The Sufferings of Jesus

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:10,11

Paul abandoned his career. He surrendered his hopes of wealth, fame, and power, in order to gain Christ. He had come to realize that Jesus was the pearl of great price. He sacrificed everything to possess him. 

Paul most certainly did share in the sufferings of Christ. He wrote about them in II Corinthians, chapter 6. He wrote about beatings (like at Lystra where some thought he was dead), imprisonments, being caught up in riots, hard work, sleepless nights, hunger, ...."dying, and yet we live, beaten but not killed, sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich, having nothing and yet possessing everything."

Paul most certainly did share in the sufferings of Jesus.

In another place he wrote that he bore in his body the marks of Christ. Foxe's Book of Martyrs tells of many who shared the sufferings of Christ. Many followers of Jesus today share in the sufferings of Christ, especially countries like Afghanistan, Iran, China, and Sudan.

A girl named Nisha said to a radio counselor, "People (here) are terrified. Everyone is afraid and scared of the Taliban. I am only 16-years-old and cannot take what is happening around me. I's crying out to God right now; someone please help us. My family's situation is very bad."

A person named Faheem said, "We fear for our lives. Pray, for I am in danger. The Taliban are in process of occupying. Where can we go? Pray that I will escape this Hell."