The Long-Suffering of Jesus

Introduction

Series of the Character of Christ

We have looked at things like: His humanity, His authority, His patience, his humility

Tonight we are going to look at the long-suffering of Jesus

Does anyone know what long-suffering means?

Merriam Webster: Patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship

(Invented by William Tyndale)

Long-suffering vs patient

And again this isn’t just so we can know more about Jesus

But that we would learn to become more like Jesus

How many of you have suffered?

Scripture Reading

Over 700 years before Jesus:

Isaiah 53:3–9 (CSB)

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.

He was like someone people turned away from;

he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,

and he carried our pains;

but we in turn regarded him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced because of our rebellion,

crushed because of our iniquities;

punishment for our peace was on him,

and we are healed by his wounds.

We all went astray like sheep;

we all have turned to our own way;

and the Lord has punished him

for the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth.

Like a lamb led to the slaughter

and like a sheep silent before her shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

He was taken away because of oppression and judgment,

and who considered his fate?

For he was cut off from the land of the living;

he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

but he was with a rich man at his death,

because he had done no violence

and had not spoken deceitfully.

Jesus Knew Suffering

This is God, He knew suffering:

Sufferings in Jesus’s life

Poor

Refuge

Sibling troubles

Death of a friend (Lazarus)

Mocking and harassment from the Religious Leaders

The Passion Narrative

Betrayal

Abandonment

Falsely Accused

Mocked

Beaten

Spit on

Beard torn

Humiliated

Flogged

Publicly stripped naked

Carried his cross

Nailed to his cross

Died an excruciating death for all to see

Emphasize: The Atonement of Sin

Again this is God!

He is not distant and far from our sufferings

He entered into this world and experienced the suffering from this fallen world

Scripture gives us a clear reason for how Jesus was able to endure such sufferings: He had a vision for what it would produce

Hebrews 12:2 (CSB)

For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus knew that there was a purpose to his suffering

He knew what he would accomplish

He knew that it would result in redeeming humanity and a loving relationship with you and me

We should expect suffering

If Jesus lived a life of suffering, we should expect to suffer too

He said follow me!

A promise of Jesus we don’t bank on:

John 16:33 (CSB)

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Or in the words of Peter:

1 Peter 4:12–13 (CSB)

Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.

Finding Purpose in Suffering

So just like Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that was set before him, we too must find purpose in our suffering and trials

This doesn’t mean we will know exactly the reasons for each particular trial

But we can we sure of some general purposes in our suffering

These are absolutely necessary in order to walk through trials and be strengthened rather than destroyed

Suffering without a purpose is one of the most debilitating destructive things

Suffering with a purpose leads to true growth and development

It may be uncomfortable but it is required to grow

Being sore at the gym

If we have a purpose (or purposes) through suffering we come out stronger on the other side

Three Purposes:

For Us

For Others

For God

Forming of Character

James 1:2–4 (CSB)

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Suffering actually produces something in us

Like refining gold

Like a jewel crafter and a gem

Like an artist and a slab of stone

Comforting Others

2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (CSB)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.

Have you ever been attempted to be comforted by someone who has no idea what you are going through?

“Smile and thank you”

Have you ever been comforted by someone who knew exactly what you were going through?

It is one of the deepest comforts

God will bring us through difficult trials and sufferings so that we could better serve and minister to others who are suffering

In my life: struggles with sin, betrayal from close friends, anxiety, death of a loved one, relationship problems, etc.

Glorifying God

1 Peter 1:6–7 (CSB)

You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Suffering is an opportunity to prove our character

It is an opportunity to show God that we trust him despite our circumstances

Conclusion

Hebrews 12:1–3 (CSB)

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.

Look to Jesus in our suffering