Suffering

“Shall I not drink the cup that My Father has given me?” (John 28:11).

Though I have read them hundreds of times, these words from Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane struck me with new force the other day.

Of course, he is unique, and only he could drain the bitter cup of God’s wrath for our sins. He said to his disciples, however, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Many times, he told his disciples that they must follow in his steps, taking up their cross, not as sin-bearers, but as witnesses of his obedience to God, self-sacrifice, and commitment to holiness.

Our sufferings pale in the light of his, but they are real, nonetheless. How shall we respond to them? With a querulous and self-pitying attitude, or with gladness that we are given the opportunity to know him better, even in his sufferings? (Philippians 3:10).

That applies even when we are going through a deep valley depression, doubt, or even despair. Jesus experienced these also, as our pastor reminded us in a powerful sermon on the “dark night of the soul” two Sundays ago (Mark 14:33-34; his text was Psalm 88. Go to Mercy Hill Church: Bryan, TX > The Dark Night of the Soul (mercyhillbcs.org).