“They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive." (Matthew 20:19 MSG)
As Christians, we tend to focus on certain aspects of our faith. We celebrate resurrection, but we would rather not think about crucifixion. We emphasize Christ’s love, healing, and glory, while downplaying his humiliation and suffering. We like to think about how God is going to make everything better. We tell others about the benefits of faith in Christ. We point out how we have been restored. However, this is not the whole truth. It’s like leaving out unpleasant information from a recruitment brochure. Jesus suffered. He was mocked, tortured, and crucified. Death precedes resurrection.
Faith does not protect us against suffering. Instead, it trains us to trust God in the midst of pain. We learn to surrender--to let our egos and agendas die. This submission is essential before restoration. The path to experiencing God goes through the valley of suffering. Faith strengthens us, whipping us into shape so we can withstand afflictions and degradations. Grace resuscitates us. Love restores us.
Lord, help us to accept that humiliation and suffering are prerequisites to restoration.
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