What It Means To Suffer

Sermon preached Sunday, February 28, 2021, the Second Sunday in Lent, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Littlestown, PA. 

“Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed…”

Jesus warns his disciples that suffering is coming, and there’s nothing they can do to stop it. Jesus warns us that suffering is part of a package deal.

But our culture has a funny relationship with suffering—or, rather, we have a funny relationship with what we call suffering.

There is some suffering we say is “deserved.” Because Joe made poor decisions, he is now homeless and hungry—he is getting what he deserves. Jane brings it on herself because is too trusting and lets people take advantage of her. And if that group over there would only do things our way, they wouldn’t be in the terrible position they are now. We can’t always explain why bad things happen, and so we assign blame to the victims.

And then there’s the other end of the spectrum: holy, or righteous, suffering. This happens when someone’s faith is just “being tested” by the cancer slowly taking their life or the demoralizing process of losing their job—if they can make it through stoically, they’ll have proved the strength of their faith! This way of thinking doesn’t allow for people in the midst of hardship to share their frustrations, fears and prayers for comfort. Instead, it tells them to keep quiet, unless they are rejoicing for what they do have.

And then, finally, we have the most ridiculous: the Olympics of Suffering. If you’ve never witnessed this in action, this is what it sounds like:

Person One says: “Oh my goodness, I am SOOO busy! I just don’t know how I’m going to get everything done with work and the kids, and then my car broke down last week and the baby has a cough and gas prices keep going up and that restaurant down the street that I love is closing.”

And Person Two says: “You think that’s bad? My knee has been acting up because of all of this terrible rain that’s flooding my front yard and when I went to pick up my new prescription at the Pharmacy I had to wait forty-five minutes because they screwed up the refill and by the time I finally got home last night I was too exhausted to do anything but microwave some leftovers for dinner.

And Person One returns with: “Oh I know! I had to order pizza for the family because I didn’t have time to cook and the dishwasher wouldn’t start for some reason so I had to do all the dishes by hand.”

And again, Person Two: “At least you have a dishwasher to start with! I always have to do dishes by hand and inevitably the dog will jump up on me while I’m in the middle of it and make me splash water all over myself.”

…okay. So I’m exaggerating—but not by much! I have heard so many conversations similar to this and, I’m sorry to say, I’ve participated in my fair share. The Olympics of Suffering triggers something in us, something about trying to be the one who works hardest or the one who does alright despite having the most difficult life. I don’t know. But this one-upping the bad things that happen to us can’t be all that healthy.

It’s not healthy, but it also distorts our perception of reality. It’s important to note that “…not all suffering is the cross, and not all suffering is simply to be accepted.”

This means that when Jesus says he must undergo suffering, he’s not talking about our Olympics of Suffering. That suffering is not the cross. He’s not talking about “righteous” or “holy” suffering the way that we do. He’s not talking about “deserved” suffering. That suffering is not to be simply accepted. He’s talking about real suffering of body and spirit as he is arrested, beaten, tortured, mocked and executed.

When Jesus says that any who want to become his followers are to take up their cross, we need to discern what is the cross and what is not—what is suffering and what are exaggerated first-world problems, as well as what suffering is done as a witness to the Gospel and what suffering is not acceptable.

Having to wait in line or eat pizza for dinner because you are too tired to cook is not suffering for the sake of God’s work. And living on the street or being diagnosed with an incurable illness or being born into unimaginable poverty—while it is suffering—should not be accepted because “Jesus said we had to take up our cross.”

Jesus suffers because of who he associates with, what he says, and what he does. Jesus is constantly surrounded by people on the fringes of society, if not outside of it completely. He builds relationship with women, Samaritans, children, tax collectors, the unclean, the poor. He identifies with the last and the least and cries out for justice on their behalf.

Jesus preaches Good News that is not reserved for the religious elite. His words of hope and healing are not meant just for those who are already assured of God’s love, but for those who had been told time and time again that they were not good enough, or healthy enough, or faithful enough.

Jesus embodies a new way of being with others that involves humbling himself and becoming a servant to all, not merely those who had the social or political status to warrant it. Jesus served in actions: feeding crowds, healing the sick, forgiving sins, washing feet and, importantly, Jesus cried out for justice. Jesus cried out that God’s will would be done on earth.

The powers at the time attempted to silence him because he stood up for all whose voices were unheard—and Power thrives on keeping the powerless silent. Jesus speaks up, calls out hypocrites, proclaims the undeserved love of God, and ushers in a kingdom of reconciliation. That’s the work of God. And that’s the work that Jesus suffered for.

No, not all suffering is the cross and not all suffering is to be accepted—but don’t be surprised if taking up your own cross results in some suffering.

When you join your voice with someone who’s voice has been ignored—they are not voiceless! Just not heard—you may upset those who have chosen not to listen. When you feed the hungry or clothe the naked, you may be told that they deserve their lot in life and that you shouldn’t waste your resources on them. When you choose to forgive the person who wrongs you or show love to your enemies instead of hate, you may confuse the hard-hearted people who believe compassion is the same as weakness.

But in all of these things, you are doing God’s work, the work God has called you to in baptism, the work you are able to do because of the body and blood of Christ which sustain you week after week.

There may be some suffering. There’s no point in denying that. But suffering for the sake of the Christ, taking up our own cross, speaking out for the last and least among us—these will never be in vain. This is God at work, bringing in the kingdom. Amen.