“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours."
"When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."
"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."
Note: Today, there are many Christians who feel they are suffering for Jesus, because they are "Christian." However, that may not necessarily be true. It may have more to do with the religious labels, consequences, attitudes or the hypocrisy they display, rather than the actual sufferings of Christ. Many people hate or dislike those of religion faiths, including Christianity and for good reasons, because many often act and believe their better than others. Another reason is because they are man-made religions and have nothing to do with following Jesus Christ or the Kingdom of God. Unfortunately, many Christians and followers of Jesus get lumped in with the whole batch by association. But they are not the same and satan and his demons know it, even if others don't. Satan definitely hates Christian—especially the sons and daughters of God.
Many people believe that their financial difficulties, health problems, family and social problems are a part of those sufferings. It true they may be suffering and they can be very painful, but not necessarily for Christ' sake. More often they are the results of peoples poor choices. They may even be a part of a season of testing, but Jesus is still our healer and provider, our shield and great reward. We live in a broken and painful world and God desires to relieve mankind of their sufferings and restore them. Whether they were self-inflicted, or by the enemy (satan), or by God's design, God will restore them. He will use all these things to accomplish His will for the good of the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Now, lets take a brief look at the things Jesus suffered and then we will understand a little better the sufferings of Christ. Jesus was:
- a man of sorrow
- homeless
- alone at times
- misunderstood
- despised and rejected
- wepted for lost souls
- hated
- tested
- betrayed
- falsely accused
- physically abused—spit upon, beaten, whipped, crucified, and pierced
All these things happened and were a part of Jesus' life, because He chose to do the will of His Father. None of them were the results of wrong choices or selfish desires.
