These were things already rolling around in my head the days preceding this trial and this clarified them for me in a new way. We are often frustrated here that so many times the good things we set out to do are thwarted by problems, how the gospel has been here so long but there still seems to be so much darkness. government promises broken, community threats, diseases we can't treat, diseases we could treat if the government would keep the medicines in stock, bodies broken by violence and sexual assault, Christian leaders who turn from God. Of course most of that list is true in every country. Countries in the west that were previously Christian nations are slowly turning from the principles that made them great.
The following image is taken from Wikipedia, a "World Map Index of perception of corruption." Red and darker colors are more corrupt. Papua New Guinea is a dark red (150th worst out of 176). It doesn't take much though to see that our world is a corrupt place. Most people live under systemic injustice, poverty, and oppression. We cry out to God, why does he allow such suffering?
When we live in a world of such brokeness it is easy to complain to God about how it affects us. We marvel at the verse "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's affliction, for the sake of his body, which is the church." (Col 1:24)
So often when I think of this verse I just see a call to accepting suffering as part of the Christian walk. However what is striking me more lately is the suffering of Christ. Paul see's Christ suffering as continuing. Indeed could anyone be suffering more than God has allowed himself to suffer? A creator rejected by his creation, choosing to give mankind freedom only to see them use that freedom to abuse each other, the whole creation groaning under the weight of sin -longing to be all it was made to be. God sent Jesus, Immanuel - to be a baby, in a poor country oppressed by a foreign government, to hold out the hope of peace and forgiveness, suffering an illegal trial, and the crucifixion of an innocent man.
"All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people." (Isaiah 65:2, Rom 10:21)
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body given for you...my blood which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.....Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest." (Luke 22:20-24)
Jesus is still holding out his hands to an obstinate people, which includes all of humanity, even me (when it comes to obstinacy- especially me). He is offering his broken body and spilled blood. Paul says we can rejoice that if the God of the universe still holds out such grace at such a price- what a privilege that he has considered you and me worthy of being that body that he holds out! We can't spend our time arguing how great our sacrifice is, or how useful we are in service, or complaining how great is the burden placed on us. It is not our burden - it is His. It is not our sacrifice - it is His. It is not our service but His strength. It is not injustice against us - but against the only Holy One who alone holds the power of life and death. It is this God who is still suffering - holding judgement as he painfully extends mercy a little longer- that more might believe. It is He who will one day right the wrongs, judge the wicked, and dry every tear but for now his nail pierced hands once again pick up the bread in illustration of his grace. And now he holds out the broken bread of his church to a dying world - the picture of his broken body.
I don't know what situation God has allowed into your life today - but he is calling us to enter the fellowship of his suffering, to be this emblem of grace extended to a broken world. When we face trials let us not bemoan what God has called us to do, but with tears ask that we would be made worthy of this trial in which people will see the marvelous grace of a suffering Christ.
In Christ
Scott
