The Sufferings of Christ

Listen:

Download: X

Printable Version:  X

Introduction: Different Take on Persecution – In Back to Jerusalem (p.57-58), one of the house church leaders of China sends this message to Western Christians: “The past fifty years of suffering, persecution, and torture of the house churches in China were all part of God’s training for us. He has used the government for his own purposes, molding and shaping his children as he sees fit. That is why I correct Western Christians who tell me: ‘I’ve been praying for years that the Communist government in China will collapse, so Christians can live in freedom.’ This is not what we pray! We never pray against our government or call down curses on it. Instead, we have learned that God is in control of both our lives and the government we live under. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, ‘the government will be on his shoulders’ (Isaiah 9:6). Instead of focusing our prayers against any political system, we pray that regardless of what happens to us, we will be pleasing to God. Don’t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power.”

I.                     THE PURCHASE OF HIS SUFFERING (Hebrews 2:9)

A.     Made Lower Than the Angels (Psalm 8:4-5)

B.     Crowned with Glory and Honor (Revelation 19:11-12)

C.     Tasting Death for Every Man

1. Potentially, Christ Paid the Price for All Men

a.       He tasted death for “every man” (Hebrews 2:9)

b.       He takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)

c.       He draws all men unto Him (John 12:32)

d.       He died for all (2Corinthians 5:15)

e.       He gave Himself a ransom for all (1Timothy 2:6)

f.         He is the propitiation for the sins of “the whole world” (1John 2:2)

g.       He bought those who deny Him (2Peter 2:1)

2. Practically, Christ’s Payment is Applied to Those Who Believe

a.       Specially of those that believe (1Timothy 4:10)

b.       That whosoever believeth on Him (John 3:16)

c.       To whosoever shall confess Him (2John 4:14-15) 

II.                   THE PERFECTING OF HIS SUFFERING (Hebrews 2:10)

A.     The Preeminence of Christ (Colossians 1:18)

1. By whom are all things

2. For whom are all things (Revelation 4:11)

B.     The Purpose of Christ – To Bring Many Sons to Glory

C.     The Perfection of Christ

1. The word perfect does not mean sinless in the Bible. The etymology of the word shows the main idea of the word to be finished. To be perfect means to be complete in all respects; without defect or omission; sound; to be in a condition of excellence.

2. His work was “finished” on the cross (Jn.19:30)

3. He was perfected in His resurrection (Lk.13:32)

4. He was made perfect through sufferings (Heb.2:10; 5:8-9)

a.       He learned obedience (Heb.5:8; Php.2:8; Mk.14:32-36)

b.       He became the author of eternal salvation (Heb.5:9)

c.       He became one with His brethren (Heb.2:10-11)

d.       He became the succourer of those tempted (Heb.2:18; 4:15)

III.                  THE PURIFYING OF HIS SUFFERINGS (Hebrews 2:11-13)

A.     His Oneness with the Brethren

1. Joining sanctifier with sanctified

2. Unashamed to call them brethren

Resisting Discouragement – In Behind the Ranges (p.97), author Mrs. Howard Taylor tells the story of J. O. Fraser and his work as a missionary among the Lisu people in Southwest China. In 1914, Fraser suffered some serious setbacks to a work that looked promising. He wrote: “If such a thing had happened a year ago, it would have driven me down to depths of depression. I have given way to discouragement, dark discouragement, far too much in the past. Now I know rather better, and thoroughly agree with the assertion, ‘all discouragement is of the devil.’ Discouragement is to be resisted just like sin. To give way to the one is just as bad and weakens us as much as to give way to the other. God has wonderfully sustained me through this trial, and to Him be all the praise when I say that not for one instant has it disturbed my peace or radiant faith in the risen and ascended Lord… God has enabled me to trust Him more than ever before, to rejoice in Him more than ever before, and to believe more than ever before for a work of grace among the Lisu.”

B.     His Meeting with the Brethren (Hebrews 2:12-13)

1. He declares His name to them (Hebrews 2:12)

2. He meets with them in the church (Hebrews 2:12; Psalm 22:22; Matthew 18:20; 1Timothy 3:15)

3. The grounds of His meeting (Hebrews 2:13)

a.       Faith

b.       Fellowship

Conclusion: On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand – Samuel Stennett (1727-1795) was the English Baptist preacher who wrote the hymn, On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand. His testimony continued to the end of his life. “During his last illness, Stennett spoke in glowing terms of Christ’s finished work. He said, ‘When I reflect upon the suffering of Christ, I am ready to say, “What have I been thinking of all my life?” What He did and suffered are now my only support.’ And again he exclaimed to his son, ‘Christ is to me the chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely.’ On August 25, 1795, in his sixty-eighth year, Samuel Stennett passed into glory. His body was laid to rest in Bunhill Fields along with so many other Baptists and dissenters.” –from This Day in Baptist History (p.226).