SUFFERING

SUFFERING

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (Matthew 16:21)

We will discuss how “suffering” plays a part in our Christian life later, but first let us consider the background that will help us understand this verse.

JESUS WAS THE SON OF DAVID

• “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:” (Matthew 1:1) These are the first words of the New Testament Scriptures!
• Jesus is called the “Son of David” eight times in the Gospel of Matthew. When Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem the crowds were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David.” (Matthew 21:9, 15)
• For several years Jesus was a fugitive from King Saul and gathered around him around 400 men: “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader, About four hundred men were with him.” (1 Samuel 22:2)
• David, as you know, had been anointed by Samuel to be the king (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
• Even Jonathan, Saul’s son, knew that David was going to be the king. Jonathan told David: “You will be the king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” (1 Samuel 23:17)
• “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.” (2 Samuel 5:4-5)

THE DISCIPLES EXPECTED JESUS TO BE A KING LIKE DAVID

• John the Baptist came preaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Matthew 3:1- 3)
• “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
• Yes! Jesus was indeed the king, but His Kingdom was not of this world. He explained it like this to Pilate: “Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’” (John 18:36-37)

THE DISCIPLES DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

• The third year of Jesus’ ministry began with the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-13).
• “After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” (John 6:14-15)
• Later in Capernaum Jesus rebuked them for their worldly thinking: “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:26-27)
• The multitudes were not interested in the kingdom of heaven so “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)

CAESAREA PHILIPPI

• It was less than a year before Jesus would be crucified and His disciples still thought He was going to be an earthly king like David was.
• In order to help them understand the nature of His Kingdom He took them to Caesarea Philippi.
• Caesarea Philippi is about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee at the base of Mt. Hermon. It featured a large spring that helped to form the head waters of the Jordan River.
• The spring came forth from a cave which was the center of worship for the pagan god “Pan” who was half man and half goat.
• To the pagan mind this cave was also the entrance to the underworld where the fertility gods and goddesses lived.
• Sexual orgies and child sacrifice were a common part of pagan worship!
• Caesarea Philippi was a wicked place and the apostles had probably never been there before.
• It is interesting to note that the first time the word “church” is used in the Bible was used by Jesus at Caesarea Philippi. Why? Why would Jesus choose such a wicked place to introduce His disciples to His Church and to explain His suffering and death in Jerusalem?
• Why would Jesus choose Caesarea Philippi to promise His disciples that the “gates of Hades” would not prevail against His Church?
• While the Scriptures do not tell us why, here is one theory.

JERICHO

• Before conquering Canaan Moses sent out 12 spies to explore the land (Numbers 13:1-16).
• Ten of the spies had no faith and believed the task was impossible. “They gave Moses this account: ‘We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is the fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities fortified and very large.” (Numbers 13:27-28)
• Moses later warned: “You are now about the cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky.” (Deuteronomy 9:1) Jericho was one of these “large cities”.
• Some say that Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world and at one time it was also the largest city in the world. It would have been easy to avoid Jericho and sneak into Canaan some other way. God used Jericho, however, to prove that every city could be conquered regardless of how big and strong they were.
• Perhaps Jesus chose Caesarea Philippi for the same reason! The church can triumph over Caesarea Philippi just like the people of God conquered Jericho!
• JESUS WAS EMPHASIZING THAT THE GATES OF HADES CANNOT PREVAIL AGAINST HIS CHURCH!

WHO WAS JESUS?

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” (Matthew 16:13-20)

BEFORE JESUS EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD TO SUFFER AND DIE IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD WHO HE REALLY WAS!

Jesus often used contrasts and comparisons between Himself and the things of earth in order to explain His super natural nature.

• He told the Samaritan woman - “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)
• After feeding the 5,000 Jesus said: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:36)
• It was perhaps in a vineyard that Jesus told His disciples “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1)
• So at Caesarea Philippi Jesus said: “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.”
• The word “Peter” refers to a small stone (John 1:42) but the word “rock” refers to a large foundation stone. The foundation of the church is not a vacillating human like Peter, but an eternal foundation like Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:11).

THE GATES OF HADES

According to W. E. Vine the Greek word “hades” comes from “a, negative, and eido, to see.” Thus it means “unseen”. When Jesus died He still existed, only He was “unseen”. Godly people have always believed in life after death. When Abraham died, for example, the Scriptures teach he was “gathered unto his people” (Genesis 25:8). He was still alive, but now he was “unseen.” Here are some others who were also “gathered unto their people”. Isaac (Genesis 35:29). Jacob (Genesis 49:33). Aaron (Numbers 20:24). Moses (Numbers 27:13). Etc. Solomon said that when we die our body returns to the dust but our spirit goes back to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

“Gates” refer to strength. Just as a chain is no stronger than it’s weakest link, a city is no stronger than it’s gates.

The conclusion is that even though Jesus was going to die, the strength of death will not overcome Him!

FROM THAT TIME ON

Now that it was clear who Jesus was and that the power of death could not overcome Him, “from that time on” He began to teach them about His suffering and death in Jerusalem. The idea that Jesus would suffer and die made Peter mad. So “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:22-23) It is obvious that the disciples needed more teaching!

• “After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” (Matthew 17:1-3). Luke tells us that Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus about his death in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). This informed the disciples that the suffering and death of Jesus was in complete harmony with the law and the prophets.
• “While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.” (Luke 9:43-45)”
• “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (Luke 18:31-34)
• “Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:17-19)
• Etc.
• It is interesting to note that while the twelve were reluctant to believe that Jesus was going to die, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, understood it clearly and anointed Jesus for His burial (John 12:1-8).

PETER FINALLY UNDERSTOOD

• Peter was apparently a slow learner.
• When Jesus first mentioned His suffering and death Peter rebuked Him (Matthew 16:22).
• When Jesus was arrested Peter took his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus who was a servant of the high priest (John 18:10).
• Even after Jesus rebuked Peter and healed Malchus, Peter followed Jesus apparently to rescue him from death. “Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.” (Matthew 26:57-58)
• Peter had promised to lay down his life for Jesus (John 13:37). This is probably why he denied three different times that he knew Jesus. He was inside the high priests courtyard probably waiting for one final opportunity to rescue Jesus from suffering and death.
• Thank God he did not succeed for it is through death that Jesus destroyed him who has the power of death, that is the devil (Hebrews 2:14).
• Finally Peter surrendered his will to that of Christ and came to see the importance of suffering.

I PETER

Please note these many references to suffering that Peter wrote about to God’s elect strangers in the world. Now Peter had only good things to say about suffering!

• “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith— of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
• “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.” (1 Peter 1:10-11)
• “Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:18-21)
• “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats do not be frightened.” (1 Peter 3:14)
• “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For 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.” (1 Peter 3:17-18)
• “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” (1 Peter 4:1)
• “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (1 Peter 4:12-16)
• “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (1 Peter 4:19)
• “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)

THE GATES OF HEAVEN ARE MADE OF PEARLS

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:21)

Pearls are extremely valuable. In 2018 a pearl pendant that once belonged to French Queen Marie Antionette was sold for $32 million. As you know pearls are caused by pain. When a grain of sand finds its way into an oyster shell it causes pain and irritation. The oyster slowly secretes layers of aragonite and conchiolin, materials that also make up its shell. Small pearls can form in only six months, but larger pearls may take years to form. It is not by accident that the gates of heaven are formed by pearls for pain and irritation are invariably a part of the cross we take up every day. Crosses are not designed to be comfortable but they are an essential element of following Christ.

Please consider the testimony of Jesus about his own cross, and the fact that “anyone” who follows Him must also take up their cross daily. Please consider: “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.”Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever 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.” (Luke 9:22-26)

The book of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus learned obedience from what He suffered: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7-10)

Jesus actually endured His cross because of the joy that was set before Him, and considering His suffering will also help keep us to growing weary and losing heart. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Truly the sufferings of Christ left us an example that we should follow in His steps: “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (I Peter 2:19-25)