REJOICE TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something
strange were happening to you. But rejoiceG5463 that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that
you may be overjoyedG21 at the revelation of His glory. If you are insulted for the name of Christ,
you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:12-14
4:12 the fiery trial. Peter probably wrote this letter shortly before or after the burning of Rome, and at the beginning of the horrors of a 200-year period of Christian persecution. Peter explains that 4 attitudes are necessary in order to be triumphant in persecution: 1) expect it (v. 12); 2) rejoice in it (vv. 13, 14); 3) evaluate its cause (vv. 15–18); and 4) entrust it to God (v. 19). some strange thing happened. “Happened” means “to fall by chance.” A Christian must not think that his persecution is something that happened accidentally. God allowed it and designed it for the believer’s testing, purging, and cleansing. (62)
MacArthur Study Bible
Peter was writing to Christians who were facing extreme persecution under the rule of the pyromaniac, Nero.
Nero’s use of Christians as human torches to light his evening garden parties is well documented. Ultimately, it is the brutality inflicted on the early Christians for which Nero is best remembered. https://www.gotquestions.org/who-was-Nero.html
Yet, he admonishes them to “rejoice” to share in the sufferings of Christ. Trials are not “happenstance.” They are allowed by God to suit His purposes and to ultimately bring Him glory. The Apostle Paul shared Peter’s conviction that suffering because of following Jesus was a blessing and a cause for rejoicing. Paul even intentionally sought the level of intimacy with Jesus that would put him in position to share in His sufferings:
Philippians 3:10 (AMPC) [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death . . .
Having shared in Christ’s sufferings will bring believers to exceeding joy “at the revelation of His glory”—when Jesus returns. Suffering persecution is a proof that the Holy Spirit rests, resides, dwells in the believer. As we obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will be set apart more and more from the ways of the world. That difference is what singles out believers for persecution whether it be insults, loss of employment, or even physical abuse. Jesus expressed this concept of rejoicing when we suffer at the end of the Beatitudes:
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
We may not be facing persecution to the point of death, but we are sometimes maligned because of our faith. Rather than being discouraged, we should actually be glad Jesus counted us worthy to share in His sufferings. Persecution is an indication that we are doing something right because it is riling up the Enemy who is pitting people against us.
Father, help us to rejoice when we face trials due to our faith.
Worship with Jordan St. Cyr singing “Fires”