I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth (Colossians 1:24-25, MSG).

Christmas is a season for giving and receiving gifts. Many of us look forward to wrapping and unwrapping them because they bring satisfied smiles.  Yet, in this week’s passage, Paul, while sitting in jail, speaks of suffering as a sheer gift. I doubt any of us would welcome suffering or consider it a gift. The “gift of suffering” sounds like an oxymoron. A gift should be something pleasurable while suffering denotes pain. What in the world was Paul talking about?

I don’t believe that Paul thought being in jail or being beaten was a gift. The circumstances that surround suffering cause pain and hardship. I think the “gift” of suffering that Paul talked about is related to furthering the gospel message. I believe that he felt it was worth the suffering here on earth if others could come to know Jesus- The Hope of Glory.

As we enter the Christmas season and sing happy songs about the birth of Christ. It’s easy to forget that the happy part of the story was first met with suffering. 

Mary and Joseph suffered emotionally when others didn’t believe that Mary was both pregnant and a virgin. Mary also suffered physically. Not only did she have to take a three-day trip when at full term, but she also had to give birth in a humble setting (not a cozy hospital).  Later, she and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s intention to murder any “rival” kings.

Jesus also suffered throughout his life on earth. Imagine what it would be like to leave the majesty of Heaven and take the form of a human.  Yet He chose to lower and empty himself for our sake. This kind of suffering is something that He allowed to happen. It wasn’t passive or fatalistic. He chose to endure it for us. He also willingly suffered even more when he died on the cross to rescue us from the consequences of our sins.  Later, many other followers of Jesus suffered for the sake of spreading the gospel message too.

During this holiday season, let us remember that our coming to faith in Christ has roots in the faithfulness and the faithful suffering of many who have come before us. We can know Jesus today because they knew Jesus and were willing to suffer because of it. Christ’s presence in us is the source of our hope for ultimate glory and eternal life.

Lord, please help us (the Church) to have such a deep love for You that we are also willing to suffer in order to bring your gospel message to others. Then they can know the hope that is within us.