of His Suffering

Author Darlene J. Conard

 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 KJV

No one likes to suffer! Yes, many in the Bible rejoiced that they suffered for His namesake. I asked the Lord this question, “Why God do I go through so much? Show me exactly what You mean when You say, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25 KJV) What does it mean to fellowship with Your suffering?” This was His reply, “It’s more than just knowing I bled, died, and resurrected. It’s important that you truly know I felt your pain before you did.”  I’ll explain. Thomas was known as doubting Thomas. He refused to believe the other disciples’ report, “Jesus has risen.” He remained as a doubter until he saw and touched the Lord’s wounds. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (NIV) (John 20:24-29) That’s who Thomas was, Doubting Thomas.

 Time passed; Jesus appeared to them behind locked doors. “Peace be to you.” He looked at Thomas and said, “Reach here, with your finger and feel my hands. He rubbed his finger over the scar then slipped his finger into the nail hole. No blood nor raw flesh. “Now take your hand and reach inside and feel within my wound and be not faithless but believe. “Thomas slipped his hand in the hollow made by the sword, and he declared, “My Lord, my God!” He no longer doubted it. His identity changed because he fellowshipped with His scares. The wounds of Jesus defeated his unbelief. The intangible became tangible.

Fellowship is more than Christian followers coming together. I did some research and here is what I learned. Students and businesses plan events so that participants can relate to the same interest. “Jesus I’m hurting.” He comes to where we are so there can be fellowship about that suffering.  … “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 KJV

Our hearts get so broken that mending seems impossible. I’ll never forget the Lord’s response when I said, “Lord, my heart is so broken.” He replied, “My heart was broken so yours could be mended.” Relief and comfort swallowed feelings of abandonment. Occasionally I remember the pain I felt when my dad unmercifully whipped me with a belt. Blood welts covered my legs, hips, and arms. I couldn’t breathe and I had to lay in bed the best I could without them stinging. I had no choice but to get dressed and go to school. Praying with rivers of tears spewing from my eyes I asked Him, “Why did I have to go through that suffering?” I saw a vision of Christ being whipped with a leather strap with claws on the end. In response to my pain He answered, “I felt your pain then.” It diminished shame, hurt and loneliness. My suffering was affliction to His pure, innocent body before I was conceived.

Paul suffered under the buffeting of satan due to constant revelation and seeing visions through the Holy Ghost.

 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:1-8) More than once I’ve pleaded with God to remove the thorn from my flesh, because my flesh would rather be comforted. But without the pain there would be no fellowship between us and God. Think about it, would we fall on our knees at the foot of the cross? How could we eat of His broken body and less we’ve tasted it, through trials? We became broken. Let’s not forget the cup the shedding of His blood for remission of sins. (Matthew 26) His blood washes us white as snow. Satan accuses us during our suffering the blood cries out. Blood does have a voice. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24 KJV)

 Abels blood cried out from the ground for vindication. Jesus’ blood did vindicate. The flow from His side became an umbilical cord from heaven to us.

And he said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon. (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  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.” Ephesians 3:7-11 KJV

In every moment of our suffering we can know that He absoluetly understands our pain.