Hebrews 2:9,10, Hebrews 12:11-13 and 1 Peter 4:1, 2
Hebrews 2:9,10 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for who are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
Jesus is 100% God and 100% man and while He lived on earth His human side had human experience. He got hungry, sorrowful, tired, and angry. He was taught and He taught . . . all without sin, but all bringing Him into the place of perfection so He could author the salvation of the many sons He would bring to glory. Suffering, the Father determined, was fitting to bring all this about. Suffering was even more important as He went to the cross, where for a little while He was made lower than the angels, suffering more in spirit and soul than in body, as He tasted death for everyone. However, by the grace of God, this suffering resulted in His being crowned with glory and honor as He triumphed over death in the victorious resurrection. What does suffering accomplish in a believer’s life?
1 Peter 4:1, 2
1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Peter said that since Jesus suffered in the flesh, we should embrace affliction as well, for one good reason: Because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of his time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. Suffering touches something in the human makeup that motivates obedience and submission to God. Independence motivates pride and rebellion which suffering quickly reigns in because it humbles the defiant attitude. Suffering makes the heart tender when it can’t solve the problem. When God raises a disciplinary hand in our lives, we feel forgotten and wounded. That weakens our will so we are willing to repent of sin and turn from it, even as we turn to God and want to do His will.
Think about this:
Hebrews 12:11-13 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
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