Finding Purpose in Suffering Through Christ's Cross

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is Our Example in Suffering

When we look to Jesus on the cross, we see not only our Savior but also the perfect example of how to endure suffering with faithfulness and trust. He committed no sin, spoke no deceit, and when reviled, He did not retaliate but entrusted Himself to God who judges justly. In our own hardships, we are called to follow in His steps, learning to respond to pain and injustice not with bitterness or revenge, but with a heart that trusts God’s ultimate justice and goodness. As we endure suffering for doing good, we participate in the gracious calling of Christ, who suffered for us and left us an example to follow. [10:22]

1 Peter 2:20-24 (ESV)
"For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness."

Reflection: When you face unfair treatment or suffering this week, how can you actively choose to entrust yourself to God’s justice rather than seeking your own vindication or revenge?

Day 2: Salvation Comes Before Imitation

Before we can follow Jesus as our example, we must first receive Him as our Savior. The cross is not just a model for living, but first and foremost the means by which we are pardoned and made new. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works or efforts to imitate Christ. Only after receiving this free gift can we begin to walk in the good works God has prepared for us, imitating Jesus not to earn salvation, but as a response to the salvation we have already received. [16:17]

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: Have you been trying to earn God’s approval by your actions, or are you living out of the assurance that you are already accepted and loved because of Christ’s finished work?

Day 3: Suffering Produces Christlike Character

God uses suffering not to harm us, but to shape us into the likeness of His Son. Just as a diamond is formed under pressure, so too does God use our pain to produce endurance, character, and hope within us. Even when we cannot see the purpose, we can trust that nothing is wasted in God’s hands; all things, including our suffering, work together for our good as we are conformed to the image of Christ. [35:53]

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Reflection: Think of a recent hardship—how might God be using this experience to grow endurance, character, or hope in you today?

Day 4: Our Suffering Points Others to Jesus

When we suffer well—responding to pain, injustice, or hardship with forgiveness, humility, and love—we become living testimonies that point others to Christ. Our endurance and faith in the midst of trials can ignite faith in those around us, sometimes even opening doors for reconciliation and new life. God can use your story, your response to suffering, to lead others to find and follow Jesus. [31:30]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Who in your life might be watching how you handle suffering? How could your response to hardship this week point them toward Jesus?

Day 5: Take Comfort—Our Suffering is Temporary, Our Glory Eternal

Though our present afflictions may feel overwhelming, they are light and momentary compared to the eternal glory that awaits us in Christ. God promises that our suffering is not meaningless; it is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. As we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, we find hope and comfort knowing that our days are numbered, and our future with Christ is secure and glorious. [39:26]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV)
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: In the midst of your current struggles, how can you intentionally shift your focus to the hope of eternity with Christ, and what practical step can you take today to remind yourself of this promise?

Sermon Summary

When considering the cross of Christ, it’s easy to see Jesus as a powerful example—of courage, love, and endurance. But before Jesus can be our example, he must first be our Savior. The cross is not just a model for us to imitate; it is the place where Jesus bore our sin, took the wrath of God upon himself, and offered us pardon and new life. Only after receiving this gift can we begin to follow in his steps, learning to live and even suffer as he did.

Suffering is a universal part of life in a broken world. Whether it’s the pain of personal loss, injustice, or the unique suffering that comes from following Christ, we all encounter hardship. The cross teaches us that suffering is not meaningless. In fact, it is often through suffering that we are drawn closer to God, shaped into Christ’s likeness, and given opportunities to point others to him. Jesus’ own suffering was not a sign of failure or defeat, but the very means by which he accomplished salvation and displayed the depth of God’s love.

When we suffer, we are called to entrust ourselves to God, just as Jesus did. He did not retaliate or respond with bitterness, but continued to trust the Father who judges justly. Sometimes, we will not understand the reasons for our pain, and there may be no clear explanation. In those moments, we are invited to look to Jesus, who knows our pain intimately and has made a way for us through it.

Our response to suffering can either drive us away from God or draw us closer to him. If we allow it, suffering can produce endurance, character, and hope within us. God uses even our pain for good, conforming us to the image of his Son. And as we suffer well, we become living testimonies to those around us, pointing them to the hope and comfort found in Christ.

Ultimately, our suffering is temporary in light of eternity. The afflictions we face now are preparing us for an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all. We take comfort in knowing that our days are numbered, not as a threat, but as a promise that one day, all suffering will end, and we will see Jesus face to face.

Key Takeaways

1. Before Jesus can be our example, he must first be our Savior. The cross is not primarily a model to imitate, but the place where Jesus bore our sin and offered us pardon. Only after receiving his gift of salvation can we truly follow in his steps and be transformed by his example. [13:40]
2. Suffering is inevitable in a broken world, but it is not without purpose. God uses suffering to draw us closer to himself, to refine our character, and to shape us into the likeness of Christ. Our pain, when entrusted to God, becomes a tool for our growth and his glory. [07:12]
3. Entrusting ourselves to God in the midst of suffering is a powerful act of faith. Jesus did not retaliate or respond with deceit when he was wronged; instead, he entrusted himself to the Father who judges justly. We are called to do the same, letting go of the need for revenge and trusting God with our pain and injustice. [24:55]
4. Sometimes, we will not understand the reasons for our suffering, and that’s okay. Jesus himself cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” in his darkest moment. In our confusion and grief, we are invited to look to Jesus, knowing that he sympathizes with our weakness and walks with us through every trial. [30:53]
5. There is a redemptive purpose in our pain, and God promises to use all things—including suffering—for our good. As we endure hardship, God is conforming us to the image of his Son and preparing us for eternal glory. Our present afflictions, though real and painful, are light and momentary compared to the joy that awaits us in Christ. [37:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:44] - The Cross: Example or More?
[01:16] - Caleb’s Story: From Rebellion to Redemption
[03:09] - Transformation and New Life
[05:12] - Love in the Face of Suffering
[06:35] - Suffering: Drawing Near or Pulling Away
[08:31] - The Many Faces of Suffering
[09:49] - Prayer for Endurance and Joy
[10:22] - 1 Peter 2: Christ’s Example in Suffering
[13:40] - Pardon Before Pattern: The Order of Grace
[16:54] - Becoming Like Jesus Through Suffering
[18:54] - Revealing True Character in Hardship
[20:11] - Taking Up Your Cross Daily
[22:09] - God Who Knows Pain
[24:55] - Entrusting Ourselves to God
[28:53] - Overcoming Evil with Good
[30:53] - Living with Unanswered Questions
[31:30] - Suffering as a Witness to Others
[35:12] - The Purpose and Preciousness of Pain
[38:42] - Comfort in the Promise of Eternity
[40:43] - Looking to the Glory to Come

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 2:21-24 (ESV) — > For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV) — > Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV) — > For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 2, what specific things did Jesus do (and not do) when he suffered?
In Romans 5, what are the steps that suffering produces in a believer’s life?
What does Paul say is being prepared for us through our “light momentary affliction” in 2 Corinthians 4?
The sermon says, “Before Jesus can be the pattern for my life, I must receive his pardon for my life.” What does this mean in your own words?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important that Jesus is first our Savior before he is our example? How does this change the way we approach following him?
The sermon mentions that suffering can either draw us closer to God or push us away. What factors might influence which direction we go?
When Jesus suffered, he “continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” What does it look like for us to entrust ourselves to God in the middle of suffering?
Romans 5 says suffering produces endurance, character, and hope. Why do you think God uses suffering in this way, instead of just removing it from our lives?

Application Questions

The sermon shared a story about Caleb, whose life was transformed not just by following Jesus’ example, but by receiving Jesus’ forgiveness and new heart. Have you ever tried to “be like Jesus” without first accepting his grace? What was that like?
Think about a time when you experienced suffering or injustice. Did it draw you closer to God or further away? What helped you move in that direction?
Jesus did not retaliate or respond with bitterness when he was wronged. Is there a situation in your life right now where you are tempted to retaliate or hold a grudge? What would it look like to “entrust yourself to God” instead?
The sermon said sometimes we have to live with unanswered questions, just like Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” How do you handle times when you don’t understand why you are suffering?
Romans 5 talks about suffering producing endurance, character, and hope. Can you think of a specific way God has used a hard season in your life to grow you or shape your character?
The sermon encouraged us to let suffering “do its work” in us, trusting that God is using it for our good. Is there a current struggle or pain you are facing that you need to surrender to God’s purposes? What would it look like to do that this week?
2 Corinthians 4 reminds us that our suffering is “light and momentary” compared to the eternal glory ahead. How can keeping an eternal perspective help you endure present difficulties? Is there a practical way you can remind yourself of this truth?

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?