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. – Romans 8:18
“Jesus Wept”
That is what is recorded in the eleventh chapter of John’s Gospel. It is the shortest verse in the Bible but it says so much about our Savior. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and his sisters Mary and Martha were devastated. It appeared Jesus was too late to help them. As Martha was soon to point out.
Upon hearing that Jesus was coming, Martha ran out to meet Him on the way. When she met Jesus, she wasted no time in rebuking Him. Martha had enough faith in Jesus to believe that had He been present four days earlier, her brother Lazarus would still be alive. According to her faith, Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death. Reality is, Jesus is capable of so much more.
Jesus’ response to Martha was short but profound, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). Martha was soon to witness that she was indeed standing in the presence of the one who is the resurrection and the life (v. 25). But more tears would precede the resurrection.
Before Jesus could reach the tomb of Lazarus, He surveyed the sorrow of Mary, Martha and their Jewish friends. Moved with compassion, Jesus wept with them.
Tears all Around
In the last few weeks, we have experienced not only the death of my mother, but our lives have also been impacted by the occurrence of two suicides. Just when we attempt to come up for breath, we are hit by more waves.
In the past week, our church family has been blindsided by the news of a severe auto accident and the arson of the home of one of our missionaries. With so much suffering, there has been no shortage of tears.
Like Martha, we are tempted to say, if Jesus had been present these things would not have happened. Like Martha, our faith needs to be increased.
Light Afflictions?
Too often our lives seem to be dominated by tragedies and suffering. These things not only vie for our time they also drain us emotionally and physically. Often times they completely beat us up. And yet Paul refers to such things as “light momentary afflictions” (2 Cor. 4:17). How can he say this?
How do you tell a family grieving over the body of a deceased loved one that what they are experiencing is a light affliction? What balm can alleviate the pain of a young woman whose wedding plans were replaced by funeral arrangements for her late fiance? Instead of the bliss of matrimonial union, she is experiencing the pain of separation.
What do you say to little children who will never again be embraced by their mother because she has been laid to rest way too young? How about the missionary family sifting through the ashes of what used to be their home and earthly possessions?
These things seem anything but light and momentary. In fact, they are earth-shattering experiences that leave us traumatized and scarred. But although we only seem to feel the “damage” of these present sufferings, God is using them to transform us. As F.F. Bruce said, “As the hardships wore down the outer man, they were at the same time used by God for the renewal of the inner man and the augmenting of his heritage of glory.”
Paul’s Perspective
What could make Paul write that our afflictions are light and momentary? How could he consider that our present sufferings are relatively “nothing”? As humans, God has made us emotional beings. As alluded to above, we are capable of very strong emotions. Think about the depth of the sorrow you have experienced during your greatest suffering and ask yourself, how special must the “glory to be revealed” be if Paul says our sufferings are not even worth the comparison?
Paul’s perspective on suffering was not congenital. It is not something he inherited from his parents or learned in the Synagogues. Paul was only able to write such radical words about suffering because of his radical conversion.
Paul had the unique privilege, (although it probably didn’t feel like it at the time), of being in the presence of the glory of Christ. On his way to Damascus, Paul received a special revelation from Jesus and the brightness of the encounter left him temporarily blind. When his eyesight was restored three days later, Paul saw things more clearly than ever. Including suffering.
Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble, but his thorn in the flesh was nothing in comparison to the new hope in his heart.
Concealed Glory
When Jesus took on flesh and blood, his glory was temporarily “concealed”. When Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus during His transfiguration, they were given a glimpse of the majesty that is Christ’s. His appearance overwhelmed them just as it would overwhelm Paul on the road to Damascus.
What will Jesus look like in all of His glory? Although Scriptures give us a glimpse of our Savior, and through Him, our Heavenly Father, sin limits our ability to see them clearly. As Paul writes to the church at Corinth, now we see through a dark glass (1 Cor. 13:12).
What will it be like when the dark glass is removed?
When John had a vision of Jesus on the island of Patmos, he fell to the ground as if dead before the feet of his glorified Savior. When John would write about Heaven in the Book of Revelation he gave us but a glimpse. Our earthly minds can’t comprehend future glory.
Even with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we have to admit that Christ’s glory is still concealed from us. However, we see enough to make us long for more. Like Paul would write just before his execution, we should love His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8).
Hidden in Christ
When Paul wrote to the Believers at Colossae, he told them that they had died with Christ and now their lives were hidden in Christ (Col. 3:3). This is a beautiful truth that assures us of our safety in Christ and at the same time implies that although we are radically changed by Salvation, for the most part, who we are in Christ is hidden from the eyes of the world.
Although we are a new Creation, we continue to live in our old tent. As long as we are in the flesh we will continue to suffer.
From all outward appearances, our new identity is hidden. But the seed has been planted. Appearances aren’t always what they seem. In time reality will be revealed!!
Glory Revealed
As long as we walk this earth, we will suffer. I am not trying to be depressing, I am only being honest. But as long as suffering is our fate and the waves keep rolling, I am going to throw out hope to cling to just as Paul did.
Jesus is not unaware of our suffering. As we saw from His tears, He is sympathetic to our sorrows. But more important than the tears he shed was the blood He bled on our behalf. While it is comforting to know that Jesus is compassionate, it is more important to know that He is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus suffered so we could have hope.
As Paul would go on to encourage the church at Colossae, Christ will appear, and we will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4). Knowing in part will give way to full knowledge (1 Cor. 13:12).
Someday, we will not only see Christ face to face, but the Scriptures tell us we will be like Him (1 John 3:2). In other words, we will not only see His glory, we will share it with Him (Rom. 8:17).
Unworthy
What do we do when suffering comes our way? We grieve. With hope. Like Jesus, we are not afraid to show our emotions. It is important to mourn with those who mourn. But our tears will only last a short time.
As I said before, our suffering and grief are only a backdrop against which glory will be contrasted. The depth of our sorrows will be nothing compared to the joy that awaits us. A joy that will not be constrained by our earthly bodies or finite minds. We will experience the joy of Christ’s perfection.
When we contemplate the effect that the glory of Christ had on Paul, Peter, James, and John we begin to understand their attitude towards suffering. The instruments God uses to conform us to the image of Christ will seem trivial when we behold Him in all of His glory.
As Paul will go on to tell us in Romans chapter eight, the revealing of the sons of God in glory is the consummation for which the universe waits with longing expectancy (Romans 8:18-25).
Jesus is indeed the resurrection and the life, and in His humility, He has “redeemed” suffering and will share His glory. We may not understand our present suffering, but it will all be worth it when glory is revealed to us.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. – 1 John 3:2