Suffering like Christ; suffering with Christ
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:01 am
Suffering like Christ; suffering with Christ
“Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example.� (1 Pet. 2:21)
In the 1 Peter, Jesus is presented as an example of suffering again. (P.230) These days, most ministers don’t want any suffering in their own ministries. If there are some suffering and problem, they usually want to escape from those instead of joining like Christ; joining with Christ. The apostle asserts that believers not only imitate their suffering Servant, they also participate in his sufferings. This is not to say that the atoning work of Christ continues in their suffering, for the ‘once’ in 3:18 is categorical and final. However, there is a sense in which the followers of Jesus are extensions of a ministry characterized by suffering. The same perspective is evident in Revelation, where the suffering of those who follow the slain Lamb is a mark of their identity with him. Finally vindicated, they will join him in his future glory as Shepherd King.
“Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example.� (1 Pet. 2:21)
In the 1 Peter, Jesus is presented as an example of suffering again. (P.230) These days, most ministers don’t want any suffering in their own ministries. If there are some suffering and problem, they usually want to escape from those instead of joining like Christ; joining with Christ. The apostle asserts that believers not only imitate their suffering Servant, they also participate in his sufferings. This is not to say that the atoning work of Christ continues in their suffering, for the ‘once’ in 3:18 is categorical and final. However, there is a sense in which the followers of Jesus are extensions of a ministry characterized by suffering. The same perspective is evident in Revelation, where the suffering of those who follow the slain Lamb is a mark of their identity with him. Finally vindicated, they will join him in his future glory as Shepherd King.