Text: Philippians 3: 10
10 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,
I want to know. In just a few weeks we will gather to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus from death to life. We will come here in complete freedom. We won’t have to worry about someone discovering us. We won’t have to concern ourselves that maybe someone in our midst is going to inform those that want to kill us. No, we will come here and sing those Easter hymns of joy. God’s Word will remind us of what it means to say, Christ is risen. And then we will gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ and welcome guests to have a nice Easter breakfast with all kinds of good stuff.
While in another place there will also be Christians celebrating our risen Savior. They will come to a place that they pray is still a secret. They will use a code to signal that it’s safe to approach and enter. Some who gather there could tell you about their fellow Christians, a brother, a sister, a mom or dad a son and daughter. How some were kidnapped, raped, tortured and killed. Some there could tell you about their own experiences at the hands of those who hate us and call us infidels.
Our hearts go out and our prayers ascend for those made to suffer so. But don’t just feel sorry for them. Rather understand what you would see if you were with those Christians. It’s almost inconceivable to us who have not faced life-threatening persecution. But time and again this is the case. The suffering produces immense blessing, a radical change in the hearts and lives of God’s people. So there in such places, you may see church buildings ransacked and destroyed. But not the Church. It’s growing, leading people to Christ at great risk to them all. I want to know.
While here in the west, the church is declining. It’s anemic. Enjoying a wonderful freedom but reluctant even to invite someone to worship. And yes there are Mega churches that draw thousands. People come flocking. But even there you do not see the kind of commitment, the deepness of faith, the fullness of joy seen in those underground gatherings of the saints.
What have they learned that many of us have not? I want to know. What have they learned that I have every now or then seen in sick or dying brothers. They have learned to cling to Christ like a man clutching a life preserver. And this they have found. That Jesus is more than enough to bring them through that painful trial. And they are glad to tell you about him, even if it puts them in great danger. I want to know.
That brings us to our text, words that I have often wondered about. Here is the apostle Paul. He had seen the risen Christ. He stood in synagogue after synagogue and proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. And often he suffered for it. But here he says: 10 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, What does he mean? We might think if anyone knew Christ it was he. If anyone knew the power of Jesus’ resurrection, it was he. What is Paul getting at? I want to know.
Let me ask you, you who study God’s Word. Have you noticed? You pick up your Bible and read a section, maybe a psalm you’ve read many times before. But have you noticed that the Holy Spirit always has something more for you. You knew the psalm but now you know it even more.
Well we know Jesus. We know his special birth as the Son of God born of Mary, his miracles, his cross. We know the power of his resurrection. We know that the grave could not hold him. We know that because he rose, his death for sin means our forgiveness. We know that because he lives, we too will live.
But there’s more there for you and me. Rich and wonderful meaning, purpose, power, direction and assurance for our lives. Paul understood that. He wanted to know Jesus better. He wanted to know that resurrection power more. I want to know.
But here’s the part of the verse that always seems to get my attention. I want to know…the fellowship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Think about it. Jesus tells us if we follow him, we can expect to suffer. He says, if they hated me, they will hate you. Paul wrote, if a man wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, he will be persecuted. I understand that. It comes with the territory. Kind of like an occupational hazard.
But Paul is saying more than that, isn’t he? I want to know…the fellowship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings, becoming like him in his death. We might say, oh well, that’s just Paul. You know how zealous he was.
Nice try! We can’t dismiss it that easily. Paul is saying there is something blessed about suffering for and with Christ, even dying for him if it comes to that. For most of us, that’s hard to get our arms around. It’s difficult for us to accept. It might even seem offensive. Isn’t life about fun, accomplishment, saving up for retirement, enjoying the family?
So maybe it would be good to spend some time with people who know what Paul was talking about. I read about them in a book titled: Killing Christians: Living the faith where it’s not safe to believe. The author is Tom Doyle.
Think about a man called Malik. He’s a former Muslim brought to Christ in the Mid East. He once told the author. Every Christian should go to jail at least once in life because of their faith in Christ. It’s good for you. Then he added: My deepest spiritual lessons were learned on the cold floor with no one there…but Jesus and me. I want to know…the fellowship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings…
I also read about a group of Christians in Syria. Like so many others they found themselves caught between those fighting the civil war. It was a joy to read of their worship and their love for one another, even their enemies who would put a bullet in their heads given the chance.
Well there came a time when things really looked bad. They decided that everyone must take a week and pray. Should my family, my people, stay or leave Syria now. When that week ended, those who would stay were to come back together. Farid, the leader was hoping that at least some would stay. But to his surprise when he came into the room, all of the ten leaders had returned –with 15 new disciples. Each of the leaders told their story of how the Lord had led them to stay. But before they went to their homes they agreed. They would pool their funds and buy a plot of land. Why? To serve as the graveyard where they would bury each other when they were killed.
Some time later, Farid wrote this: So many brothers and sisters have been killed already that it seems our little group has the only empty graveyard in Syria…We rejoice by greeting one another…The graveyard is still empty! We all know it will not stay empty, but meanwhile we’re grateful.
Satan rampages through Syria, the lion fighting to annihilate the church. Torture and killing continues every day, and each month we hear of new terrorist groups forming…
I think what followers of Christ in Syria fear most are the crucifixions. Death on a cross is gruesome…and crowds mock and torture the believers…
Some who face this are new in the faith and I don’t blame them for being frightened, but it would be an honor to die for Jesus this way. Just think: the Lamb of God went to the cross in Jerusalem only 200 miles from Damascus…
I used to think I lived a life of sacrifice, but that changed when the war broke out. Although Syria has so few believers that there was danger before, I did not know what it means to sacrifice. What I thought was sacrifice was actually just inconvenience.
Once we bought the graveyard we gave up the right to live as we pleased. We consigned ourselves to a violent death…Our lives rest in God’s hands.
There is a remarkable freedom in having no expectations, no plans for tomorrow. The question I and many others start every day with is this: Jesus, what do you have planned for me and my family? Only today matters. Only how I live for Jesus counts. Everything else is superficial…
Is your life about Jesus and nothing else? When you may die at any moment, it has to be that way, but we’re all called to live only for Him, no matter what…Once you live like this, you grasp the most profound fulfillment possible in life.
Pray for us in Syria, but please do not feel bad for us. We have never been more free. And even though we are willing to die, the graveyard is still empty.
And so here we sit this Sunday morning. So richly blessed with freedom and the opportunity to worship our risen Lord, so free to grow closer to him and serve one another. Here we are with this life-giving message given to each of us to share with the people of this dying world.
Again I think about Farid’s question. To me, to you. Is your life about Jesus? His life, his death and resurrection were all about you. Can you then say it with the apostle Paul? I want to know. 10 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, Amen.