What Can I learn from Jesus' Sufferings?

A Poem my mother used to read to me that reminds me of how the Lord is able to take my pain and scars and make something of them:

The Touch of the Master's Hand
It was battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while To waste his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried, "Who starts the bidding for me?" "One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?" "Two dollars, who makes it three?" "Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No, From the room far back a gray bearded man Came forward and picked up the bow, Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings, He played a melody, pure and sweet As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low, Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?" As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?" "Two thousand, Who makes it three?" "Three thousand once, three thousand twice, Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered, But some of them cried, "We just don't understand." "What changed its' worth?" Swift came the reply. "The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune All battered with bourbon and gin Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game and he travels on. He is going once, he is going twice, He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes, And the foolish crowd never can quite understand, The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

Myra Brooks Welch


Could there be a beauty, a faith, sweetness, a treasure, a blessing He wants for us that can only come through pain and difficulty?

Jesus knew what it was to face the awful darkness of soul and personal pain and suffering. Luke 22:53-- He experienced an hour of darkness, where it seemed the enemy had won.

Is there something for us, that we can learn when we face our "hour of darkness"? "In the world ye shall have tribulation", Jesus said.

What is it, during these difficulties, that we can learn. Is there something it can do in me that nothing else can do? If so, what is it?

1. It sharpens my spiritual eyesight—clears up my view

Col 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 3:11
a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
1 Cor 15:28
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.



At times, the clouds of this world’s things, the fog of material things, preoccupations with worldly matters, good or necessary things can clutter my heart and hide Him who is the most important one of all. It kind dull my heart to His presence, His purpose, His priorities for my life. Difficulty has a way of reminding me of my priorities, and I can see what His will is for my life-- not my will...

Have you ever had a brush with death, or a near disaster, or a brush with the law? Some people have an experience like the birth of a child, and it is like a slap in the face-- it wakes them up to their poor choices and wayward lifestyle, and they see what God would have of their life.
In an instance, everything becomes clear—

Paul prayed 3 times for God to take away a "thorn in the flesh..." , but He refused, saying this would enable Him to provide something far greater-- a dependence on His grace:
2Co 12:9 -And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


2. It strengthens my resolve to do His will
“nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done…”
Joh 12:27
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour '? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

It's easy to forsake what we know to be God's will for our lives. Decisions, choices made that set up on a path difficult to change, even life itself begins to happen and it's difficult to slow it down. God allows difficulties to get our attention and help us to find new resolve to do His will.



3. It shows me God’s great untapped blessing in many a life—other’s help
Luke 22:39-43
Jesus, in His darkest moment, wanted His friends with Him in the garden. We need others, and should not hide our pain from those who can be used of God to minister to us in our difficulty.

A friend, who’s wife died, said the greatest ministry to him was a friend, who took off days of work and came to be with him-- didn't say anything much, just hugged him, cried with him, and sat with him.

4. It reveals what can be my biggest struggle to a victorious life—other’s hurt—when I or a loved one suffers from pain inflicted by others.

His arrest, his denial
Father forgive them

Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Matt 5:11-12Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil * * against you falsely, for my sake *.Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matt 5:44--But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Eph 4:32—be ye kind onw unto another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as god for Christ sake has forgiven you