“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11
Fellowship of suffering. Now there’s an oxymoron. Or is it? Death and resurrection were common themes in Paul’s writings. Conversion is a death to self and a resurrection to new life, born again. Here Paul wants to know Christ, to connect with him, in the power of the resurrection and also to experience fellowship...not through worship, prayer, or walking with Christ…but through his sufferings. Paul, what are you thinking? Paul wrote these verses from prison, so if he could say having fellowship with Christ’s sufferings was something he wanted, that was beneficial, it has to be true. Following Jesus means living a life that mirrored his and part of his life was his suffering.
Now, I’m all for the resurrection, not such a big fan of the suffering. I have a high pain tolerance but Jesus suffered more than physically. He was misunderstood, rejected, and ridiculed. That kind of suffering hurts, it doesn’t matter who you are. Jesus suffered at the hands of people. I will too. The cool thing is I don’t have to go it alone. I can choose to have fellowship with Jesus in the suffering. He has already traveled the journey of life on earth and has shown me the way to the resurrection (the new life without pain) is through the cross (the ultimate source of pain). According to Paul, it helps me become more like Jesus. I’m trying to figure out how this works. Maybe, part of this fellowship means the situation becomes more bearable, helping me to persevere. Even when I suffer I can identify with Jesus. And, there’s always hope. Because after the suffering comes a resurrection, the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't always want it or understand it but Jesus wasn't exempt from the realities of life and I can't expect to be either.
Lord, I love the resurrection help me appreciate the fellowship I can have with Jesus, identifying with him when I suffer. I want to avoid it but if it helps me know Jesus better, give me the strength to endure.
