life is found, where all truth, goodness, righteousness, love, and peace exist. My intention in this series on suffering is to make us to understand why it is we suffer. My hope is that in understanding suffering, we see Jesus Christ and the promises in Him that lead to eternal life. That is what this wilderness is doing to us, that is its intention, that we would see our dependance on God for every – single – thing, and then cling to Jesus through it all.
Conformed to Christ’s Death and Suffering
Biblically, I want to show these things. I want to show you what Jesus’ sufferings mean for us, what they did for us, and how and why we are united to them. The book of Hebrews provides in abundance what we need to understand this life and suffering, who Christ is for us, and in giving the proper perspective and focus in all of it. It is a beautiful book providing so much of what the gospel is.
“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings” (Heb. 2:9-10). Jesus is crowned with glory and honor in God’s kingdom, in heaven, because He suffered and died for all of us. The author of our salvation, Jesus, who has and is rescuing us from this darkness and what it produces, our sins leading to judgement and death, was perfected through sufferings and especially that of death. Not that Christ was ever imperfect, but He was the perfect Son of God having all faith and obedience. And not only is He crowned with glory, but it says He is bringing many sons to glory with Him. That is us, the children of God. Jesus, the Son of God, has led the way for us.
“For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, ‘I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.’ And again, ‘I will put My trust in Him.’ And again, ‘Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.’ Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Heb. 2:11-15). The one who sanctifies, who makes us into the true image of God, even Himself, is Jesus. At the heart of His work and obedience as the Son of God is, “I will put My trust in Him.” So, too, will our hearts sing the same. In all things may we shout, I will put my trust in the Lord! And since the children of God share in flesh and blood, being subject to sin and death, being slaves to the one who had the power of death, the devil, Jesus became what we are, flesh and blood. In doing so, and completing His work on the cross, He rendered, “Powerless him who had the power of death.” Jesus set us free. The darkness cannot overcome the light.
The story is not finished for us, though. Remember that Jesus has become the way and forerunner (Heb. 6:20) into God’s presence and kingdom for us. He has removed our sins and guilt, justified us before the Father, and brought us into His presence, by His perfectly obedient, sinless, trusting, and faithful life and death. The call is to follow. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mat. 16:24). As the children of God, Christians, we are saying no to our own will while suffering and trusting in the Lord to the end with Christ. And take heart because you have help. “He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:17-18).
Our help is from the Lord. He knows your trial, your suffering, your pain, and during it He was tempted as you are. He was not like the Israelites as chapter three of Hebrews follows with the example of, who in their own wilderness and suffering were disobedient and sinned because of unbelief, causing them to fall short of inheriting the promised land, God’s kingdom (vv.17-19). No, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus was faithful for our sake. He has paved the way, He is the way, and He is walking with you. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). In your suffering, look to Jesus Christ. In confidence, go to Him for the help that you need. God’s grace and mercy are stored up in Christ. He is currently seated in heaven at the right hand of God (Eph. 1:20) calling you to seek Him in God’s presence, with confidence, because as God’s child you are precious and loved in His sight and He wants to be your strength in time of need. He has been there, He can sympathize with your weakness, He was tempted as you are, and He defeated it. Go to Him and rest in Him, make Him your refuge.
The book of Hebrews is replete with this message. Jesus Christ is exceedingly great and perfect, the perfect representative to God for us, that we would be saved in Him. Therefore, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). Your hope is that you will make it out of this wilderness, this darkness, this world, and into life. Jesus is the way. Hold tight to your faith and trust in the Lord.
When Jesus came into the world, He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God” (Heb. 10:5, 7, 9). Perfectly, through suffering and temptation, in death, “I have come to do Your will, O God.” And when, “A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, ‘Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.’ Answering them, He said, ‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:32-35). Jesus, the Son of God, looked at us and said, they will be like me, “To do Your will, O God.” Pray in this way, He said, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 5:9-10). At the heart of this life is trusting in the Lord for everything. All else will fail and pass away.
The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. – 1 John 2:17
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. – 1 Peter 4:1-2
And for us all that are suffering in the flesh, “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Heb. 10:35-36). Hold on to your faith and confidence in God through Jesus Christ. Let the Light in this darkness be your confidence and your guide. Follow Him, stay close to Him, rely on Him, hold tight His every word. Though this world is passing away, He is not. In Him is life.
To be continued. There is more, yet, to explore in this series on suffering.
-Pastor Ben