As the father of a 3-year-old who loves to play with other children, I find myself saying quite often, "You have to share!" And when I say it, I notice myself emphasizing the "have to." I do this because sharing is expected. When a child goes to a public playground and there are various things to play on and there are other children present -- it is expected that all of the children will share with one another.
As I read Romans 8:17, and in the way that the NIV translates it, I wonder if that word "share" has the same meaning here as it does on a playground? Here, as I do on the playground with my daughter, there are words that are emphasized. In the original language of the New Testament, a word appears that tips us off to the emphasis of the translated words, "if indeed we share." The Bible is telling us here that we have to share. Then what do we have to share? We have to share in Christ's sufferings.
We share in Christ's sufferings because it is expected of us. In the Christian life, it is expected that we will suffer. Now sometimes this makes no sense because sometimes we, or others, are under the impression that we become Christians to lessen our suffering here on this earth. However, when we read the Bible, we find that this is not true. The Bible tells us that even as a Christian, we will suffer -- in fact, it's expected.
If suffering as a Christian is expected, then does that mean that my particular sufferings are sharing in the sufferings of Christ? For example, does this mean that my cancer is sharing in the sufferings of Christ? Does this mean that the injuries from my car accident are sharing in the sufferings of Christ? Does this mean that the things I am suffering because of my failed marriage is suffering with Christ? I believe that they are.
When Christ suffered he suffered a whole lot more than physical pain. One of the documents that I hold to and helps me summarize my beliefs tells me that Christ suffered during his whole life on earth -- especially at the end because it was at the end that he sustained, in body and soul, the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race (Heidelberg Catechism Answer 37). Christ suffered because this world is broken. God created it good. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and as a result, ever since, the world has not been God's good and perfect creation. And suffering is part of that broken world. But Christ suffered in order to bring healing to this broken world. Christ suffered in order to put this world back to the way that it is supposed to be (Plantinga). This means that Christ has already healed it, but he has not yet completely healed it. Thus, we continue to suffer in the midst of a broken world.
Christ suffered in a broken world. More accurately, Christ suffered because of a broken world. We suffer in the same broken world. But we suffer with hope. Because Christ has already suffered and taken upon himself God's judgment of a broken world, when we suffer in the same broken world, we are not suffering because of God's anger, instead, we are suffering in order to share in the sufferings of Christ. And when we share with the sufferings of Christ, then we will also share in his glory. This is what we look forward to -- when Christ will have complete victory and so will we. Why? Because we shared. After all, it is expected.
But don't miss something important. It's not just because we suffer that makes us entitled to future glory. It's because we suffered with Christ. The same Christ who suffered in this broken world is the same Christ who offers his nail-pierced hand to you. Reach out and grab hold. Walk with Christ. Hold his hand. He knows your pain. He knows that living in this world is tough. The Bible tells us that he was familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3). Together you can walk. Together you can share. Together you can enjoy his glory -- his complete victory over a broken world.
28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4 NIV)
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