Mark 2:14–28

Mark 2:1–12

Mark 1:21–45

Mark 1:16–20

Resurrection Celebration
Jonah 2:1–10

John Wesley got to [...]]]> “Till a man gives offense he will do no good; and the more offense he gives by adhering to the gospel of Christ the more good he will do, and the more good he does the more offense he will give.“
– John Wesley’s Journal
September 30, 1735

John Wesley got to the point that if he didn’t have anyone criticize him on a regular basis, he wondered  if he was doing something wrong.

Paul writes to Timothy,   “All who live godly lives will suffer persecution.”  (2 Timothy 3:12)  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe we are called to go out look for ways to suffer.  That’s obnoxious and  I think there are too many people who are obnoxious just to be obnoxious.  What bothers me is that they often blame their “obnoxiousness” on God.  But I do believe that whenever a Christian steps out and tries to do something significant for the kingdom of God, they will often be misunderstood and criticized.

I’ve often asked myself, “What have I suffered for the Kingdom of God?”  That’s a powerful question that I believe we all need to ask.  In 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 Paul lists just some of the things that he suffered for the Kingdom of God.  Among things that he lists:

• Imprisoned multiple  times
• Five times scourged with the cat of nine tails
• Three times beaten with Rods
• One time stoned with rocks and left for dead
• Three times shipwrecked
• In danger of Robbers and Thieves
• In danger from his own Countrymen
• Being sleepy and weary; and hungry and cold.
• …and top of that having to put up with all of the dysfunctional churches that  he helped establish.

My list of suffering doesn’t come close to Paul’s list.  The worst I’ve experienced in my 20+ years of full-time ministry was occasionally being misunderstood, mocked, and slandered… and even that wasn’t too hard to endure.

Holy Week is a time that we get more in touch with the passion and suffering Christ went through on our behalf.  Suffering and death is not fun. That’s why they call it death and suffering. Yet you do not get to the Resurrection until you’ve gone through Gethsemane and Calvary. Too often we want the power but without the suffering.  Because we shy away from suffering, we don’t get the power.

Again… I’m not saying that we need to suffer just for the sake of suffering.  I hope most of you know me better than that.  I’m not saying that we need to be like the ancient ascetic monks who would literally and purposely hurt themselves so they could say that they suffered for Christ.   But I do believe that if were serious about following Christ there will be times when the path is going to be rough.

The question we need to ask ourselves is, “Are we willing to go down that path and in the process experience suffering or do we choose to go around the hurtful things and end up missing the target?”

Jesus said it best…
“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
– John 17:14–18, NKJV

The world isn’t going to notice us (both as individuals and a church) if we  continually play it “safe.”   What is going to get the world’s attention is (1) the way we love (John 13:34–35) and (2) what were willing to go through to follow and stay true to Christ.  I don’t know what Holy Week does for you, but for me… it’s a call to be radical for His glory.

Other References:
Scriptures on Suffering
Benefits of Suffering

Luke 10:25–37

The Good Samaritan took a detour that…

1. To a Risk
2. Took Personal Involvement
3. Took Time
4. Took Money