Knowing the Sufferings of Christ

Philippians 3:8-14

Last week was father’s day and we took a break from our series. So today, we continue our series on “Knowing Christ Part 1” by delving into the topic of "Knowing the Sufferings of Christ." In understanding the sufferings of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we gain insight into the depth of His love for us and the magnitude of His sacrifice. Throughout the scriptures, we find numerous accounts of Christ's suffering, from His betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane to His agonizing crucifixion on the cross. We should know that He endured such pain, because of His boundless love for each and every one of us. As we continue our series on knowing Christ, let us remember that His sacrifice was not in vain. Through His suffering, we find redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life. His suffering paved the way for our salvation, offering us the opportunity to be reconciled with God.

But knowing the sufferings of Christ goes beyond mere intellectual understanding. It requires us to empathize with His pain, to walk in His footsteps, and to carry our own crosses with courage and faith.

To empathize means to deeply understand and share the emotional experiences and suffering of others who are going through difficult times. It involves putting oneself in their position and feeling what they feel, even if only to a small extent.

Walking in someone's footsteps refers to the act of imagining oneself in another person's situation, trying to understand their experiences, challenges, and emotions. It's about acknowledging their journey and the struggles they face.

Carrying our own crosses with courage and faith is a metaphor derived from Christian theology. It means facing our personal challenges and hardships with bravery and trust, often implying a reliance on spiritual or moral strength. The phrase encourages individuals to bear their burdens with resilience and a positive outlook, drawing strength from their faith or inner convictions.

combining these thoughts gives us some concepts to emphasize, like compassion, empathy, and personal strength in the face of adversity.

Just as Christ endured suffering for the sake of others with grace and humility , we too are called to bear our burdens with grace and humility.

Chapter 3 is said to be the “attack of the joy killers” chapter 3 is a warning against the joyless and miserable sort of Christianity. How is it? Christianity makes some people joyful, kindhearted, and awesome to be around. And others it turns them into judgmental self-righteous trolls. Chapter 3 has the answer and the solution. It starts in verse one Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord, I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. (NLT) . I like this command to rejoice remember, Philippians is a joyful book, but it’s not about joy, as you think, its actually the Joy that comes from the fruit of the spirit. In Galatians we saw it to be the 2nd greatest fruit of the spirit after love. That joy is about your mindset and attitude. Your outcome in life. Chapter 2 was a call to unity. I think of others above myself, and that’s humility.

Chapter 3, starts with a call to rejoice, be sure you have the right joy for what’s about to happen. but then a warning there is another mindset that can steal your joy faster than the hamburger Steal hamburgers. Verse 2-”What is it to watch out for those dogs? (Beware) Be careful or on the look out for those evil doors those mutilators of the flesh who say you must be circumcised to be saved” Paul says to watch out for dogs. These are rabbits, dogs, sharp fangs, and a vicious disease that’s ready to infect you and the disease is called self-righteousness. Righteousness means doing the right thing and standing rightly before God. Self-righteousness, means making myself right by my works, my strength, my self. The problem with self-righteousness is that it destroys all of that beautiful humility. You see it allot when people are humble and thankful just for a job, a place to stay, or glad to be alive. But once you get better you walk away or you start thinking of yourself in the 3rd person. It’s okay to better yourself, but the questions is at what cost? The joy you just received in chapter 2, how you can’t be self-righteous but rather others-centered. Try to climb your way to heaven and you’ll step on too many friends on the way up and you’ll look down with scorn at all the folks at the bottom it’s a miserable sort of Christianity, wavering between pride, guilt, and judgmental, and it’s a false humility. Anything focused on self is not humble and how it happens is legalism following rules instead of following Jesus

Paul calls them mutilators of the flesh in verse 3 For we who worship by the spirit of God, are the ones who are truly circumcised. Who are they? those who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh

Paul reminds us that God doesn’t want us to serve him by following a big checklist of dues, and don’ts Jesus said that the Father is seeking those who worship in spirit and in truth and the key here is where you put your confidence. self-confidence may seem like a good idea, but remember Goliath was self-confident. David on the other hand was God confident when it comes to being good self-confidence won’t work as Paul says we put no confidence in the flesh Now if anyone’s going to be self-confident or self-righteous, Paul was the guy I should say Saul before he was a Christian Saul was the man followed every last rule down to the minute.

verse 5 Paul lays out all of his self credentials, his whole self righteous résumé. He worked hard for it, but then in verse 7, But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ

### The Kobe Bryant Trade (1996)

- **Teams Involved:** Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets

- **Details of the Trade:**

- The Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.

The Hornets traded Kobe Bryant to the Lakers in exchange for center Vlade Divac.

### Impact of the Trade:

1. **Kobe Bryant's Legacy:**

- Kobe Bryant went on to have an illustrious career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010).

- He was an 18-time All-Star, two-time Finals MVP, and one-time league MVP (2008).

- Kobe became one of the greatest players in NBA history, earning a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

2. **Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty:**

- The trade laid the foundation for the Lakers' dominance in the early 2000s.

- Alongside Shaquille O'Neal, another key acquisition, Kobe helped form one of the most formidable duos in NBA history.

3. **Charlotte Hornets' Outcome:**

- Vlade Divac was a solid player but did not have the transformative impact that Kobe had on the Lakers.

- The trade is often cited as a significant "what-if" in NBA history for the Hornets.

The Kobe Bryant trade is a prime example of how a single move can reshape the future of a franchise and alter the landscape of the entire league.

Paul says he gave it all up to get Jesus the words he uses gain and loss. These are accounting terms gains are income positive adding to my total. Losses are negative things that didn’t pay off. Paul says everything I once listed in my gain column all my self-righteous works. I took the whole lot and shoved it into the lost column. Why to make room for just one in the gain column Jesus This is the greatest trade you can ever make in life.

Christ is one massive trade in many things you give up many things you gain I like to compare it to the game of life remember that game? All the kids are bickering and arguing and cheating. We all get fake money in a worthless game and then your dad walks in and he whispers in your ear for every dollar of play money that you give away. I’ll give you a real dollar when the game is over. Anything you give away in the game I’ll match it in reality. Suddenly everything changes suddenly the game is a joy.following Jesus is the only game in this life and the reality is heaven.

Philippians is all about that big trade chapter one we traded this life for the next to die as gain in chapter 2 we traded self centered life for others centered life, and chapter 3 we trade self righteousness for Jesus righteousness, and for the best part of that was knowing Jesus

verse 8, what is more I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for his sake, I have lost all things.

Verse 9, and to be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law that which is through faith and Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith, Paul is quite happy with his trade. He says I consider it’s not the trade he made it how he thinks about that what he values now the central part of the trade is at the end of verse nine trading his own righteousness for the one that comes by faith in Jesus.Jesus and God calls you righteous. He calls it garbage

If you notice in my slides I have dog tags. for those who don’t know, A dog tag is how they identify you when you die in battle. So Paul says that so when I die, whose name do I want on my tag do I want my name with my past and my righteousness or do I want Jesus and you only get to pick one. I Like that analogy but there’s one thing missing. It’s not just Jesus' name on me. It’s Jesus with me, I get to know Jesus this is what Paul was really after in verse 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,

Paul’s words here are passionate. This is the cry of Paul’s heart. I want to know Jesus not just know him, but I want to experience resurrection that raises my dying life. Please listen if your Christianity is all knowing about Jesus trying to follow his rules.

You’re missing the entire point. I want to know Christ there’s one phrase and verse 10 that really gets me sharing in his suffering that’s how real friendship works. We go through it together. That’s the life that we traded for when Jesus suffered with him when we suffered he was with us in the hard times make us close we suffered with him. We die with him. We are raised with him and then Paul breaks and he gets very honest verse 12 basically says listen I know I’m not there yet. I’m not perfect but I press on I love that phrase press on like Psalm 63:8

Psalm 63:8 (NKJV)

8 My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me.

"Knowing the suffering of Christ" refers to a deep, personal understanding and empathy for the pain, sacrifice, and trials that Jesus Christ endured, particularly during His crucifixion. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but involves a heartfelt connection and spiritual communion with the experiences of Christ's passion and suffering, often inspiring believers to reflect on the depth of His love and sacrifice for humanity. It can lead to a greater appreciation of His redemption and a more profound commitment to following His teachings and example.

Listen the day you were saved was not the finish line it was the start AW Tozer says that we have mistakenly put all of our focus on that moment of salvation as if the rest is an all downhill ride. There’s a great goal ahead and you do not simply roll into it by gravity, so press on forget what is behind, and strain toward what is ahead first 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus Paul’s words here says He is pressing on and he says how about you? Are you pressing on understanding it is my job to teach you, but it is your job to ask and to seek. AW Tozer said this quote. “How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Everything is made to center upon the initial act of “Accepting” Christ, and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls.”

Closing

I started my sermon out with this requirement of us is to empathize with His pain, to walk in His footsteps, and to carry our own crosses with courage and faith.

As we meditate on the sufferings of Christ, may we also be reminded of the hope that His sacrifice brings. For just as Christ triumphed over death, so too can we find victory in our own struggles. Let us cling to the promise of resurrection and eternal life, knowing that our sufferings are but temporary compared to the glory that awaits us.

Forest Park, let us embrace the sufferings of Christ with courage and faith. Let us strive to live lives worthy of His sacrifice, and may His love inspire us to love one another as He has loved us. Amen.