From the series: Will He Find Faith? — Prayer in the Last Days
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Christ Went First
Christian endurance is not built on theory, optimism, or resilience of personality. It is built on a Person—Jesus Christ. Scripture never calls believers to endure suffering blindly. It calls us to endure by looking to Him.
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
— Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
Jesus did not endure because suffering was good. He endured because glory was certain. This is the pattern for every believer.
Suffering Before Glory Is God’s Order
One of the great errors of modern Christianity is the expectation of glory without suffering. Scripture teaches the opposite.
After His resurrection, Jesus said plainly:
“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
— Luke 24:26 (NKJV)
The word ought matters. Suffering was not accidental—it was necessary, and Peter later applies this same order to believers:
“But may the God of all grace… after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
— 1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV)
Not instead of suffering. After suffering.
The Cross Was Shameful—And Public
Jesus’ suffering was not private, dignified, or quiet. It was humiliating, unjust, and visible.
“He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
— Philippians 2:8 (NKJV)
The cross represented rejection by religious leaders, abandonment by the crowds, misunderstanding by His own disciples.
Yet Scripture says:
“For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross.”
— Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
The joy was not the suffering.
The joy was what came after.
God Vindicated Christ After Obedience
The cross was not the end of the story.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”
— Philippians 2:9 (NKJV)
God did not spare His Son suffering—but He vindicated Him afterward. This vindication is the believer’s hope.
Paul states it clearly:
“If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
— Romans 8:17 (NKJV)
Suffering with Christ leads to glory with Christ.
Why This Pattern Matters for Endurance
When believers suffer without understanding Christ’s pattern they assume God has abandoned them, they interpret pain as failure, and they grow discouraged or offended. But when suffering is understood through Christ faith deepens, hope remains alive, and endurance becomes meaningful.
Jesus warned His disciples ahead of time:
“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.”
— John 16:1 (NKJV)
Truth prevents stumbling.
Christ Suffers With His People
Christian suffering is never solitary.
Jesus told Saul of Tarsus:
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
— Acts 9:4 (NKJV)
The Church suffers—but Christ identifies so closely with His people that He says He is being persecuted.
This is why Paul later writes:
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.”
— Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
Suffering is not merely endured.
It is shared.
Glory Is Not Immediate—but It Is Certain
Scripture never promises immediate relief. It promises certain resurrection.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
— Romans 8:18 (NKJV)
Endurance depends on perspective.
“We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)
The believer endures not because suffering is small—but because glory is greater.
Christ’s Pattern Defines Our Hope
Jesus did not avoid suffering. He did not retaliate. He did not compromise.
“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return… but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
— 1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)
This is the posture believers are called to adopt—especially in hostile times.
Not passivity. Not bitterness.
Trust in God’s final judgment and promised glory.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, keep our eyes fixed on You. When suffering comes, remind us that You went before us. Guard us from discouragement and offense. Teach us to endure as You endured—trusting the Father, loving faithfully, and hoping confidently in the glory to come. Strengthen us to follow in Your steps until the day we see You face to face.
Amen.
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