One day as Jesus taught his disciples he asked a question, "Who do people say that I am?" The disciples had a variety of answers to that question. Then he asked, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter, answering for all said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Many things could have flowed from this great affirmation. The disciples had come to a sense of who Jesus was. Now it would seem to them that Jesus must move forward taking his place as the one to overthrow Roman rule and set up the kingdom. But Jesus said something that took them on a new direction. He said, "the Christ must suffer many things and be killed and on the third day rise from the dead." He began to teach them of the suffering Christ.

One day, years later, as Philip was traveling along a desert road he saw an Ethiopian. The Holy Spirit directed him to that man. This Ethiopian was reading the same passage of scripture we read tonight. Philip asked him, "do you understand it?" And the Ethiopian answered, "How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?" He then asked, "Who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" "And Philip began with that very passage and told him the good news about Jesus." (Acts 8:26-35).

Isaiah 53 is about a suffering servant. According to what we see in the New Testament it is about the Christ. It tells the story of a Christ very different from the warrior Christ the people expected. It tells us that the Christ must suffer.

The story of Jesus is the story of a man who was "despised and rejected of men." John tells us he "came unto his own but his own received him not." John tells us of the time at the peak of his ministry when as he began teaching that he was the bread of life a multitude numbering over 5,000 drifted away until all that was left was the twelve. The gospels tell of how the crowd chose a murderer named Barabbas instead of Jesus shouting about Jesus, "Crucify him!" Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God was indeed despised and rejected of men.

And he has suffered. As we read of the crucifixion we read a tale of barbarity. The forty lashes less one were given with a cat of nine tails. Each of those lashes was in reality nine lashes. His skin was torn from his back. These are the stripes of which Isaiah says, "By his stripes we are healed." The nails which held him to the cross were placed so as to provide for the most agonizing death possible. And as he hung in agony on the cross those who mocked him proclaimed him abandoned by God. Isaiah says, "we considered him stricken by God." Christ's death was not just physical agony. He bore, even on the cross, the pain of rejection. He was attacked in every way possible. "He was cut off from the land of the living."

Finally he "was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death." He was buried in the borrowed tomb of a rich man.

Next we will center our attention on the "word of the cross." Christ's suffering and his death on the cross are deeply intertwined as to be, of course, inseparable. Isaiah tells us that "It was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer." and that the "Lord makes his life a sin offering." All this, the suffering and the death are for me and for you. Jesus "was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity. He did it for us.

But as we look at his suffering we see the sinless Son of God going through such pain and sorrow. And we have to deal with the whole subject of Suffering. A Rabbi has written a book titled, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." The reason the book sold well is that we don't think bad things ought to happen to good people. A popular teaching in many churches today is that if you are a Christian all will be well for you, with the attendant teaching that if you are suffering in some way it is because your faith is weak. Many people want to believe that God promises health and wealth to all his people. They do not want a word of suffering.

But Christ has suffered for us. And Peter tells us that "Christ has set you an example that you should follow in his steps." Jesus simply said, "The servant is not greater than the master." The good news of Jesus is still good news, but it does not promise freedom from suffering. Jesus does not ask his disciples "do you want to be free from trouble?" Jesus asks instead, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink?"

Jesus allowed himself to go through that suffering for our sakes. And this is important. Jesus did not suffer just to prove he could. His suffering had a purpose. So with us. We do not need to seek suffering. We don't need to prove we can suffer more than the next person. But we must be willing to give of ourselves for him and for others. And that may mean suffering.

Our goal, then, is not to avoid trouble. Our goal is to follow Jesus where ever he may lead, even through trials if that be the way he leads.

James calls us to a new view of suffering. He writes, "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various troubles." There is a different and wonderful idea. Instead of complaining about problems, rejoice in them. How can we possibly do that? James suggests that it is in how we use the trials that come our way. "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything." What a strange idea. The bible tells us that trouble comes for our good so that we can grow into the kind of people God means us to be.

Again, James is not telling us to go out looking for trouble but when trouble comes not to let it get us down. Rejoice in how it can help us grow.

Paul even suggests we see such suffering as a gift. "It has been granted to you that you should not only believe but also suffer for his sake." Phil 1:29. Paul sees such unsought, and undeserved, suffering, not as punishment for lack of faith but as a gift given to those who have faith enough to handle it. Those who have faith, God allows to "share" in the suffering of Christ. We are given a part of his suffering just as he suffered for us. As he was rejected, so those who serve him can expect to be rejected for his name's sake.

Peter warns at this point that we need to be careful not to confuse that which we bring upon ourselves through sin with that which comes from faithfulness. the call is to go where god sends us and to do what God wants us to do. If this brings suffering, so be it, rejoice that you share in Christ's sufferings. If it comes with good times then rejoice also that God has brought you through. Learn, as Paul did to rejoice in whatever state you are in.

But remember always, Christ suffered for you. He took your punishment. He gave himself for you. What are you giving for him?