Praying to know Christ's suffering
This week we are studying Julian of Norwich, an English mystic (1343-1413) whose writing focused on knowing Christ through suffering. After having perused some of Julian's writings, I have found that when she says she had visions, she really believed she saw Holy Spirit inspired, extra-biblical revelations of truth. Having a deep respect for scripture as God's authoritative revelation, I found it hard to follow many of her thoughts. Having said that, I still found much benefit in the devotional readings contained in our book.
One of the powerful aspects of Julian's writings is her dealings with pain and sorrow. She states that she had 3 main revelations from God, the first being a deep connection with the death (passion) of Christ. She states, "My wish was to be present with those who loved Christ and were with him at his passion so that I, with my own eyes, might have seen the passion which our Lord suffered for me, and so that I might have suffered with him as the others did who loved him."
It was her desire to experience the pain of Christ so deeply--to see his love in action and feel it--so that she might know him more deeply.
Is this possible, and what benefit is it?
There are some Bible passages in Paul that reflects this idea of knowing Christ through his suffering.
Romans 5:3-6 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Philippians 1:29 "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
Philippians 3:10-11 "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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
Romans 6: 3-5 "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."
Each passage is worthy of our attention. Romans 6 has captured my attention for many years now. I hope to further dwell on that passage.
For this current thought, I see that Paul senses a connection between his sufferings for the Gospel and Jesus' suffering on the cross. Thus, he participates in Christ's death through his own sacrifices for the Gospel. Thus he is granted the right to suffer like Jesus (Phil. 1:29), united in death with Christ (Romans 6), carrying the death of Christ in him (2 Cor 4), and sharing in his suffering (Phil. 3), which changes his character (Romans 5:3) and brings true joy. Thus, Paul thinks it is possible, and that the benefit is Christian maturity.
This seems to be the thread of truth that Julian speaks to in her writings, even she arrives at her conclusions in a mystical form. This is not to justify all of Julian's thoughts. However, I think our emphasis for the week is very challenging and biblical.
So, how much of Christ's suffering have you contemplated? We know he died. How much did he suffer for you? What did his family suffer as they watched? Do you take it for granted that he died for you?
As a disciple, do you want to follow him by following his example of suffering?
Is suffering a part of God's plan to know him and be transformed by him? Or is suffering simply a product of sinful world that must be rejected and avoided?
One of the powerful aspects of Julian's writings is her dealings with pain and sorrow. She states that she had 3 main revelations from God, the first being a deep connection with the death (passion) of Christ. She states, "My wish was to be present with those who loved Christ and were with him at his passion so that I, with my own eyes, might have seen the passion which our Lord suffered for me, and so that I might have suffered with him as the others did who loved him."
It was her desire to experience the pain of Christ so deeply--to see his love in action and feel it--so that she might know him more deeply.
Is this possible, and what benefit is it?
There are some Bible passages in Paul that reflects this idea of knowing Christ through his suffering.
Romans 5:3-6 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Philippians 1:29 "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
Philippians 3:10-11 "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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
Romans 6: 3-5 "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body."
Each passage is worthy of our attention. Romans 6 has captured my attention for many years now. I hope to further dwell on that passage.
For this current thought, I see that Paul senses a connection between his sufferings for the Gospel and Jesus' suffering on the cross. Thus, he participates in Christ's death through his own sacrifices for the Gospel. Thus he is granted the right to suffer like Jesus (Phil. 1:29), united in death with Christ (Romans 6), carrying the death of Christ in him (2 Cor 4), and sharing in his suffering (Phil. 3), which changes his character (Romans 5:3) and brings true joy. Thus, Paul thinks it is possible, and that the benefit is Christian maturity.
This seems to be the thread of truth that Julian speaks to in her writings, even she arrives at her conclusions in a mystical form. This is not to justify all of Julian's thoughts. However, I think our emphasis for the week is very challenging and biblical.
So, how much of Christ's suffering have you contemplated? We know he died. How much did he suffer for you? What did his family suffer as they watched? Do you take it for granted that he died for you?
As a disciple, do you want to follow him by following his example of suffering?
Is suffering a part of God's plan to know him and be transformed by him? Or is suffering simply a product of sinful world that must be rejected and avoided?
posted by Randy Rogers at
4:32 PM
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