Did you ever think about the need for both the cross and the open tomb? The immense glory of one is only seen as you compare it with the horror of the other. The Apostle Paul touches on it in Romans 8:18
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
That is a powerful verse. It’s often used as a source of profound encouragement during difficult seasons, shifting the focus from immediate pain to a much larger, future perspective. In the original context, the author (Paul) isn't downplaying the reality of suffering—he experienced plenty of it himself—but rather suggesting that the scale of "what's next" is so massive it makes current trials look small by comparison
Suffering is absolutely necessary in the message of the gospel. It’t the only process that allows development toward maturity. Look what James, Jesus’ half-brother says about it. Jame 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Hebrews 12:1-4 states this truth from Jesus’ perspective.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
Jesus endured suffering at the religious abuse at the hands of the Jewish leaders, the mockery of King Herod and the brutality of the Roman’s scourge and cross yet He considered the cross not even to be compared to the joy of what the cross would accomplish. It’s important that the issue of suffering should not looked upon lightly. In Gethsemane, the stress of His immediate situation caused his capillaries to burst which caused blood to mingle with his sweat and run down his forehead. The condition is called “Hematidrosis” which is an extremely rare condition. The condition is often linked to the sympathetic nervous system’s “fight or flight” response, triggered by severe stress, fear or anxiety. Dr Luke records this in his gospel. Luke 22:44
And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Jesus’ crucible began in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yet He remained obedient to the purpose that He came to earth in the first place. Was he a worthy sacrifice. The writer of Hebrews describes it this way in Hebrews 4:15
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Jesus responded to suffering with humility and obedience. The key word here is “responded”. Peter reacted with violent action. Jesus responded with patient obedience trusting in the Father’s plan. Living in the Spirit always involves a response knowing God has a plan and a purpose even when we can’t see it. The Spirit responds, the flesh always reacts!
You cannot be born in the Spirit until the flesh has been crucified. The Apostle Paul again states this in Galatians 2:20.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Jesus instructs us several times in scripture to pick up our cross daily and follow Him (Matthew 24:16)
We have to be reminded that crucifixion of the flesh must be a daily discipline. We must continually deny the flesh and allowing the Spirit to have dominance in our lives. When we do, the power of Holy Spirit brings us through a total transformation. We will look like the manifest person of Jesus. That is the essence of Ephesian 4 and Romans 8.
So much of today’s western culture Christianity wants the power of the Spirit without suffering of the cross. Perhaps that is the reason there is so much corruption and immorality. We desire power without suffering. Character must be developed before giftedness. That character can only be accomplished through the cross.
I believe there is a major shift that is about to take place in the church. Our hunger and desperation for the presence of the Lord will cause us to embrace our individual crosses. This will result in a pure relationship with the Lord Jesus.
This is exactly the plea that the Apostle Paul makes to the Philippian church in Phil 2:3-13
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Difficulties and trials will either make you bitter against God like it did Judas Iscariot or bring you to a place of brokenness and humility like it ultimately did with the rest of Jesus’ disciples. They took the Gospel of the Kingdom to the end of the then know world and all died as martyrs for Jesus. We can only be transformed by the power of the resurrection as we embrace death on the cross. It is a glorious combination. Let them both have their effect in our lives.