Suffering and Glory
Last week, I attended the Basics Conference at Alistair Begg’s church near Cleveland, Ohio. This is an annual conference to encourage pastors and elders. And it was very encouraging. Professor Hershael York gave a talk that still echoes in my mind. He urged us in our call to shepherd God’s flock with all diligence. His text was 1 Peter 5:1-4,
“1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
York pointed out how in verse 1, Peter refers to himself as a faithful witness of the sufferings of Christ and as a partaker in the glory that will be revealed. And he explained that this juxtaposition of suffering and glory is not unique to 1 Peter but is reiterated throughout Scripture. How interesting! At first glance, one can easily conclude that suffering and glory are mutually exclusive. Suffering does not lead to glory but pain and shame, right? There can’t be any correlation! But there is. In fact, there is a gospel correlation. Jesus explains in John 13:31 that his suffering on the cross is His glory! And we observe this gospel dynamic all through God’s redemptive plan in Scripture. In suffering, the Lord renders salvation by His grace and all for His glory. This occurs over and over. For example, in the life of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Job, and Peter, to name a few. The Lord works through suffering for His glory.
May this truth encourage us. Especially as we are surrounded by so much suffering in a Fallen world! Though we don’t have to be confined to despair. We can fix our eyes upon Jesus, who is working a great good, in all things, for those who love Him. And we can even choose to willingly suffer in our sacrificial love for our neighbors. It is this high call that Peter is writing to the elders that they may shepherd the flock entrusted by God with great sacrifice. And this brings glory to our Great Shepherd, who willingly sacrificed for us on the cross. He loved us so we can so love. He suffered for us so we can choose to suffer for each other. What a gospel dynamic! May it be present in our lives for the good of many and the glory of God!