LUKE 24:25-26 – And He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
THEME OF THE DAY: JESUS’ U-SHAPED LIFE. What a title to wear – “O foolish ones.” But even more so when Jesus labels His disciples as such! That is what He called His disciples in today’s scripture. Yet, we find throughout the gospels the disciples of Jesus were just what He called them because they were slow to learn, not quick to grasp His teaching, and even slower in seeing themselves as they truly were – spiritually ignorant and immature. Oh, by the way, the title given to these disciples of Jesus, would also be given to us throughout our lives as Christians. Think how often we are slow to learn and not quick in grasping the lessons Jesus is trying to teach us. “O foolish ones” is a description of us sometimes too! And when it comes to lessons we might be slow to learn? One comes from the question ending today’s scripture – Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Jonty Rhodes in his book Man of Sorrows, King of Glory: What the Humiliation and Exaltation of Jesus Means to Us commented on these words from today’s scripture. He writes, “Here are the two states of Christ: His humiliation and exaltation. He suffers first, and then he is raised to glory.” Rhodes would then expound his commentary after quoting these words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11).
Rhodes continues, “The life story of Christ is shaped like a U. He begins in glory, humbles Himself to become a man, and ends up as low as you can get: crucified, dead, and buried. But then the curve begins to turn upward. He is raised from the dead, lifted up to heaven, and there enthroned at the right hand of God the Father. And one day, the climax will come as all creation bows before their rightful king.”
When it comes to the Christian life, we will follow the earthly steps of our Master. It won’t be shaped like a U as was Jesus’, Him leaving glory, suffering in this life, and returning to glory, but it will be like Him in the second and third aspects – suffering to glory. The Apostle Paul reminds us the Christian life is a suffering life – For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29). But he also reminds us of the “good” part, the glorification part – and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17).
Yes, Jesus lived a U-shaped life for us, and leaves a pattern for us as the suffering servant. We, like Him, will suffer as a Christian that leads to the glorification of the Christian. Let the latter encourage us as we endure the former.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to understand before glory comes to me, suffering must first come to me.”
QUOTE: “Jesus went from glory to suffering to glory so that we might ultimately behold Him in His glory.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim