So far, we have learned that Jesus’ suffering lay in His resistance to the strength of the temptation to sin in response to His rejection by His own people. What was He tempted to do that caused Him so much suffering that He cried to the Father to save Him from death?

In what way does temptation cause suffering?

For both Jesus and Paul (who had to suffer as part of his calling – Acts 9:16), suffering was specifically “in the flesh”.

1 Peter 4:1 KJV
[1] “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us IN THE FLESH, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin…”

Paul experience this suffering when he was rejected by the Romans and by his own people.

2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV
[7]”…Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn IN MY FLESH, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”

As with Jesus and Paul, our “flesh”, also called our “evil desires”, is the part of us that is tempted.

James 1:13-15 NIV
[13] “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own EVIL DESIRE and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

In what way were Jesus and Paul enticed to sin? Both were the object of the intense hatred of their own people and the Roman government. They were both hounded to death. Jesus died on a Roman cross. Paul was rescued and then, eventually martyred for his faith in Jesus. Both Jesus and Paul help us to understand what we suffer when we are tempted, and how to deal with it. Both were subjected to the unjust treatmeant that provoked the feelings of outrage and anger that tempted them to retaliate.

1 Peter 2:19, 21-23 NIV
[19] For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God…
[21] To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps… [23] When they hurled their insults at him, HE DID NOT RETALIATE; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

The real suffering is the in struggle to resist the temptation, first, to become angry, resentful, and bitter, because of unjust treatment and, second, to retaliate, to take revenge on the offender, to hurt the one who hurt us.

So Paul urges…

Romans 12:17, 19-21 NIV
[17] “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone….
[19] Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. [20] On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Retaliation! Isn’t this the cause of the greatest evils in the world?
Jesus drew His disciples’ attention to this issue that starts with a thought and leads to murder. “Don’t even get angry because it is the beginning of the downward slide of retaliation that ends up in murder.”

Matthew 5:21-22 NLT
[21] “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ [22] But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

How did Jesus win this battle? He followed His own counsel. He put His case in the Father’s hands. “He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”

The verdict?

[22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

How did Paul win his battle?

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV
[8] “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul turned the thorn into a blessing. He received the barbs of hatred and rejection, not as weapons to poison him, but as a gift from the Lord to reveal his weakness and his need for grace.

He celebrated God’s goodness through every poke and prick of the “thorns”, or “fiery darts” fired at him by those who rejected him.

Paul also did what Jesus instructed.

Matthew 5:11-12 NIV
[11] “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

It’s no wonder Paul could write…

Romans 8:28 NIV
[28] “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Every adversity he suffered and overcame was a step nearer to the Christ-likeness he craved. Keeping his eye in the goal, he could declare with passionate assurance…

Romans 8:35, 37 NIV
[35] “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

To be concluded…