When it comes to suffering, we always focus on the victim, not the perpetrator. I suppose this is understandable given the simple fact that some of the most profound circumstances we endure involve suffering in our lives. It’s difficult to comprehend the higher order benefits of searing pain when stricken by it. Usually, the only thing on our mind is surviving it.
According to Christ, suffering is our time to truly shine forth and reveal His heart.
You see, no one has ever endured the pain and suffering Christ went through, and yet at the height of it, what did he famously say?
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
-Luke 23:33-34
Stephen, a type of Christ in his own suffering, made a similar statement as he was being stoned to death.
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
-Acts 7:59-60
While we tend to focus on the victim of suffering (often ourselves) it is the perpetrator who Christ, our pristine example, looked at. And for the record, this wasn’t an afterthought, this was during His suffering. In fact, He was dying by crucifixion (arguably among the most torturous forms of death ever imposed) when He uttered those beautiful, oh-so-revealing words.
Our greatest opportunity to reveal Christ’s heart is during our suffering, not afterwards.
Consider, also, the proximity of Christ’s compassion on His Cross towards His perpetrators to the time of His death, the consummation of His ministry on Earth, when He uttered “It is finished” (John 19:30). The culmination of His ministry was suffering and death. Is there a primitive difference between Christ’s perspective on suffering and our own worth understanding? Is there a turning around that occurs in us which represents the end goal of sanctification? Is there a level of maturity that God provides us with which frees us from the bondage of self-absorbed perspective on suffering? Why do you think Christ said the following?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
-Matthew 5:43-48
Christ’s message was simple, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (v44). He embodied this wisdom: our de facto focus should always be on others. At the height of our spiritual maturity (when we are most like Christ) this will be our status quo – others (ala Philippians 2:1-11). To get there implies we must mature past our own self-absorption, which takes time. Even Job had to learn this hard lesson.
The outcome of suffering is to drive us to the mind of Christ, not perseverate on the transgression, the transgressor, or even the resultant pain. We must grasp this concept if we are to ever truly make peace with suffering.
While it’s possible to understand this blog post, there’s a good chance you won’t “own” it right away (this is perfectly normal). It’s one thing to understand godliness at face value; however, it’s another thing to live in the truth of it. For example, how long has it taken you to understand that forgiveness is more about you than your transgressors? Or, how long does it take you to pray for your enemy after suffering a direct attack? If we ever desire to share in Christ’s mind, these are obstacles we must overcome (by grace through faith, of course). Remember, understanding how God is sanctifying you is a good portion of sanctification, itself. This is what I’m writing about here as none of this can be forced.
For amplification’s sake, imagine if Christ perseverated on the Victim (Himself) instead of the perpetrators (all of us). How motivated would He have been to remain on that Cross? What was so different and pure about His perspective on suffering that actually motivated Him to endure it? What’s the difference between Him and us? We can’t seem to handle someone merely slighting us in public without running to social media and bleeding all over the place, crying for sympathy! We are so affronted by personal attacks that we can hardly see past the red in our eyes.
Suffering reveals our deepest weaknesses.
If the objective of sanctification is to become more like Christ, then we must consider what it means to get there. He bore His Cross magnificently. He is our inspiration to carry our own cross daily.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
-Matthew 16:24-25
Christ went to the Cross thinking about others, even when it was those same people who were intent on destroying Him. At the height of His suffering, He wasn’t focused on Himself; rather, He was praying for His perpetrators. This is the heart that accomplished His Father’s will. This is the heart that expressed itself to His disciples:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
-John 14:27
Christ promises us His peace and yet so many children of God lack said peace. Is it some unattainable wish Christ hoped for or is it truly something we might share in? Is it possible that, in immaturity, people remain stuck focusing on themselves, blinded by their own suffering? How was it that Christ, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2)? Was it possible that He was void of selfishness and embodied the freedom we find in selflessness? Isn’t He the One who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)? I ask a lot of questions because I cannot impart this wisdom into your soul – you must arrive at it on your own through prayer and the ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
The reality is that the world trains and encourages us to focus on self. The stickiness of this perspective is largely due to how we think about suffering, not just regarding how we are affected by it, personally, but in general. Some may echo the famous line in the movie Princess Bride, “Life is pain…Anyone who says differently is selling something.” Sadly, they often wallow in this fatalistic sentiment as if life is but an avalanche of justified self-pity. This is no way for a child of God to be living! As I often preach from my pulpit, deliverance is but a change of perspective away…and a change of perspective can occur sooner than the time it takes to snap your fingers!
Please be encouraged, my friend. Give this blog ample thought. Consider your own history regarding suffering, remembering that God ordains all things for good (ala Romans 8:28).
Learn to discipline yourself over time to respond to suffering the way Christ did, by looking beyond your own pain and towards the malignancy that is driving your enemy. Pray for them for they are in a worse condition than you in that moment. As a dear friend of mine recently expressed in their own ministry, “It is difficult to stay angry, avoid forgiving, or grow bitter with someone you are continuously praying for.” They quoted verse 28 from the following passage that I’ll leave you with:
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
-Jesus Christ in Luke 6:27-36
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins