The Apostle Paul said, “I want to know Christ–yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10, NIV). Notice that Paul wanted the good and the “bad” because both were part of knowing Christ better. He loved Christ and knew that in him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3, NIV) and that he was the source of Paul’s restoration into the image of God. Therefore, he was eager to be remade in the image of Christ’s suffering and death, knowing this was a requirement for transformation and deeper communion with Christ.
The word for “participation” in Philippians 3:10 is the same word used for “fellowship” in the New Testament. We have fellowship with Christ when we suffer. It did not matter to Paul what his experience was as long as it meant that he was becoming more united to Christ. Paul had just stated: “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him” (Phil. 3:8-9, ESV). In other words, Paul viewed suffering as an opportunity to be joined closer to Christ.
In other words, all our suffering is redeemed because Christ redeemed suffering. Our suffering produces blessing because Christ’s suffering produced blessing.
Therefore, Jesus’ model of suffering means that suffering is not just to be tolerated but to be embraced knowing that many blessings flow from suffering. Jesus goes so far as to say: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matt. 5:11-12, NIV).
In other words, all our suffering is redeemed because Christ redeemed suffering. Our suffering produces blessing because Christ’s suffering produced blessing. This is part of what Scripture means when it repeatedly teaches that we are “in” Christ. We are incorporated into him; he is the head and we are the body. We have a oneness with him that makes his suffering our suffering and his life our life. Restoration and reunion flow from being in Christ.
Accordingly, Scripture directs us to “be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world” (1 Pet. 4:13, NLT). Romans 5:3 likewise declares that “we rejoice in our sufferings” (ESV). We rejoice because “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:17, NIV). Is it not astonishing that God promises us an eternal treasure of glory just for a few years of trouble? Thus, Christians have a wondrous eternal perspective that empowers us to embrace suffering for the sake of receiving and magnifying God’s glory.
